Iris


    To my surprise, Arthur doesn''t reach out for the remainder of the week. I''m not


    entirely sure if he''s actually choosing to let me


    go or if he''s simply giving me space, but whatever it is, I''ll take it.


    In the meantime, I consider my living situation here in Ordan.


    Miles and I love it here, truly. Even just in the short amount of time that we''ve


    been here, Miles has been happier than ever. I''m


    already considering a nice school in our neighborhood, and city life suits us much more than the quiet, coastal life that


    Bo''Arrocan offers.


    If we stay, my art career might also thrive more than it ever did in Bo''Arrocan. Ordan has always been big on the arts, and there are a lot more opportunities here in general since it''s a bigger city.


    But of course, there''s the obvious: Arthur.


    Not only do I run the risk of seeing him while living here in Ordan-not just in person but also having to see his face stered. across every television, poster, and billboard-but there''s also the risk of being recognized myself.


    Now that word has begun to spread that the Alpha President of Ordan has a human mate, I''m at a much higher risk of being seen. And if people find out that Arthur not only has a human mate but a son with said human mate while he''s supposed to be marrying


    Selina, then it will only make matters worse.


    For Miles'' sake, I don''t want that to happen. Having to face public scrutiny is bad enough for me, but I''d never wish that sort of thing upon my son. They''ll eat him alive.


    I do know, though, that Arthur also values Miles'' safety and happiness. He won''t want Miles to be recognized either. But Alpha


    males are also... Intense when ites to their mates.


    Arthur has already proven multiple times just how far he''s willing to go for my attention. He won''t let go easily, and there''s a good chance he''ll keep trying to initiate contact between us as long as I live here, at the risk of all three of us being found out.


    I don''t me him entirely, of course. It''s just in his nature-werewolves are already intensely attracted to their mates to begin with, and Alphas not only have powerful gics that make them even more so, but they''re also systematically raised in this society to dominate and take what''s ''theirs''.


    So of course, as long as I''m living in Ordan, there''s a risk that Miles and I will be discovered simply due to Arthur''s insistence un


    seeing us. I''m not sure if that''s a risk I''m willing to take, mostly for fear of the bacsh.


    After all, I meant it when I told Arthur that I won''t allow myself to be viewed as the human homewrecker. Humans are already looked down upon, even though our society has improved its social structure in recent decades.


    Once, humans were literally at the bottom of the food chain, treated like lesser beings simply for ourck of wolves. Things are far better now, and we have equal rights pretty much across the board, but many werewolves still view us as inferior.


    +20 Bonus


    Being a human homewrecker, to the Alpha President no less, is just a recipe for disaster.


    However, the most obvious course of action-leaving Ordan-would hurt Miles greatly. I don''t want to uproot him again, and furthermore, he keeps asking about Arthur. He''s clearly imprinted on him, and the thought of never letting him see his father


    again-especially now that I know the truth about what happened-breaks my


    heart.


    For a while, I consider remaining in Ordan but backing out of the patronage contract. At least then I won''t be under Arthur''s thumb financially, and can move on in that regard. But then I''d potentially be without a steady ie, which would be just as


    bad


    Over the following week, I spend almost all of my waking hours considering my options, not sure what to do. My constant stress


    impacts my artwork, making it hard toplete any pieces that aren''t jumbled and sloppy.


    On Friday, I make my way to Marsiel Gallery with my newest piece in tow. My fears are solidified when the curator, Alice, furrows


    her brow as she looks at the piece.


    It''s a confusing mess of lines and colors, and everything blurs together into a muddy brown slop at the center. It was supposed to be an image of bloody strawberries on top of waffles, but it doesn''t even look remotely edible.