That first diaper change was an experience Corey would never forget. Neither of them were prepared for it. Oh, sure, they had diapers and they’d stocked up on baby clothes. They had a crib and bottles and formula, and every other basic essential.

What they did not have was skill as parents. That was apparent by the end of that first change, when they were both dripping wet and smeared with excrement, unsure whether to laugh or cry. The next several times were no better. Corey could have cared less. Every moment was worth it. It was the contented squint of Tobias’s eyes as he drank his formula, and the focused look on his round face when he passed gas. It was the way the baby nestled up under Dell’s chin as they napped together. Everything was perfectly imperfect.

Peace with the panthers had been reached, an arrangement sorted out. Exactly what kind of arrangement, Corey didn’t exactly know. That was for the police to know and no one else to find out. Peace was peace and that was all that mattered.

The first few weeks passed and the new family settled into a comfortable routine together, after which Dell had to go back to work. That first separation was difficult but necessary. Corey had no job, and didn’t even know what job he might want; in the meantime, someone had to pay the bills.

While Tobias was asleep, Corey crept into the bedroom and opened the nightstand drawer where he knew Dell kept all his drawings. He opened the sketchbook while lying on the bed and leafed through the pages. Each one had been separated by a piece of loose-leaf notebook paper, to keep the art from smudging.

There was the first attempt at drawing Corey, lifelike but somehow hesitant. The others after that were even better, showcasing an array of technique and details. Dell’s most common subject was Corey, but Dell also paid great detail to the background of his portraits, rendering the Montana skyline, the details of a tree, or the mundane yet comforting lines of a room in their home. Here and there, Dell had endeavored to draw himself, but it was clear that he had less patience for a self-portrait than he did for one of his mate.

And then there was one of his more recent drawings, presumably the first done after the birth. It depicted a little wolf cub, in which Tobias’s rounded features were clear. In fact, all of the rest of the sketches were Tobias in wolf form—imagined, since Tobias has not yet shifted—except for one. That one showed a silver wolf with black limbs, leaning against a much larger alpha. Around their legs was a blur of motion, a little wolf cub with indistinct markings. A family portrait.

Corey set the drawings down on the bed, his heart hammering in his throat from the power of his love. There were tears in his eyes but they didn’t sting, they were so gentle and full of happiness.

I know what I need to do.

Before he could do anything, Tobias stirred and started crying. Corey rose to attend to his needs, though he was aware of thoughts and possibilities turning over in the back of his mind.

It was several days before he could carry out his plan. There were things he needed to research, and a place that needed to be found. Only when all those prerequisites were fulfilled could he finally accomplish what he had set out to do.

“You seem eager today,” Dell remarked as he stood in front of the mirror, half-dressed and carefully shaving.

Corey reached out and stroked his love’s stomach, admiring the muscles there as he always did. “Maybe I am,” he said, evasively.

“What’s got you excited then?”

To keep from answering, Corey shoved a toothbrush in his mouth and focused on making his teeth cleaner than ever before. By the time he was done, Dell had long since lost interest.

Once the alpha was out of the house, Corey ran to the phone and snatched it up to dial a number that he had memorized by heart over the past couple of days.

“Butte Art Galleria and Studios. This is Cheryl speaking. How may I help you?”

He took a deep breath and began. “Hi, ma’am. I had a few questions and was wondering if you could answer them?”

“I can certainly try.”

He liked the woman immediately. She sounded professional but warm, as if she considered her position at the gallery to be more than just a job. “What kind of art do you display?”

“Well, all sorts, really. We specialize in showcasing paintings but we have accepted pencil drawings, pastels, statues… You name it. If it’s special, we take it.”

Pencil drawings. Score one.

“Okay.” He took another deep breath. He really had to focus on that or he’d be panting into the receiver like the wolf he was. “Do you take on new artists?”

He sensed a switch in her demeanor as some of the friendliness faded away. Cheryl knew this was no longer just a friendly call. “We do,” she said, cautiously. “Though they have to be exceptional. We host a new artist once a month. How well his art does will determine if we continue a partnership. I take it then that you’re interested?”

“I am, but not for me. My…” He almost said mate. “…boyfriend is very talented and I’m not just saying that because he’s my boyfriend! I want to prove to him what he can do.”

The caution remained in her tone. “Well, he would need to send us a portfolio of 5–10 of his best works. No more, no less. If we like them, we’ll be in touch.”

That seemed simple enough.

“How can he do that?”

“There will be a tab on our website just for this,” Cheryl replied. “Everything you need to know will be there. Would you like me to get you the link?”

“No, no. I think I can find it on my own. Thank you, ma’am. You’ve been a huge help.”

The smile returned. “Anytime. Have a good day, sir.”

Pleased with himself, Corey spent the rest of the day almost prancing around the house until Dell came home. The alpha was so suspicious of his actions that there was no hiding from him what he’d done. Corey spilled everything.

“Absolutely not, baby.” Dell held their son, letting the baby play with his finger. “I don’t…”

“…want that responsibility,” Corey finished. “I know. That’s like your life’s motto.”

“I just don’t have the ambition for this.”

“So? You don’t have to be ambitious to just try something! And what do you have to lose? Just imagine! If you sold anything, we could get a head start on Toby’s college fund.”

“Oh god, college,” Dell groaned.

It wasn’t quite agreement, but Corey considered it a victory anyway. Three days later, after much deliberation, they emailed the gallery using the link provided on the website. The portfolio was in the attachments where it belonged.

One week passed, then two. Corey still held out hope. After all, a gallery had to be a busy place.

On the third week, their phone rang. Neither of them recognized the number.

“Don’t answer it,” Dell called from the living room where he sat with his sketchpad on his knee.

Corey answered it. “Hello?”

“Hello.” In a flash, he recognized that voice. It was Cheryl, the woman he’d spoken to before. “Is this Corey Valentine?”

“It is,” he confirmed. “Remember me?”

“Oh, I do. Is your boyfriend home? I believe we have much to discuss.”

As Corey headed to his alpha, the love of his life, he grinned. I told you that you were something special.

 

The End