?There will be a charity gala this Friday. Usually, I attend with someone from sales or with Nate, but I can't this time around,? Samantha said.

?You can't?? Lara murmured, ordering the documents for her.

?I'm not really in the mood, and next week will be the Black Moon. If I can choose, I'll spend the evening sleeping soundly.?

?I can feel the charm of sleeping. I've also been tired lately, even without the effects of the Moon.?

Differently from Roxy, Samantha didn't refuse to let her help. There was always a lot to do in sales, from checking contact details and ordering the records of the clients to re-computing all the calculations and double-checking discounts and taxes.

?We have four entry tickets. Two will go to the most hard-working employee of the year, while the other couple is usually Nate's except when he doesn't want to go.?

Which happened quite often, but Samantha was offering a date for the couple. He had zero reasons to refuse this year.

?So, this year, Nate will go with a partner, which means with you. Oh, maybe he hasn't asked you yet... Please, pretend to be surprised when he tells you. I didn't want to ruin a surprise.?

?I'm not sure we will go,? Lara said. ?We're under protection. I don't think Nate will challenge fate just like that.?

?Oh, true. Well, do you want to know who's the other one to go??

?The most hard-working employee? Yes, definitely. Who is it??

?Bass Cooper.?

Lara blinked, confused. She didn't expect such a development. Melanie had told her that Bass Cooper didn't really do anything in the company except appear when they needed a handsome man for image purposes.

Oh, maybe Samantha was joking about the hard-working part. Maybe, the LY Corp just wanted two handsome men to represent them.

?I was joking,? Samantha revealed. ?I mean, Bass will attend, but the invite will be delivered to his wifey. To Roxy.?

?Oh, I see. Indeed, Roxy is very hard-working.?

It was the second time in a few days that people talked about Roxy. Were they trying to hurry Lara to take on the role of the Alpha's partner? She didn't know, and she decided not to suspect. Maybe, it was just a coincidence.

After all, Melanie and Samantha weren't just part of the same pack but also family. Wolves had some levels of empathy Lara might not understand.

?So... Are you a little curious?? Samantha asked. ?A gala with luxurious champagne and expensive bites of food, the creme of the elite, and a beautiful dress because you can't go in there without one.?

?Hmm... It's not very appealing,? Lara sighed. ?If not for the part about handsome men in suits.?

?Oh, that's the best part,? Samantha chuckled. ?You can look at handsome men until your eyes bleed... Oh, not that you need it after all.?

?Right,? Lara chuckled. ?I don't need a gala to see handsome men. And... Are you sure they are very handsome? In my short experience with politicians, managers, and influential people in general, they don't tend to be very handsome... The women are way more beautiful, on average.?

?Oh, well. I'm used to wolves,? Samantha said.

?Wolves are really more handsome on average,? Lara confirmed.

?Most often, it's all wasted. Only a few have enough elegance to make some use of their good looks.?

?Like Nate,? Lara said. Then, she realised she had talked out loud and blushed to the tips of her hair. Even her ears were red like pepper.

?Like Nate,? Samantha confirmed. ?Growing up with a cousin like him means I'm now very picky with men.?

?That's good for you, Samantha. You deserve someone who can match you.?

?Oh, please... Let's change the topic, okay??historical

?You don't feel well?? Lara murmured, noticing the woman's pale face. ?Is it because of the man you're seeing??

?I was seeing. It's over.?

?Oh, I'm sorry.?

?I'm sorry as well, but we are not meant to be. It's not the right time to be distracted by hormones. While I was with him, you were kidnapped. Nate called me but I couldn't answer because I was... distracted, I guess. I didn't even sense that the pack was in danger.?

?It's not your fault, Samantha. Things like that happen all the time: people are distracted by small and bigger things. You shouldn't feel guilty because of that.?

?Aren't you angry?? Samantha murmured, peeking at Lara from the corner of her eye. ?If not for me, Nate would have been faster. Jaden wouldn't have been hurt.?

?Things ended well, Samantha. Even the other wolves getting hurt are now a hundred per cent healthy. And, even if things went awry, you wouldn't have any fault either. It's that man, the Alpha of the Mayford pack, who is wrong.?

?You're so kind, Lara. One can tell you're a good mother to your pups. You know what to say to make people feel better.?

?Do you feel better??

?Just a little,? Samantha sighed. ?But more than this is impossible.?

?There is more to the story, isn't there??

?Yes, but it's too soon. I'd rather not talk about it now. Maybe next time, okay? It's not that much of a secret... I just prefer not to... You know...?

?You don't want to remember,? Lara said. ?I understand. I'm not collecting gossip here. I just wanted to be of help.?

?I'm a little heartbroken. Nothing worse than that.?

?I guess you should distract yourself a little. We can go shopping together, or something like that. I've heard shopping helps the mood. It releases some hormones that make you happy, and spending money is as relaxing as a massage...?

?Okay,? Samantha said. ?We can go shopping. I would need to follow you either way, though. Nate won't let you go without a guard.?

?Oh, right. The guards,? Lara sighed.

?Oh, don't worry. I will be your only guard. Nate won't have any complaints.?

?Are you sure??

?Do not worry.?

?I won't worry,? Lara chuckled.

A day out with a friend. When was the last time?