CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

After dinner, Lara and Nate strolled in the city. They took the panoramic road back, passing through the forest. It was dark, except for the moon - almost full. The Bright Moon was behind the corner, after all.

The light was enough to see the path, but Lara would have been afraid of the darkness between the trees if she was alone. But, with Nate, she feared nothing.

If he couldn't sense any danger with his wolfish senses, then they were safe and alone.

They were holding hands, and the light breeze would accompany them everywhere. The hotel was not too far from the centre of the city, but they were in the right mood for a longer walk.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

«We can visit that glade again,» she said.

Nate just nodded, pulling her hand in the right direction. They reached a clearing they had discovered the day before, and he took his jacket off to let Lara sit down. There, the moon had enough light for both of them.

«Do... Do you want to see it?» Nate asked. «My wolf shape.»

«Oh, sure!» Lara replied.

She widened her eyes and sat up straight, excited for a new show like a little girl. She remembered the white wolf who had saved her life during the war with Mayford. She remembered the familiar, piercing blue eyes.

She could also recall her wish to touch that candid fur and her disappointment when he had just run away.

She wanted to touch him as much as when he was human. She was curious, sure, but there was something more. Deep inside her, something told her she had every right to do so.

And, since she could, she wanted to. Was it another of those wolfish instincts she was developing after living in a pack and giving birth to two pups?

She clenched her fists to hide her overexcitement, lest Nate changed his mind and decided not to show her. She couldn't wait for the cubs to grow up and turn as well: she wanted to see whether they would be like their father, impressive and white, or like puppies, cute and round.

But, for the moment, she had only Nate to stare at.

He scratched his head, feeling a little shy about her unmoving gaze. Yet, with that light in her eyes, he couldn't ask her to turn.

The moment of transformation was delicate and he still was worried about it. Not that he wanted to hide from her but... What if she panicked? He wouldn't have been able to help her in his wolf shape. Likely, he would have bounced on her and wagged his tail instead of slowly calming her down.

Also, he couldn't be sure she wouldn't fear what she saw. He wasn't sure what transformation looked like from the outside. He hadn't seen himself. He did witness other wolves transforming during battles, but fights were a whole different environment with respect to a calm, lit clearing.

«Promise me you won't avoid me after this,» he said. «And that you will tell me whatever troubles you. I don't want you to change your mind about me, Lara.»

«It's fine, you don't have to worry. But if it makes you feel better, I can promise whatever you want,» she said, chuckling lightly. «I'm so curious, Nate. And I'm sure I won't be afraid. I feel it, deep in here.»

She pressed her open palm on her chest and lowered her gaze to hide her blushing. To her human eyes, the little shadow cast on her expression would have been enough. But not for Nate. Enjoy new stories from empire

He saw the shadow on her cheeks, even though he couldn't discern the colour shade. He knew her enough to know her cheeks were pink. Her trembling eyelashes made him want to forget about transforming and sit down next to her, say things he wouldn't ever just to see her get more and more embarrassed.

But she had asked for it. She wanted to see his other side.

«You don't need to watch just everything. I won't feel offended if you close your eyes or look elsewhere,» he said.

«I know.»

«Good.»

That said, he started unbuttoning his shirt in front of her stupefied expression.

«I can't turn with clothes on,» he said. «I'm not sure what would happen to them, and I still need to walk back as a human.»

«Ah, yes! Sure!» she said, her face now red like pepper. «I've never thought about this.»

He just shrugged while continuing with the unbuttoning. For him, it had been like that since childhood. He didn't know Lara would wonder.

Also, they had seen each other naked already. Lara's reaction was kind of cute, all things considered. Was it because of the change of location?

How bad would she take it if he kissed her and rolled in the grass instead of shifting? Oh, but he had given his word already. But that other option was tempting.

He folded the shirt and left it next to Lara, on the jacket. He got up and removed his trousers, staying with his underwear only. Somehow, he decided not to remove those immediately.

If Lara's face got any redder, he would have forgotten what they were doing there. If that was her reaction, he would have undressed in front of her more often in the future. Oh, so much often...

He walked away, turning his back to her. He needed to focus. He was as nervous as her, at that moment, afraid of making a stupid mistake and turning halfway only. Or turning too quickly and scaring the hell out of her.

He had little control over the transformation either way. He just had to breathe, focus, and ask the Moon Goddess to allow him that favour: showing his mate his second form.

His lungs filled with the scents from the forest; his ears heard every little animal stepping away.

His eyes fixed on the moon, and he felt its light surround him with its warmth. Only to wolves, the moonlight was warm.

He sighed, and his body started changing.