[Bonus chapter]A day with dad

Even if the bed was huge, the cubs sensed Lara as soon as she lay down. They crawled to her in their sleep, and their heads ended on her arm or chest.

She was used to them, so she slept with the two clinging to her.

When they woke up, Nate was ready to start his day. He was wearing casual clothing, reading the newspaper and eating breakfast.

There was food for all of them, so they just sat and started nibbling.

All three of them were half-asleep, even if their eyes were open. Differently from Nate: he was the type to be ready to work the moment he opened his eyes.

Seeing that the pups did have something in common with Lara made him smile.

«I will drive you home so you get your necessities and then to the company. Oh, we will drive you,» he said.

Lara nodded, still too sleepy to talk.

«I'll bring them back home this afternoon, is that all right?»

She nodded again, running her eyes and drinking freshly squeezed orange juice. She sighed, feeling the sour taste of the fruits. It had been ages since the last time. She didn't buy juices, for the kids disliked them.

She unpacked the cubs' things soon after breakfast, leaving the clean clothes in the wardrobe. She brought back those she needed to wash.

The ride home was silent because the twins were still snoozing off.

Only when she came back after changing clothes and collecting her purse, they regained some vitality.

«Why do we have to stay with him?» Scarlet asked, utterly unhappy. «I want to stay home with Jaden.»

«Your father has a day off, and he offered to spend time with you. It's better if you're not alone, Scarlet,» Lara replied.

«We can do it alone,» she rebuked.

«It doesn't mean you have to. I've left you alone till now because we didn't have a choice. But now, we have. You don't need to wait for me for the whole morning, now that you have a father.»

«I don't want a father.»

«Scarlet!»

Nate listened to their exchange without getting involved. Scarlet's feelings towards him were clear enough.

«He is a wolf, like you,» Lara continued. «You should take the chance and learn something new. Something I can't teach you.»

«I don't want to learn,» Jaden said.

«Oh, you,» Lara sighed, turning away from the children and watching the street on the front. «Just do it for me, okay? I can't leave five-year-old children alone.»

«We already did it,» Jaden pointed out.

«You're right. I was a terrible mother,» she pouted. «But now, I don't want to continue being one.»

«No, mommy wasn't terrible. Mommy was great!» Jaden screamed, startling Nate with the emotions in his voice. He had been cold every time they talked, so the man had assumed Jaden was calm and composed.

Yet, he could scream like that as well.

«Then, will you help me continue being a good mommy?» Lara continued.

«Yes, I will! I will!»

«I will, too,» Scarlet added.

«Spend the morning with your dad, and have fun. That will make me a better and happier mother,» she said.

«Why is he dad now? Wasn't he father?» Scarlet complained. «Why do we need to like him? He's weird, and he wants to separate us from mommy!»

«He doesn't, Scarlet. Your father only wants what's good for you. And that doesn't mean separating us.»

«He's after you!»

«Don't be ridiculous, and don't yell such things, please. People could misunderstand, Scarlet. And it could make things difficult for everyone.»

It was hilarious how, among all the things the twins could take from him, they had the same attachment to Lara. It was unfortunate that they were destined to be opponents, for it could have been easier if they just liked him.

Nate sighed, realising that day was going to be endless.

«Now, mommy will go to work. You two be good, okay?»

«Okay,» the twins mumbled. Displeased and unhappy.

Lara unfastened her belt, and then she reached back by bending in between the driver and the passenger seat. She pecked her kids' heads, and then she turned to Nate.

«Have fun!» she said.

He waited for his peck, which didn't come, and he observed how she walked to the company's building without turning back. His heart broke in two for the umpteenth time in a short while, but he could rationally understand it would have been weirder if Lara did kiss him goodbye.

He needed to work harder to earn that salute.

«What can you even teach us?» Jaden said, returning calm as Nate remembered him. «You can't even have mommy's attention.»

Nate looked in the rear-view mirror. That time, Jaden was sitting behind him while Scarlet was on the other side.

«It seems we have overstated you as a threat,» the little boy continued.

«What do you think about having ice cream?» the man asked, ignoring the provocations of a five-year-older.

«We don't want to,» Scarlet replied.

«You don't like ice cream?»

«We do, but now we don't want it. Not from you, at least.»

«So, you prefer your mommy to use her energy and her savings to buy what you want?» he added.

If Lara could use herself to make them behave, he could risk using her tricks to have an easier life.

More than four hours alone with those little beasts were going to kill him if he couldn't find something to keep them in check.

«I want red shoes,» Scarlet pointed out. «You can use your money to buy them for me, right?»

«No, Scarlet!» Jaden exclaimed. «It's a trap.»

«Trap or no trap, I'll have my shoes.» She then turned to Nate. «It doesn't mean I'll let you have my mommy, though.»

«Of course not,» Nate sighed. «Let me buy you those shoes, then.»

«And also a televisor. I want to watch cartoons at home.»

«That is not possible,» Nate said. «I have no intention of offending your mother. What if Lara thinks I'm criticising how she lived till now?»

«Oh, no,» Scarlet mumbled. «I don't want mommy to suffer.»

Every time her mommy was criticised, she would cry and be sad for hours. Scarlet didn't need that televisor so badly.

«Also,» Nate added, «you can watch cartoons when you visit me.»