She laughed and finished with a flourish.“There.Father, this is your portrait.”
She turned and held up a terrifying image.The thick head of a tarantula with gleaming fangs and mandibles, standing in a designer suit, his hands gripping clamps, and more limbs sprang from his back and leaned forward, ready to capture prey.
She had managed to make it realistic, and that was an impressive feat in the time she had spent.She was holding the portrait of her father, and he stared.“This is how you see me?”
“Yup.In my head, I sometimes put a bow in your guard hairs when I think about it.”She bit her lip.“Do you want it?If not, I can scrap it and draw something else.”
He took the portrait from her and smiled.“I have never looked into his eyes before.”
She nodded.
“You see this when you look at me?”
“If I squint, I can see the people you.But this comes in first.Finding the alpha in you is much more difficult.”
He looked at the image and then said, “What is Mateo like?”
“Harder, leaner.His body has a hard, smooth coating.His eyes go more up and out.Why?”
He held up the picture.“I am going to show him this and see if he wants any of his pack drawn for family portraits.I will pay you accordingly.”
“I charge more than three marshmallows per picture now.”
Her father chuckled.“Good.Now, Emhara, go wash up.”
She smiled and walked toward the restroom.
Samsor looked at the image.“Your beast?”
“Yes.I have not seen it like that.The suit is a nice touch.”
“Yes.She hugs you knowing that you look like that.”
“I...yes.”He looked at Samsor with wonder.“She is far braver than I ever guessed.She wasn’t intended, but then her mother produced her and her lineage was confirmed.Emhara was mine.My mother named her.Her mother had refused to name her, so she was named at six months old.I have copies of all her birth documents if you need them.”
“I will let Duran know that they are available.”He paused.“Do you have any of the trust copies?”
“Certainly.My mother doted on her, but she was gone too soon.”
“She left the trust.”
“No.I left the trust.My mother just left her a bequest to be given on her wedding day or her thirtieth birthday.”
“So, there was never a doubt that she was a beta.”
“Never.She was sturdy and wild.There was some thought she might be an alpha, but...”
“My upper body strength is shit.”Em came back with her sleeves damp and her face shining.
Her father chuckled.“That.She can’t do a chin-up to save her life.”
She made a face.“I would be outraged, but he isn’t wrong.”
“These are things that your alphas should know.”
“Not my alphas, Father.”
He frowned.“But, the slow seduction...”
