Answers

Jackson

Her scent was intoxicating as I held her. I never wanted to let her go, and I wouldn't. This was my mate, the luna of my pack. When I was just watching her from the border of the forest, it was nearly impossible not to run to her and gather her in my arms and run her to my pack to protect and love her. I wanted to marry her immediately and show my pack their new luna.

I had finally found her.

I had gone into the town where she had lived. There had been a sidewalk art show. I had not even been interested in art until I walked past two paintings. One was of a young woman who looked suspiciously like Miranda with a black wolf. Not as large as Axel, my wolf, but still had the same basic shape. But it wasn't the paintings that made me freeze. It was the scent coming off of them.

Vanilla, jasmine, and a hint of musky perfume. It was intoxicating. I knew immediately that the hands of my mate had created these. I had walked quickly to the vendor who was taking the money and asked about the paintings and the woman who painted them. She had smiled excitedly, her curly blond hair bobbing on her head as she bounced around. "Oh, that's a local artist who is new to the community of painting." She said cheerily. "I think her name is Miranda Cassidy. Are you interested in her paintings?"

I nodded slowly, still smelling her scent. Miranda. Beautiful. "How much?"

Her smile became blinding at the thought of a sale. "Well, I believe that she is selling them for fifty each. Again, she is new to this community, but she shows a lot of promise."

Fifty? Why would she sell them for so little? "Not good enough." I pulled out my credit card. "Do you take credit cards?" 

If it was possible, her smile got even wider. Her cheeks looked like they might crack. "Yes sir!" She quickly pulled a phone with a chip reader on it out off the table. "Which one would you like? I believe these are the only two she has right now. If you want both, I might be able to give you a deal."

I scowled. "No, I have a specific number in mind. Call it a commission for the sale."

Her whole face lit up even more, if that were possible, and she seemed to be vibrating with her joy. "Well, she set the price at fifty each and my commission for that is ten percent. She said something about trying to save money to leave and get some land. Not sure why she wants to buy land, but she kind of acted like maybe she was just selling everything to get some quick cash. I asked if she was in trouble but she said no, so I didn't pry..." She kept babbling as she was bouncing up and down. It would have been annoying, but I was eager to hear anything I could about the mystery woman who was my mate.

I held my hand up to get her to stop. "I wish to pay seven hundred thousand for these two paintings. Two hundred thousand for your commission and five hundred thousand to go directly to the artist."

I almost laughed at the shocked look on her face. Her jaw fell open and she just stared at me. After a few shocked moments she finally said softly, "I... don't understand why you would want to buy them for so much."

I looked right into her eyes. "Because I can see that this artist is truly gifted. And, if you give me the artists information, I will add another one hundred thousand to your commission. That is also to pay for your discretion. I wish to remain anonymous."

Her eyes nearly popped out of her head and I could see her thoughts warring inside with deciding whether it was worth the money to give out her artists private information, but it was a pitifully short war, as I knew it would be. I narrowed my eyes at her. It had better only be me she ever gives out information on my mate, or we would meet again under very different circumstances.