NOVEL NEXT Chapter 562: Keeping secrets
«Promise that you'll also keep the secret,» Luther said. «I don't want his name anywhere. Pike has to stay a secret, okay?»
«Sure. I promise,» Lara said. «All I'm interested in is whether he's dangerous. Because, you know... He's a wolf.»
«Yeah, I figured out as much,» Luther chuckled. «He's not just a wolf. He's... He's the twins' grandfather. Robert Woods.»
«What?» Lara said, her eyes widening in surprise.
She's been so worried for the presence of a mysterious wolf in Nate's territory, and it turned out it was his father? How could that be?
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«All these paintings had been painted long ago. In his youth, he had the hobby of drawing and painting. Especially night sceneries, for some reason. I went to check the few days scenes he ever drawn, and the moon was somewhere in the sky... Once I found out he was a werewolf, everything made a little more sense,» Luther explained.
«So, Pike is actually Robert Woods,» Lara repeated, still shocked. Her cubs liked those paintings because, indeed, they had been made by a wolf. Who happened to be their real grandfather.
Could their senses and instinct be so precise? But Nate liked the paintings too.
«Your kids like those paintings, don't they?» Luther chuckled. «I bet he used colours only they can see. And the moon, everywhere! How could I not notice earlier?»
«A human being wouldn't think of that,» Lara said. She wouldn't have considered the moon as weird if she didn't know what effect it had on her family and her pack.
«Well, long story short, Robert painted them. He used to sell them in a similar way as I do now, even though I have to admit my method works better... Except that I was found out but just because it was you, Lara. No one else will connect me to the paintings.»
«Really? Isn't the fact that they reappeared just when you came out of prison suspicious?»
«I've never been involved with art of any kind. I didn't even buy any painting during charity auctions. I was more curious about jewellery and stones...»
«Don't change the topic. We'll have time for investment lessons another day,» Lara said before he could start telling her his youth adventures. She wasn't one of the cubs, and she had priorities.
First, ensure Pike wasn't dangerous. Second, ensure anything related to Pike wouldn't hurt her family. And, since Pike was actually the pack's late Alpha, neither of those thoughts were settled yet.
«When I went to prison, Robert used to visit me from time to time. He felt bad for not being able to help me, even though... How could he? Also, the simple fact I was in love with his wife would have settled his guilt if he knew... Oh, whatever. He was a good friend.
He told me I could sell his paintings, for he had no use of them. He just liked painting and, since I was in need, he would give them to me.»
«When did he give them to you?»
«He gave me a key to the place where he had stacked them. He was keeping them in a garage. I'm so lucky they weren't ruined by humidity and such... But it was nice from his side.»
«Was it?»
«He said he would plead with the judge to let me get out earlier, and that I could use the paintings to build a new life. A new company, if they gave me my civil rights back. If not, I could simply live off the income from selling the art.»
«When did this happen?»
«About seven years ago. He would sell the paintings from time to time, one or two a year. But he painted way more than just two. The rest was staked in that garage. All he asked was to keep the secret about his identity. With the public, though.»
«Not with his family?»
«I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that his grandchildren like his art.»
«Am I supposed to tell Nate?» Lara wondered. «I mean, Robert Woods wanted you to keep the secret. Secret, you know?»
«He didn't want everyone to know, for some reason. Maybe it's related to his nature. Being a wolf, he couldn't accept his artistic side or whatever.»
«I guess he didn't want his role to be challenged. Wolves are like that,» Lara sighed. «But wouldn't telling his family be the right choice? They would know that they still have something from him.»
«Robert didn't know he was going to die. Even the plead didn't pass through because he died before he had time to finish it. Among his things, I found a special painting I'm sure he doesn't want me to sell.»
«Really?» Lara said.
«It's intended for a specific person. But I haven't delivered it yet. I was waiting to be discovered, I bet...»
«And what is the painting of? For whom?»
Luther shook his head. «I won't tell you now. There's another person who deserves to hear and see first.»
«Just because I discovered you! If I hadn't, you would be still hiding everything.»
«Who knows?» Luther chuckled. «Maybe I just wanted to wait a little longer. Just a little...»
«Are you going to continue selling the paintings, though? Even now that I know?»
«I'm not doing it illegally. Robert even signed a paper where he leaves the rights to me. Not of every single painting, but I'm selling only those I'm allowed to. Also, I need the money.»
«For your revenge?»
«Something like that.»
«You're buying my parents' competitors, that's right. I was wondering where did the money come from.»
«Now, you know. I've also done some investments while I was in prison, but nothing too loud not to attract attention. I used proxies and stuff.»
«You should have used a proxy for the paintings as well.»
«Oh, that wouldn't have felt right. I didn't want Robert's art to pass through a stranger's hands. Like this, I know every painting will end up in the right house, treasured.»
«You miss him, don't you?»
«Oddly enough, I do.»