Chapter 51

Iris

Ezra’s face is slightly flushed as he stands across the room, flexing his biceps. I can tell he’s caught somewhere between trying not to laugh and being downright embarrassed by his choice of portrait.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” he asks for what I’m pretty sure is the tenth time since we began. “She’s not going to think it’s weird?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Ezra, it’s fine. And if she has a problem with you choosing a gift like this, then maybe she’s not the right one for you.”

The Beta lets out a breath. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just don’t want to creep her out or anything.”

I shrug as my pencil moves across the pad. Ezra requested a simple portrait of himself flexing in a pose similar to Renaissance era artwork. He told me that he’s been dating a woman recently, and her birthday is coming up. Amongst the standard gifts, he wanted to give her a portrait of himself.

It’s a silly, but also slightly sensual gift. I think she’ll like it. I know I would if someone were to give me a similar gift. Besides, I’m no stranger to figure drawing—I’ve sat in figure drawing salons with fully nude models before in art school, and although I’m not the best at it, I do enjoy it—and it gives me something to do while I try to think of my next moves in the search for a lawyer.

After today, though, I’m going to have to start from square one. I spent almost all the money I earned from selling my paintings on that scam of a ‘consultation’, and now I need to earn more money in the hopes of finding another lawyer who will actually work with me.

But I’d be lying if I said I’m not at least a little concerned that I won’t be able to find someone who will help me. Especially if those pictures are exposed to the public. The narrative will be too easily twisted against me, the ‘bad mother’ who almost let her child drown. Alpha President Arthur will be painted as the hero who saved Miles, and he’ll get custody in an instant.

Just then, as I’m mulling over these facts, I hear the sound of the front door opening and closing. Loudly. Then, like thunder rolling, footsteps pound up the stairs.

I hardly have a chance to turn before the studio door bursts open. Arthur stands in the doorway, his eyes glowing a dangerous gold and his chest heaving. He locks his gaze onto Ezra in a heartbeat.

“Arthur—” I begin, but he storms past me, ignoring me.

“You,” Arthur hisses, closing the distance between himself and Ezra in the span of two quick strides. “What the hell are you doing with my mate?”

The Beta’s eyes widen. “A-Alpha, it’s not what it looks like—”

“Like shit it doesn’t,” Arthur growls. In a flash, his hand shoots out, pinning Ezra to the wall.

“Arthur!” I shout, rushing forward. I reach for his muscled arm and give it a hard yank back, but it does nothing. When an Alpha wolf feels his mate is being taken from him, he’s prone to jealous fits of rage like this.

“I shouldn’t have tasked you with following her around,” Arthur barks in Ezra’s ear, his grip tightening on his shoulder. “You fell for her, didn’t you? Did you think—”

“Arthur!”

Without thinking, I stamp my foot on the floor angrily. The force of it is enough to rattle my easel nearby, sending the pad of paper fluttering to the ground. It’s not much, but it’s enough to cause Arthur to turn.

“That’s enough,” I snarl, poking my finger at his arm. “Look at yourself. Pull yourself together, Mr. President!”

Arthur’s eyes flicker. He glances back and forth between me, the drawing on the floor, and Ezra. Slowly but surely, as he takes in the portrait laying on the floor, the charcoal smudging my fingers, and Ezra’s terrified expression, he seems to put two and two together.

One at a time, the golden fires in his eyes go out.

Arthur slowly releases his grip on Ezra’s shoulder, taking a step back. “I see,” he says, clearing his throat. “Ezra, I think you should leave.”

Ezra doesn’t need to be told twice. Without a word, he scoops up his shirt, tugging it on as he rushes out of the room.

Arthur doesn’t move a muscle until we hear the sound of the front door open and close. I don’t move at first, either. Only once we’re certain Ezra is gone does he turn to me, but I’m already shaking my head and turning to pick up the drawing pad with the half-finished portrait on it.

“Iris—”

“You’re ridiculous,” I say, setting the pad back on the easel. “Getting jealous like that.”

He bristles slightly. “I’m sorry. I’m an Alpha. It’s in my nature, and despite everything, you’re still… my mate.”

My cheeks heat a little at the reminder, but I shake my head again. “Get a grip on yourself next time. Ezra just wanted a portrait done to give to his girlfriend. If you consider that sexual, then you’ll be furious to find out that I drew fully nude men multiple times in college.”

Arthur clears his throat. “You have?”

I nod, glancing at him. “Yes. It’s common in figure drawing. It’s good to draw the body uninhibited by clothes, so that you can get a good grasp of the skeletal and muscular structure. I’ve drawn nude women, too.”

“I see,” Arthur says, peering out the window where Ezra is currently climbing into his car. He looks back at the drawing on the easel, observing quietly as I touch up some of the linework. “You seem really good at it.”

“Hardly,” I snort. “Figure drawing was never my strong suit, and this is just a rough sketch. It’ll look much better with paints.”

“I disagree,” Arthur says, taking a step closer. “It really looks like Ezra, even without color.”

I tilt my head to inspect the drawing. “You really think so?”

Arthur hums and points at the line where the neck meets the shoulder. “You even got how his left shoulder sits higher than his right.”

Despite myself, I can’t quite help the way my cheeks flush ever so slightly from the praise. I glance up to see that Arthur is no longer looking at the drawing, but rather at me now. Blushing even more deeply, I quickly turn away, busying myself with putting away my charcoals for the night.

“Look,” Arthur says, taking another step closer, “I am sorry. It’s just been so long since we’ve been together, and my wolf gets on edge around you. Couple that with you spending time alone with a shirtless man, and—”

“It’s fine,” I chuckle, waving my hand. “I probably should have warned you first, anyway. He is your Beta.”

Arthur pauses. When I turn, he’s staring at the drawing once more, and his face is more contemplative. I suddenly feel a little bad for agreeing to draw Ezra shirtless without warning Arthur, knowing fully well just how jealous an Alpha wolf can be with his mate. No amount of tension between me and Arthur can change that biological fact.

Finally, I clear my throat. “Let me make it up to you,” I say. “A small favor.”

Arthur looks up at me with surprise. “Why should you be the one to make it up to me?”

I shrug. “It’s not entirely your fault that you Alpha males are emotional wrecks,” I tease, smiling slightly. Arthur doesn’t smile back, although I think I can see his lips twitch a little in that direction. “Besides, you went to the trouble of having those nanny cams set up today. And you saved Miles’ life last night.”

For a moment, Arthur hesitates. I think he might decline my offer. But to my surprise, he gestures to the portrait.

“Can you do one of me?” he asks.

I blink, surprised. “You really want one?”

He nods. “Fully nude isn’t a requirement,” he adds.

My face heats, and I quickly look away again. “Um… Yeah, I can draw one of you. I can do it tonight, if you want.”

Arthur’s eyes light up ever so slightly. “It’s a deal. After dinner?”

“Sure. After dinner sounds good.”

With that, Arthur brushes past me, announcing that he ordered takeout food for dinner tonight and that he has a surprise for Miles, something that makes Miles cheer excitedly from down the hall. I bite my lip, staring at the half-finished drawing of Ezra sitting on the easel.

It’s just a portrait, I tell myself. But there’s no denying the tiny rush of excitement I feel over the thought of drawing Arthur shirtless.