CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Samantha had just finished her job and was heading home. She would take a long, hot bath, reading a book while the water turned cold.

She would also use her favourite scents.

She was happy for the short working time, for the Black Moon always took its toll on the body. For once, she wasn\'t too depressed to work. She was just tired.

Rider had used most of her energies.

She wondered if he felt exhausted as well. She liked to think so, even if he could leave before her.

She couldn\'t believe she accepted to be tricked by him. She chuckled at herself for how she allowed him to take the lead. But it had been worth it.

He said he would let her even their scores, but they wouldn\'t meet for a while. Even if they wanted, they had no means!

Rider couldn\'t come to Norwich, in Nate\'s territory. And Samantha wouldn\'t go to Mayford for her sound mind. To do what? Look for a wolf without a name?

She wasn\'t that stupid.

After all, she knew it would end like that. After a night of passion, she should have moved on. Even if Rider was her mate, even if he knew what to do to drive her mad, he was an enemy.

The Mayford\'s pack had been at war with the Norwich\'s packs since the time of the old Alphas. The enmity didn\'t decrease with the sons taking over, so there was no way Rider and Samantha could have a normal relationship.

She had no intention of doing anything to hurt Nate and his pack because they had become her pack as well.

She had been a burden to him for years. As an adult, she was settled on being an asset. Running away with the first wolf who caught her eye was out of the question.

«Why is it so difficult?» she murmured.

She unlocked the door to her apartment. Even if she could afford a larger place, even if not as luxurious as Nate\'s, she had bought herself a three-room apartment.

She had a kitchen she rarely used, if not to warm some ready-made food or takeovers from an earlier time. Then, there was a living room with a glass wall giving enough light through the day and a breathtaking view in the night. She had found it cool, in the beginning.

Until she had realised that turning the lights on made her visible from outside. She had started using smaller lamps in the corners.

Lastly, her bedroom was where she spent most of the money.

It was more spacious than the living room, painted in violet colour. That was also a choice she regretted, but she was too lazy to change it.

The bed was big enough for three, with a soft mattress and silken bedclothes. The wardrobe was made of solid wood, covering almost a whole wall. In a corner, she had a dressing table and an armchair for her clothes. She didn\'t see any reason to sit there either way.

Up till that moment, she didn\'t feel lonely in her home. She was a solitary wolf within a pack, so her apartment was her safe haven. She would rest from the stress of dealing with people, no matter how kind they were.

She hadn\'t even brought anyone there. Not even her previous boyfriends or lovers. She would prefer a motel room or some other original place. Not that it ever lasted enough to bring them there.

She would grow bored soon enough, and she had never felt as good as the night before in Rider\'s hands.

She sighed. She already missed him.

If he appeared in front of her another time, by some miracle, she would make sure to find a secret place for them. He did owe her one.

Just as she filled the tub, she noticed a text message on her phone. It was from an unknown number.

She sat in the tub, keeping the cellphone out in the dry.

It was from Rider.

- Did you manage to walk out of the room on your legs this morning?

No signature, but it was clear enough.

Who else could be that rude?

She pouted, wondering how he got her number. She didn\'t give him.

She replied to the message with that same expression.

- I was fine. A little hungry, but nothing a good breakfast couldn\'t solve.

She waited for a reply, staring at the ceiling as the hot water caressed her body. Her hand travelled to her bosom as she remembered that firm, almost rough touch.

No one had dared grab her like that! But Rider did, and it was fabulous. She liked every second of it: when he was rude, when he was sweet... Even when he let her take the lead.

It didn\'t feel like a victory, for some reason, but she couldn\'t help but enjoy it till the end.

- Ouch. I was too gentle. We can try again to tire my Miss Trouble.

- I\'m not yours.

- You didn\'t say that last night. Do you have time this week?

She snorted. First, he got her number. Second, he tried to extort another lustful night.

Which was the total opposite of what she wanted.

Zero commitment. They would have allowed their body to get some release before parting ways. She thought it was clear.

She thought she was firm on that.

Yet, she was reading that test, wondering if she could make an exception. One single night. It wouldn\'t change anything in the long run.

It was just sex. They wouldn\'t go out.

And she knew her heart was difficult to move.

- I\'m busy - she wrote.

- You can find a few hours, Miss Trouble. I\'ll make sure you don\'t regret it.

Oh, he used her words against her?

She pressed that green icon, and she started a call.

Let\'s see if he could tell her the same with that rude voice of his? He was so good at texting, but what about talking? Did he have the guts?

No one answered, so she threw the phone to the side and returned to think only about her bath. She didn\'t see the text until after finishing.

- Call you later.. Busy now.