Samantha walked out of the accounting department with a few paper sheets in her hands. She put them away in her bag, not to lose any.
She had many thoughts on her mind, so she didn't immediately notice the pup aimlessly walking in the hallway.
He was sniffing the air as if searching for a specific someone.
When the pup turned, Samantha's heart stopped. The little one was exactly like Nate was as a child. She remembered some old pictures, for she was too little to remember the Alpha in his early years.
She walked to him and crouched down, meeting a pair of brown, warm eyes. Even though his expression was cold and aloof, the colour of his eyes and his childish features almost made her squeal.
How could something so cute even exist?
«Hello, are you going somewhere?» she asked.
That dark brown colour and the scent of the boy reminded her of the girl currently ordering files in her office.
So, that was Lara's pup number one. Where was the other?
She hoped the other twin didn't wander around, for they could get in trouble.
«I'm looking for my mommy,» Jaden said. He blinked, apparently conscious of his cuteness.
Samantha couldn't help but sigh. Soo cute!
«I am Samantha,» she said, offering a handshake. «Aunty Samantha.»
«I don't have aunts.»
«Are you sure?» she chuckled. «By the way, I might know where your mommy is.»
«You're working with her,» Jaden realised. He sniffed Samantha, realising it was the same scent he noticed the first day of his mommy's new job.
«Yes, I do. Would you like to check on her?»
«Yes, yes!»
She picked him up, responding to an ancient instinct that told her to take care of a pup. It was the first time her maternal instincts were triggered, for she didn't have pups nor a potential partner yet.
«What's your name?»
«I'm Jaden.»
«Good, now your aunty will show you around the company. This way, you won't frighten everyone when looking for your mommy.»
«Which floor is my mommy?» he asked.
He didn't know how to read, nor numbers for that matter. Yet, he could memorise the right button to reach the right floor.
«You can't reach that one... Hmm...» Samantha commented while pressing one of the highest keys. «What about moving your mommy to a department on another floor?»
«But then, I wouldn't know how to find her anymore!»
Samantha pinched his nose playfully. The little one was holding her shoulder, almost afraid she would let him go.
He had been observing that blond and oddly happy woman. She had the same behaviour of big bosses, he noted. A little like that Nate man.
«Your mommy is Lara Clayton, I can tell,» Samantha continued. «You two look alike.»
Jaden blushed and grinned, all happy to be like this mother. He even giggled.
«But who is your daddy?» Samantha asked.
«I don't have a father.»
«Everyone does.»
«Mommy is the only one,» he said. «She gave birth to Scarlet and me.»
«Scarlet is your sister, right? It must have been tough, all alone...»
«I don't remember.» Jaden shrugged. «But mommy is strong for both of us. We don't need a father.»
«I see...»
Big boss Nathaniel Woods had two pups, and no one had a clue about it. No surprise he hired Lara, then!
Even though, a human Alpha female...
«You just don't like your dad. I get it,» Samantha sighed. «He's difficult to deal with, indeed. Everyone gets scared when he's serious, and they start trembling as if he was threatening them or something.»
«Scared?» Jaden mumbled. «He doesn't look scary to me.»
«Right? He's just slow to show his emotions, but he's a rather nice guy.»
«But we still don't need him. And I don't like him! He wants something from mommy, and he's trying to hide it!»
«Ah, you're just so cute!» the girl squealed. «You make me want to have children of my own...»
«Why don't you?»
«Ah, what if they're not as pretty as you are?»
«I am not pretty.»
«Oh,» Samantha sighed.
«I am handsome!»
«Your mommy said that?»
«Yes.»
«Mothers aren't reliable, Jaden.»
«So, I'm not handsome...»
«I didn't say that!» she exclaimed, seeing the sad face of the pup.
Jaden was pretty, for the moment, but it was obvious he would become handsome very soon. He was Nate's son, after all.
«You smell different than the others,» Jaden said, then. «Why is that?»
«I'm not a Beta.»
«Beta?»
«Wolves live in packs. It's like a big family where we take care of each other. The leading couple is called Alphas. They make decisions so that we don't need to deal with the other packs. Alphas tend to solve it among themselves or declare war if the arguments aren't settled.»
«Are you an Alpha?»
«I am not.»
«But you make decisions, don't you? You're also so strong!»
«Well, I am a little special. I'm not an Alpha nor a Beta.»
«So, who are Betas?»
«Everyone who is not an Alpha, basically.»
«Except you.»
«I am special,» she repeated, pinching his nose once again.
Every time she did that, Jaden would frown and growl, which made her heart flutter and her mind sigh in awe.
«Then, there are Omegas. They're those who don't like to follow the rules. Most often, it's just punishment for something they've done and hurt the pack. Born Omegas are rare.»
«Troublemakers?»
«Well, something like that.»
«My mommy says that those who don't follow the rules are troublemakers.»
«She's quite right.»
«Are you one?»
«Might be,» Samantha said. «But I'm not in punishment. I know how to control it.»
«So, you're a nice person, most of the time?»
«Exactly.»
«And me? What am I?»
«You're a pup.»
Jaden frowned again.
«If I become Alpha, can I take my mommy away?»
Samantha chuckled.
«You can, of course. But you have to beat your father if you want to be an Alpha.»
«And what will happen to the Alpha if I beat Nate?»
«That... Ah, I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you all of this. But who can help it with such a handsome face, ah?»
Jaden wanted to ask more, but the compliment made him smile and forget his questions. He was handsome, indeed! And he was like his mommy.