Chapter 152
Gideon’s POV
“Nova,” I said. “Do you know what you have done?”
Nova crossed her arms. “All I did was make the picture better.
“I know you don’t believe that,” I said. “Every Alpha has an officia portrait. It’s supposed to be professional.”
“You should thank me,” she said. “It was boring before and I fixed it.”
I knew Nova didn’t like me, but thi and Leo.
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level of disrespect would have been unforgiveable from literally anyone other than her
“Nova,” I said again, making every effort to keep my voice patient and kind. I didn’t want to hurt her more than she was already hurting.
Leo had been a perfectly behaved child, thoughtful and obedient. Nova was proving to be more of a challenge, but only because, I felt, we didn’t know each other from the start.
Because I didn’t have much experience with children who acted out, I did feel somewhat uncertain on how to progress. But I did love Nova, regardless of her actions, so I used that feeling to guide me.
For her to be acting this way, she had to be hurting. As her father it was my duty to find out why, and try to fix it. This was part of my job as her protector.
The outside threats were easier to fight than the ones that could be plaguing her mind and heart, but I was still willing and able to fight for her regardless. Even if it was a bit more difficult and a lot more unusual.
“I understand you don’t like me,” I said. “Am I right about that?”
Nova huffed as she looked away from me. That was enough of a response for me to feel the answer was in the positive.
“It’s okay that you don’t like me,” I said. “But I don’t want you to be hurt. Because I love you.”
“You don’t,” she said shortly.
I blinked, surprised by that response. “What makes you say
that
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have left me and my mom. Because you did that, we almost died.”
My regret was crushing. My guilt wanted to strangle me. I could barely breathe because of the weight of both of those feelings pushing down on me.
I had made so many mistakes in the past, but the worst might have been disappointing the daughter I didn’t even know I had.
“I’m sorry for what I did and didn’t do back then,” I said. “But I’m a different man now. And when I say I love you, I mean it.”
She snorted, clearly not believing me.
“However,” I said. “An act like this demands punishment. Even though you are my daughter, this was a serious offense and must have consequence.”
She braced herself, her small body tensing like she was getting ready to go to war.
“I need a new official portrait, as my last one had been vandalized,” I told her. “And I think you’d be the perfect artist to
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Chapter 152
complete it.
She blinked, then looked u
at me
surprise.
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“Yes,” I said, convinced. “That would be the perfect punishment. This afternoon while I work, you will sit there at the desk and draw me my new portrait. It needs to have color, so I will provide you with crayons. Whatever you need to get the job done.”
“Are you… sure?” she asked.
I feigned confusion at her surprise. “Did you want a different punishment? I could always send you to the jail if that was what you wanted –
“No,” Nova said quickly. “I can do this.”
“Okay,” I said. “Good. Gather your supplies. We should start at once. An Alpha can’t go very long without an official portrait. you know. How would that make me look?”
“True. Okay,” Nova said, and scurried off to gather her supplies.
That afternoon, Nova sat at my Beta’s desk in my main office. She had a few stacks of paper and all the supplies she could possibly need. She made a few versions of the drawing, before tossing those aside. It took a while, but finally she had one she seemed satisfied with.
As she set down her crayons, I lifted my head from the work I had only been vaguely paying attention to, to watch her more fully.
“Have you finished?” I asked her.
“Yeah,” she said.
“Can I see?”
She pushed away from the desk and stood. Carefully holding the artwork, she brought it to me. There was some worry on her face, and I knew I was facing a test here. If I didn’t give the right response, it could make things worse.
But if I did give the right response, maybe we could start to heal things.
The portrait was somewhat crude, a children’s drawing, though I could tell that she had tried hard to match my likeness, getting the shape of my hair mostly correct and coloring in my eyes the right shade. I had a look of concentration on my face that I thought exuded leadership.
“This is perfect,” I told her.
“It is?” she asked.
“Yes,” I insisted. Standing, I called for Xavier. When he entered the room, I showed him the portrait. “Our artist has completed her work. I need this framed and hung in the space for the official portrait at once.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Xavier said. As he collected the drawing, he looked at Nova. “This is good work, Nova.”
“Thank you….” she said, her voice small.
Later, as I walked Nova back to the sitting room where Leo was playing, I made a point to pass by the spot for the official portrait. Nova’s drawing hung there now in a golden frame, looking very official.
As far as I was concerned, it was a masterpiece and deserved to be treated as such.
From the corner of my eye, I saw as Nova tried to hide a smile.
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Chapter 152
For the first time in a while. I felt a sense of victory.
Claire’s POV
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I missed the children desperately. Sitting around the pack house I wondered what they were up to. Were they having fune Was Nova doing okay? She had seemed upset at Gideon, Were they able to work things out?
1 hoped Gideon was treating them well. He’d always treated Leo well, though, so I had no reason to think he wouldn’t give the same devotion and adoration to Nova, now that he knew she was his child.
Without the kids around, though, I felt somewhat at a loss. I had dedicated so much of my time to their care and protection, that now when I had been given a break, I had no idea what to do with it.
When Ivan approached me, I was eager to at least talk to someone. Maybe he could give me a task. It had been a while since I had been on a warrior assignment. Perhaps if I asked him…
But would he even comply? Now that we were engaged, it seemed unlikely he would send me out on any more dangerous missions. Typically Lunas fought different battles, social ones, in words and actions.
“I was hoping we could talk about the next step in our engagement,” Ivan said, approaching me.
I swallowed hard. “Of course.” I had accepted the proposal, and I had his ring. “What is to happen next?”
“We will need to go and speak with the Alpha King,” Ivan said, his face stern and serious. “We will need his permission before we can wed.”
Knowing what the King had previously warned me of, I doubted very much he would grant his blessing.
AD
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