CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Nate and Lara watched the show with bewildered expressions.

Nate couldn't accept how shameless Grace Clayton was, while Lara felt sorry for all the trouble her mother was causing.

«This will have effects on your business, won't it?» she asked when it was all over.

Thankfully, the pups were already in bed and sleeping after an exhausting day.

«It will,» Nate said, but he didn't sound worried.

Of course, hearing he was a bad bully would lessen the sales and cause the shares to drop in value. It was inevitable, but just about anything could cause the shares to drop. It wasn't such a big deal if they could contain it.

It couldn't be enough to stop him. He would have destroyed the Clayton corporation for good. It was built with the blood of his father's best friend, after all. It was rotten.

However, he didn't need to do much at that time. He wasn't the one who would hit the hardest...

«What are we going to do?» Lara said, her tone disappointed.

«Nothing,» Nate replied. «We won't move a finger. And I'll continue exactly as I'm doing right now.»

«Won't that make things worse?»

«Stopping now would mean admitting Grace is right,» he pointed out. «Either way, I would be the bad guy. At least, let me complete my goal.»

Lara sighed, an unhappy grimace crooking her lips. What happened was something she had feared for a long time: her mother would mingle in her life and make things uselessly difficult for the people she loved.

Why couldn't Grace continue as she was doing before, ignoring she ever had a daughter? Why would she work so hard to destroy the little happiness Lara had finally gained?

«I wish I could help you,» she said. «I wish there was something I could do to make things easier.»

«It's not your fault, Lara.»

«But it is. They are my parents.»

«They should be responsible for you, not the other way around. By the way, don't worry. I'm not alone in this.»

«What could even my uncle do? He just got out of prison.»

Nate chuckled. «Let's wait and see.»

With that, he didn't want to talk about the matter anymore.

There was no point. Also, the effect the Clayton couple had on Lara was terrible, so he didn't want to worsen her mood.

«We should go on a family date,» he said, settled on changing the subject.

«Family date?» Lara repeated, startled by the sudden request.

«We haven't done something together for quite a while,» Nate explained.

«We spend a lot of time together as it is...»

«It doesn't count like having fun together. I'd love to do something as a family once in a while. Something different than usual.»

«I agree,» Lara said. «I just wasn't expecting it. We were talking about my parents just a minute ago.»

«All the more reasons to relax,» Nate chuckled. «You become tense every time your mother does something. I hate seeing you nervous about this.»

«I'll try not to be nervous,» she answered, biting her lower lip. How obvious it was? She thought she had learned how to hide her bad mood...

«You don't need to. I am here to distract you, you know?» he whispered, getting closer and hugging her.

He surrounded her shoulders with one arm and circled her waist with another, ensuring she had no space to run away. Not that Lara would run away, it was just an instinctive habit he couldn't get rid of.

As soon as Nate was close, Lara's shoulders relaxed. Her soul was still uneasy, but her body started melting the tension. In the end, Gracelyn couldn't harm Nate. She didn't need to worry so much, did she?

«What do you think about going to the amusement park?» Nate said as soon as he sensed Lara was better. «I haven't brought the kids there yet, but I'm sure they would love it.»

«Sure,» Lara sighed. «They will love that. I mean, anything goes when it's about having fun.»

«Of course. They're still little. They will soon start school and become more solemn. We will miss their childish manners!»

«I know that,» Lara exclaimed.

Even though, she didn't add that she was thankful for her kids' childishness. When they were alone, the three of them weren't that carefree. She hoped their happy days would last a lot more.

Even Jaden was learning how to act like a spoiled brat, sometimes! Even though she didn't want to ruin her kids' temper, she was thankful that, at times, they knew how to be selfish and naughty. Just like regular children their age.

«I think they're happy to spend time together,» Nate said. «With you, but also with me. I'm surprised they haven't grown tired of me yet.»

«I doubt they will ever. Also, I didn't have much time to spend with them, back in the day. We would cling onto every second because I had to work, but now I have free time,» Lara said. «It's so much easier when we are two, right?»

«That's right,» Nate said.

Even though he struggled with time, he had found a way to see his children all the same. Since he couldn't leave his office before finishing his tasks, he had decided to bring the pups to him instead.

It wasn't the same as having active fun all together, but it was better than nothing. Also, he was glad that his presence helped Lara even just a little.

She had her fair share of work too, but somehow it came so naturally to her that she didn't even notice she was working most of the time. Being the female Alpha came so naturally that she would just be herself, and everything would work out just fine.

She was busy all morning with her studies, but she wouldn't send back anyone who came asking for help. She would act as a friend with the other wolves, often discussing matters over a snack.

Nate wasn't sure if she did it on purpose, but she would often bring out food when people were troubled, just as if she was dealing with wolf pups and not grown adults.

And no one had ever complained about it. It looked like the pack liked her methods. Or the snacks, who knew?