Chapter 119
“One of my many hidden talents,” he chuckled, his eyes crinkling into
happy slits at my enjoyment. Something about making me happy
seemed to genuinely please him, and the feeling was mutual. In a
world where everyone wanted something from me, Jack Lowell’s
simple kindness was refreshing.
“Thank you so much,” I started to say again, but stopped when I noticed his expression change. His gaze had fixed on my design
sketches, and his eyes suddenly glistened with what looked like
unshed tears.
“Mr. Lowell?” I asked gently. “Are you okay?”
He blinked rapidly, seeming to come back to himself. “I’m sorry, my
dear. I just…” He gestured vaguely toward my sketches. “Your work
reminded me of someone.”
“Of who?” I asked, curious about this sudden emotional reaction.
“My daughter,” he said softly. “She was a member of our Lowell pack,
lost to us many years ago.”
I immediately brought over the second chair from my small garden
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set, placing it near him. “Please, sit down.”
Jack lowered himself into the chair with a grateful nod. “She had a similar artistic sensibility–saw beauty in the space between things, not just in the things themselves.”
“She was a designer too?” I asked, settling into my own chair. Female
designers weren’t common in werewolf communities, where most
women were still pushed toward more “suitable” roles.
“Yes, though not many knew. She had extraordinary talent.” His voice
held a mixture of pride and deep sadness. “We lost her during a pack
conflict
years ago. She simply… disappeared.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, meaning it. The pain in his eyes was still fresh,
despite the years that must have passed.
He smiled sadly, then deliberately changed the subject, gesturing
toward my sketches. “These are quite good. Are they for the Polaris
Studio competition? Ethan mentioned it to me.”
I nodded, feeling a small flutter of pride. “Yes, this will be my first
major competition entry since…” I hesitated, then finished, “since
leaving the Grey family.”
“May I?” he asked, reaching toward the sketches. When I nodded, he
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picked them up with careful hands, studying them with the trained
eye of someone who understood design.
“I’m planning to use elements that suggest moonlight and wolf
shadows,” I explained, “but subtle enough that human viewers won’t
recognize the werewolf cultural references.”
Jack examined the designs with surprising expertise, asking technical
questions about materials and construction that revealed his deep
knowledge of jewelry design. I found myself relaxing as we discussed
creative approaches and technical challenges.
“You have a remarkable eye for balance,” he commented, returning my
sketches. “It’s rare to see someone so young with such a mature sense
of composition.”
Time passed quickly as we talked. Eventually, Jack glanced at his
watch and sighed. “I should let you get back to your work. I’ve taken
up enough of your time.”
“Not at all,” I assured him, rising to walk him to the gate. “Talking
with you actually helped me relax. Consider it payment for the
muffins.”
His face brightened at my words. “I’m glad to hear that.”
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As I opened the gate for him, I felt a strange reluctance to see him go.
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