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Nineteen
Alexander’s POV
I finally committed to the tons of paperwork I had to do, the preparations for the exhibition being much more tasking than I imagined. My friends and their ridiculous speculations were finally ten feet away from my mind as I concentrated on reading replies to invitations and writing out expected guests among many other things.
I had been sitting in one position for too long and I wanted to stretch my legs a bit. I left my office and took a stroll around the floor before going to stand at the window facing the gallery. I refused to let myself feel ashamed that I had gone in search of her. She was my mate and that was a fact I couldn’t help. It’s not a surprise that I’m drawn to her. She wasn’t at the balcony today but one glance down into the garden below and I saw her barely concealed by the tree she sat under, paintbrush in hand and eyes fixed on her work. It was a beautiful day outside and the sun illuminated her skin as well as the garden around her. The view was art itself and I imagined her painting that. I would definitely buy it.
She seemed lost in her own world, completely absorbed in the painting in front of her. I could see the painting clearly from where I stood and frowned when I really looked at it. I wasn’t an artist but I could tell that this was just a practice piece, something she was doing to keep her skills sharp or something. But that was not what interested me at the moment.
Did she not realize how urgent the situation was? This wasn’t some leisurely painting activity where she could just laze around.
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The exhibition was in a couple of days and I expected her to have started on the actual painting. I felt like just telling her what to paint since it was a piece commissioned by me after all but I really wanted her to reach into the depths of her creativity and come up with something amazing.
I just hoped she wasn’t doing this to spite me. The thought made me want to go over there and insult her skills and make her feel like a terrible artist but I’m sure if there was anything Isabella would be confident about, it would be her art skills. It wasn’t like I didn’t truly know that she was amazing at what she did. I had seen her work before, even before I met her and although I may never admit to her, I always thought they were one of the most impressive works in the gallery.
I had already put her name among the artists whose works were to be displayed and submitted it to my father. There was no backing out now if I wanted to impress him and she hasn’t even begun painting. Why she always found a way to piss me off, I had no idea and I wondered if she knew I was watching her right now. If she just lo v e d to see me fired up.
But again, that made no sense. She looked so peaceful when she did her art and I know that if she noticed me her countenance would have definitely not remained the same.
As I continued to watch her from afar, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. I knew that I had been hard on her but my extreme distrust for her made me keep my distance as well as keep tearing her down.
As for the reason why I did not want anyone to know about us being mates- apart from the fact that it would cause confusion as to why I refused to mark her and mate with her immediately and make her my Luna, as was the norm, I knew that proclaiming that I
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had found my mate when I had barely mastered the workings of the pack would only cause bring threat both to her and my pack.
It had caused the fall of many Alphas and packs and I refused to allow my pack to become one of those. These enemies know that if they get the Luna, not only do they destroy the Alpha but the entire pack as well.
I finally turned away, deciding that that was enough break, and went back to my office. I barely picked up from where I stopped when I heard a knock on my door. I knew it was my secretary before telling her to come in.
She bowed lowly, “Alpha, your father is waiting for you in the conference room. He wants to discuss the progress of the exhibition so far.”
I let out a sigh, knowing that I had to leave the comfort of my office and face my father’s scrutiny. I brushed through the documents on my table before grabbing the folder on exhibition matters and nodding at her to leave before getting up and sliding my phone into my pocket before leaving as well. I hadn’t even gotten there yet but
I was already agitated like a kid who was going to get a scolding from his father. I was almost certain that was what was going to ensue. I didn’t doubt that there was always going to be something I could’ve done better when it comes to my father and now that Isabella had not even begun the painting I had told him about. I didn’t even know where to start in answering the questions I could already hear him throwing at me.
I walked through the gardens, past Isabella, not planning to acknowledge her. But as I passed her, she looked up, and our eyes met for a brief moment. I could see a hint of emotion in her eyes
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that I could not decipher, and I knew that whatever it was, it was directed at me and I wondered why.
It wasn’t like I was particularly pleased with her after the stunt she pulled yesterday and I was beginning to think she drank as a habit. That wasn’t a good look and neither was it going to do her health any good.
As I continued on my way to the conference room, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had done something wrong though, and I knew that I had to make it right, but my pride wouldn’t let me even realize my mistake, not to talk of admitting it.
When I finally arrived at the conference room, my father was already there, waiting for me. He was a tall, imposing figure, with a stern expression on his face.
“Alexander.” He said, acknowledging my presence. I bowed in reply. I may have taken over but he was still an Alpha wolf who had bore the Alpha title much longer than I have and bowing to him. was instinct. “Well, what progress have you made with the gallery? I bet your secretary already let you know why you’ve been summoned” he said.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “Yes, she did. We’ve made some significant strides, Father,” I replied. “We’ve secured a few new pieces, and we’ve had a lot of interest from potential buyers.”
My father looked skeptical. “That’s all well and good, but what about the exhibition? Is everything ready for that?”
I hesitated for a moment, knowing that I had to come clean. “Actually, Father, there’s been a slight delay with the exhibition,” I admitted. “Isabella hasn’t finished her piece yet, and we’re still waiting on a few other artists to submit their work.”
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My father’s expression darkened. “This is unacceptable, Alexander. You know how important this exhibition is to the gallery’s success and mostly to boost your connections and ally relationships. You know that that’s the main reason why this exhibition was organized anyway. I mean you should know, you and your Betal came up with it, not me. But bringing up a good idea is not all there is to it. You cannot have your pack look bad in an event like that especially when you just took over. How do you expect them to see you? You need to make sure that everything is ready in time.”
meeting drew to a close, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment in myself. I always felt this way after a talk with my father. I doubt he was trying to make me feel less capable or anything but I did and I couldn’t help it.
I nodded, knowing that my father was right. As th
I jotted down every bit of advice and insight I got from him before finally going back to my office knowing that I had a whole lot of things on my plate now. I have to get more involved with the preparations because if anything goes wrong it won’t be the people I have given duties who would be held responsible but me.
