CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Samantha reached the address Rider had sent her. She knocked at the door of the motel room. She had a pack of beers with her, oil for massages, and condoms - just in case; she had no intention of using them.

After the day Rider had spent the whole night at her place without any lewd intention, she had wondered when her turn to give back would come. She knew what being an Omega meant, and most packs would be bitter with their Omegas. The change would happen suddenly: one morning, everyone would just ignore, glare at, or pick useless fights with you after being friendly until the day before.

She had experienced it in her old pack. It didn't last long, and even as a young teen - a few months older than ten - she could bear with it. She hadn't felt the pain most wolves would, and it had made her parents realise she wasn't a regular female wolf.

Still, she remembered how mean her friends could be. Even though they hadn't reached the age when status started to matter, they had stopped greeting her at school or answering her inquiries. As the Alpha's daughter, she had been the centre of attention in her class; until that day.

«Oh, jeez,» she sighed while the door was being opened.

She had to forget about it for a while. She couldn't take care of Rider if she was lost in the past. Fifteen years had passed, and it was behind her. She had come to pacts with that long ago.

«Bad mood?» Rider said.

He noticed her frown and stood there, confused. Why was it affecting her more than him?

«No. Just... since I'm not in your pack, I won't be affected by your change in status,» she said. «You can call me when you need comfort.»

«It's fine. I'm not even that concerned. Sooner or later, the Alpha will give me back my role. I'm one of his people, after all. I'm more of use than harmful.»

«But why did he punish you, Rider? Because of your sister? Is that a thing?»

«Well, I talked back when he decided to punish her. It is my fault, indeed.»

«You were defending her, right? It's natural, not something you need to punish people for!»

She then realised something.

«Wait, who was the other brat? Why does your Alpha punish two teens when they run away? Isn't it something their parents should do?»

She tilted her head, wondering.

«Is your pack so strict, or are the two girls special?»

«None,» Rider said. «Just a tough situation. We're at war, remember?»

«Oh, sure,» she said, not yet convinced.

However, she didn't inquire any further. Rider was in a difficult situation: there was no need to rub salt on his wounds.

«Tonight, you aren't yet conscious of the effects,» she said. «You'll notice tomorrow. It will be hard. But, since it's just punishment, you have to remember it won't last forever.»

«Is that so?»

«Yes.»

«You seem knowledgeable about it. Especially for someone who doesn't know how to control their shape. You know what you're talking about, don't you?»

«Yes,» she said. «It's something from a long time ago.»

«Norwich punishes troublesome members like that?» Rider muttered. He couldn't imagine it. He was sure Nathaniel Woods and Samantha Murphy went along well, so much that people would think they were in a relationship. However, they thought of each other as siblings.

It must have happened during the old Alpha's rule.

«No. We don't punish teens in such a way,» Samantha chuckled. «We're not as savage as you like to think!»

«No?»

«No! It's dangerous for a teen to be an Omega. It unsettles them, and it could bring long-term effects.»

«Really?» Rider repeated, suddenly interested. Was Amanda in danger?

«Also, teen pups know how to be brutal.»

«Yes... So, it'll start tomorrow.»

«Yes. Unless you wander around during the night, you won't meet anyone today.»

«Ah, yes... And how can I cope with it?»

«Just remember it will end. If you aren't exiled, you return to being a Beta after serving your sentence.»

«How long was it for you?»

«One day, actually,» she chuckled. «And it was kind of an incident.»

«How old were you?»

«Ten.»

«Ouch. How about not punishing kids?»

«It was an incident, Rider. And now it's over. I'm not a kid anymore, and I follow the rules.»

«What happened?»

«It's a secret,» she said, winking. «You would know too much about me if I told you.»

«You were troublesome even during your childhood,» he said, reaching out to her shoulders and pulling her closer.

Since her intention was to comfort him, she slipped to his side and hugged him tightly, misunderstanding his intentions. He was going to comfort her about that old memory, while Samantha thought he was feeling down.

Not that Rider complained. He just took what he got.

Being an Omega wasn't so hard, all in all. At least, at that moment. He would assess the situation again in the morning.

«So, it's dangerous for teens,» he repeated, still worried about Amanda.

«Yes. Why are you so curious about it? Do you feel younger?»

Then, she raised her head and looked him directly in the eye.

«Or is it because of your sister? Is she also an Omega now?»

Her face stood still, but her heart started racing. Not because of worry. In rage.

Fury took the place of her first thoughts, forgetting about Rider for a long, painful moment.

«Why?» she spat out. «Just because of a prank? Teens do that kind of thing all the time! This is too much! How will the pack cope if she develops social issues? I understand why you took her side, now!»

Rider sighed, lowering his head.

«Yes,» he admitted, allowing her in his mind and heart.

Samantha had discovered everything, either way. He could risk showing how he truly felt.

«I'm worried about her.»

Even more: the Alpha had not said anything about a period for Amanda. He was even considering exile, at first. Was there a solution to save Amanda's social life and mental sanity?

«And I don't know what to do... I'm not even mad at her anymore. I'm just so sickly worried.»

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