Page 20 of Impregnated By the Alpha

She finished her first step and began to sort through the box of acrylic paints. Every once in a while, she would take a bottle out and squeeze a small amount onto her palette before returning it to the box. Brown, green, black, white, and blue were among the colors that joined her selection.

For the next few hours, I watched her—mostly in silence—as she relaxed into her work. She was excited and eager at first, but now her movements looked more like a ballet. Her hand moved gracefully, delicately placing small portions of paint across her work surface. It was clear to me, even without being able to see the painting, that Violet was a skilled artist. But even more than that, she was happier than I had seen her in a long time. This night was shaping up to be everything I had hoped for and more.

When the sun had nearly set below the horizon, I gathered the courage to ask how her progress was going.

“Would it be okay if I looked at your painting?” I asked.

Violet nodded, a faint smile playing across her lips. “Yes, I think I’m done,” she replied.

She set her brush in a water cup, which held the other brushes she’d retired over the course of the night, and turned the easel to face me.

My jaw dropped as I looked at what she had done. “You painted… me?” I asked.

The likeness was shocking, especially because Violet hadn’t looked at me once since she began her painting. She didn’t need a reference. This painting came entirely from her mind.

It wasn’t quite like looking into a mirror, as this version of me was a few years younger and with slightly longer hair than I had now. The background was dark and obscured, but I could see trees and a moon shining through wispy clouds.

“It’s what I remember you looking like when we first met,” she explained. “The night you and your pack saved me from the rogues.”

My stomach did a somersault as I thought back to that day and how very close I came to losing her before I got the chance to love her. Nothing could have prepared me for the lives we would live and the things we would go through before being reunited again.

“I can’t believe you were able to paint that,” I admitted. “It’s amazing, Violet. Truly.”

“Thank you,” she said, stretching her fingers. “I forgot how strenuous painting can be when you haven’t done it in a while.”

She leaned forward to stretch her back, and I saw the necklace I had given her at our mating ceremony flash from under the collar of her shirt. I hadn’t had the chance to bring it up yet, and now seemed like as good a time as any.

“Can I ask you something?” I wondered.

“Sure, what is it?”

I paused for a moment before asking, “I noticed that you’re still wearing the necklace I gave you, but when Pennyasked to see it at our wedding, you seemed to be unsure of it. Did I do something wrong by giving it to you?”

She brought her hand to the pendant under her shirt and gave me a sad smile. “No, not necessarily,” she said hesitantly.

“Something upset you about it,” I pointed out.

She took a deep breath. “I wasn’t upset when you gave it to me, but when Penny said that the emerald was the same color as your eyes, it made me realize you had been prepared to give this very personal gift to whichever she-wolf was chosen to be your mate. It was only a coincidence or a twist of fate that resulted in that mate being me.”

I didn’t respond because there was nothing more to be said.

It was true that I had not known the necklace would be worn by Violet when I had purchased it, and that I had been prepared to give it to my bride no matter who she would be. I was glad that I could give it to Violet, but in her mind, the gift was cheapened by her not being the intended recipient.

Our shared history was both a blessing and a curse. We knew each other better than strangers would have, but we also carried baggage with us from the past. I worried that she would never understand my ability to marry Jana without feeling love for her. Violet might never be fully convinced of my feelings for her because of my past marriage. It was something I would have to think about, if we were going to overcome it.

“Are you ready to go home?” I asked.

I left the supplies and finished painting where they were for now. One of the wolves would be out later to bring them back to the house for me, and I was eager to show Violet the second part of her surprise.

Penny was in bed when we got home. After I paid the babysitter, I asked Violet to come upstairs and check on her with me.

“I promised we’d tell her goodnight when we got home,” I informed her.

“Of course,” Violet said with a smile.

We walked up to the top floor and opened the door to my daughter’s room. She was fast asleep, but Violet and I crept inside and each gave her a kiss on the head. Penny didn’t respond, so we closed the door behind us without waking her.

Violet was about to walk back down the stairs when I stopped her with a hand on her arm.

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