Page 52 of Knot Excused
The Capitol City Art Show was usually very well-attended and popular, with the cream of Alpha society showing up.
And I had come to think of winning as just my due. After all, I had won every year for the past five years.
Unfortunately, Clarissa had been my curator and co-artist for a few years, so she was also at the show with our joint pieces.
But I didn’t care about her. I only wanted Piper to be impressed.
Because Skystone Pack was a threat on all fronts—administrative, artistic, and athletic.
The show was going smoothly as usual. The Alphas and high-level Betas were drifting gently from painting to painting, making delicate little gasps of pleasure as they passed by the huge canvas Cressida and I had done together. I did think it was the most likely to win the award—it was of a princess in a field, dreamily riding a horse with a flower garland in her hair and surrounded by drooping branches.
Cressida had both sat for the painting and helped me paint it, and a few weeks ago I had been very proud of it but now I was nauseated.
She represented all my failings and I couldn’t even bring myself to look at her.
But when I saw Piper walk through the door, I was floored, as usual, my cock instantly twitching in my pants, my body attuned to my fated mate’s. She was wearing a long, sleek silver dress, the expensive fabric draped over her slender, athletic body to perfection.
I hurried over to her.
“You didn’t have to dress up for me,” I said anxiously. “I think you look beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”
I looked nervously to see if my words had an impact on her, but she only said carelessly, “I know I do. I just felt like dressing up tonight.”
Fuck, I envied that confidence.
For one moment I had the vain hope that perhaps she would not be accompanied by those horrible Betas, but then when I saw them settle in near the entrance to the art gallery, I knew I was in for it.
They were setting up shop right in the public area, with huge canvases, jars of paint, and sprayers.
“If you want some real art,” Raffi hollered loudly over the delicate sounds of the private string quartet I had hired, “check us out.”
Beside me, Cressida turned white with fury. “How dare she do that!” she hissed to me.
“This has nothing to do with you,” I told her bleakly. “This is between Piper and I.”
They began to spray-paint on a huge canvas, arguing loudly with each other, making the elite Alphas look around at each other in annoyance.
But I gritted my teeth and ignored it. I knew exactly what Piper was doing. She was trying to get us to admit we weren’t made for each other.
I wished she could feel my regret and shame at what I had done, because I was doing a shitty job of explaining it.
“This is all very nice,” Piper said. “Cute really.”
She motioned to Mario and Raffi, who began to haul in an enormous canvas between them.
“I, however, have something our esteemed judge might find. . .very interesting.”
“You. . .paint?” Cressida said scornfully.
I opened my mouth to tell her to go any fucking where else, but Piper brushed over my objections.
“I believe I have a rare talent for it, yes. However, I would like to keep it covered until the judge is here. In case some jealous competitor tries to damage it.”
She turned and walked off.
“You two make a cute couple,” Piper said sweetly over her shoulder. “Matching, too.”
I looked down in impotent fury at my powder blue vest and Cressida’s strapless powder blue gown.
