Chapter 27


    Ethan''s POV


    If she thinks I''m going to let her pose for the kind of paintings this guy is known for then she''s dead


    wrong.


    "I''m going to donate it to the shelter. There are so many things the packless could do with that kind of


    money," she insists.


    "You already bring them all of our leftovers. What else do they need?"


    "Well, it is starting to get cold. I could buy them new nkets and coats. I could get them more food


    and drinks. Maybe I can even get them a working heating and cooling system," Scarlet continues


    excitedly.


    "I don''t like the idea of some other wolf having a picture of you," I state, trying to keep myposure


    but ites out more like a growl.


    "Then I guess you''ll just have to buy it yourself," she remarks yfully with a wink.


    "If that''s the case, then I can just give you the money for what you need, no posing necessary. You''re


    not doing it," I finally say in a low voice through gritted teeth, no longer willing to try to reason with her.


    She looks at me, shocked for a moment before her brows furrow at me and her expression turns into a


    re.


    "That''s not your decision Alpha," she remarks. "Lucien has assured me that I can remain fully clothed if


    that''s what you''re worried about."


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    Well, at least there''s that, but ''Lucien?'' When did she start referring to him so informally? This time,


    Alpha Lucien chimes in, "Most definitely. We will not do anything that Scarlet is notfortable with."


    I look between Scarlet and Lucien, cing my hands on the table as I inhale slowly. "I''d assume both of


    your guards will remain with you?" I ask my mate. Despite their assurances, I still don''t like it and I don''t


    trust Lucien. However, I don''t think I''ll be able to continue to argue on this, especially if I want to be able


    to pursue negotiations with the Silver Shadow Pack. As much as I don''t like Alpha Lucien, I can''t afford


    to have him as an enemy. My pack is known for having the best fighters in the country, but Silver


    Shadow Pack is almost ten timesrger and is the closest werewolf pack outside of our surrounding


    allied packs which means they pose our biggest threat.


    "Of course," Scarlet replies before Alpha Lucien speaks up.


    "They can certainly wait outside, but I don''t want anyone seeing the painting before it is finished," he


    insists.


    I hold back a scowl and sigh. "Fine. They can wait outside."


    "NO! What are you doing?! You can''t let her be alone with him!" my wolf yells in my head, clearly


    furious.


    "It''s not worth the fight right now. Her guards will be right outside the door. If Lucien tries anything then


    it will be thest thing he does." My wolf simply growls ferociously, clearly not happy with my argument.


    Unfortunately, I don''t see any other options at the moment. Maybe I''ll decide to stop by for a surprise


    visit.


    The rest of dinner goes by smoothly aside from both Nicole and Lucien eyeing Scarlet and me. Nicole


    looks like she wants to jump my bones and strangle Scarlet. Whereas Lucien seems to be undressing


    Scarlet with his eyes and looking at me with a smirk like he thinks he''s somehow won. When I catch


    Xander''s eyes he gives me a questioning look and I shake my head almost imperceptibly. "I''ll tell you


    and Alex about it when we get back to my penthouse." He nods and returns to his conversation with


    the Alphas sitting around him. This dinner can''t get over fast enough.


    *****


    The next morning, I begin getting calls from other Alphas from all over the country. They have all heard


    about the art exhibit and auction that we are holding and want to partake. So now I''m scrambling


    around trying to make amodations to house all our unexpected guests. I have people dealing with


    making more food and ordering more supplies. People are reworking the seating andyout of the


    gallery. Everyone is running around and the entire pack house is in chaos. This is not what I wanted to


    be dealing with right now. I don''t even know how all these alphas found out about this.


    I haven''t seen Scarlet all morning which bothers me. She had her meeting with Alpha Lucien this


    morning to pose for his painting. Levi informed me when they got to his floor, but other than that I


    haven''t heard anything else. I checked in a couple times, but all they could tell me was that she was


    still with him. I found the whole thing to be infuriating. Something about that guy really rubs me the


    wrong way.


    Suddenly a panicked voice enters my head, "Alpha, get to the penthouse immediately. It''s an


    emergency. It''s Scarlet."


    I instantly drop everything and rush out the door. If that asshole Alpha touched a single hair on her


    head, I''ll kill him.