Not fit
Roxy walked away without butting in. The situation was solved without her intervention, so she didn't need to do anything.
Lara had sent the troublemakers away and focused on her pups, so the she-wolf sighed in peace and returned to her office.
Jaden and Scarlet were turning early, but that was not too weird for the children of an Alpha. In the end, they were Nate's pups.
She was worried when they called her because she thought something really bad had happened. Yet, it had just been a children's fight.
Even though the other pups couldn't turn, their skin was resistant, so they wouldn't have been hurt too much in a fight.
She was surprised when the teacher asked her to come down to the kindergarten, but then, the girl had told her it was the new pups. Roxy had rushed down in fear.
Luckily, Nate's pups weren't hurt.
She could observe how Lara defended them, and her heart melted at the cuteness of the family. Indeed, Nate did lose a lot during those years.
She walked back to her office and found Samantha there.
«How is it? Is it bad? Is anyone hurt?» the other woman inquired. «Tell me it's all right!»
«No one got hurt,» Roxy said. «What are you even talking about?»
«Lara ran out from work to see the pups. I'm worried for them now.»
«Oh, why do you even care?»
«Because I do,» Samantha said. «How could I not care about Nate's pups.»
Also, she thought, that little boy was just so cute. She could spend days playing with him. He was Nate's copy when he was little.
«Are you trying to adopt them now?» Roxy chuckled.
«No, they have parents already. Just... Ehm... I wouldn't refuse if there was a need to.»
Her smile turned sad for a moment. Her memories about her own childhood made her sigh.
«I owe Nate as much,» she said. «His family helped me, so now I will help him.»
«Oh, you mean that... I don't think it will happen with them,» Roxy pointed out. «They are twins, after all.»
«Ah, right,» Samantha said. «Twins can get over it without much trouble.»
«I'm just surprised to see you worry, though. Everyone thinks you have no emotions, Samantha.»
«I do have them,» she pouted. «Just not always.»
«I heard you're going with Alpha Nate to the celebration of Blue Moon Enterprises.»
«That's true. I heard it as well.»
«Are you ready?»
«Should I be? Isn't it just a party with some good alcohol and lots of food?»
«I don't think it can be just that. They're the Mayford's pack, after all. Every time when one of them is close to us, there's trouble.»
«Do you think they're trying to bait Nate?»
«No, they're not. It would be stupid. But it's odd how they invited him. Maybe their Alpha has something to talk about with our Alpha.»
«If that's the case, they won't attack us. Not that we wouldn't be able to defend ourselves,» Samantha chuckled.
Her laughter was slow and cold. It was part of the reason most wolves in the pack thought she had no emotions. Her reactions to provocations were odd. She would either ignore or laugh it off. Either way, acting as if the other person wasn't worthy of her attention.
With her beautiful face and loose mouth, she gave the impression of underestimating the whole world. Except for a few rare exceptions, which included Nate.
«So, the pups are all right,» she repeated, just to be sure.
Roxy nodded, and Samantha sighed, relieved.
«I can go back to work,» she said. «I'll use my salary on dresses this weekend. I can't attend a party with just anything on me.»
«Just admit you like that kind of party,» Roxy shouted behind her.
«If you think so...» Samantha mumbled, getting out of the room and leaving the floor.
Meanwhile, Lara and the cubs reached home.
She made something fast for lunch, for she wasn't in the mood to spend too much time in the kitchen.
«Your mommy is tired from working,» she lied to the kids. «I'll sleep a little, all right?»
They nodded, digging in their plates and licking their fingers when there was nothing more to eat.
It was payday. LY Corp used to pay the employees every week on Friday.
She could buy something good for dinner, to make up for the fast lunch. The money was supposed to arrive by the end of the afternoon.
After thorough consideration, she delayed it for the day after. She really couldn't think about getting out of home.
She lay on the bed and closed her eyes. Before she could start to rest, the words of that woman resounded in her ears.
Maybe, that woman was right. She wasn't fit to raise her cubs.
She had no clue about how their society worked. She couldn't imagine what their senses could grasp.
Also, lately, the cubs had stopped asking to eat so often. Lara had been worried at first, but then she realised they were holding back.
After seeing how they ate when Nate was there, it was clear their appetite was even bigger than before.
Yet, they didn't want to make her realise.
Nate had immediately found how to deal with them. He talked with Scarlet until the little girl calmed down. He bought a hat for Jaden to hide his ears.
She didn't even think about anything like that before. She just kept her cubs hidden, hoping no one would look in their direction.
Yet, that wasn't the right thing to do. They had every right to get out, find friends, play with other kids...
She didn't know how to give them all of that until Nate showed it was possible. Maybe, the twins would have been happier next to him.
The tears in her eyes escaped her control as she started sobbing.
She didn't want to give her cubs away. She was too selfish for that.
At that thought, her sobs became louder, and she cried, trying to hide from her cubs. She pressed both hands on her mouth, trying her hardest to calm down.
No matter her intention to stop crying, though, every tear brought some relief.