Chapter 8 - Nile

Ever since our fight and my unwelcome kiss, Violet had been spending a lot of time out of the house. I didn't want to risk another blowout with my mate, so I called Luna April to see if she had any ideas on what Violet was up to.

"She didn't tell you?" April asked, sounding surprised. "Violet's been looking for a job. She said she needed something to keep her busy while you're at work and Penny is at preschool."

"I hope she knows she doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to," I said.

"I'm sure she does. But I know from experience that not having anything to fill the days with can become dull very quickly—even for an introvert like Violet," April said.

She wasn't wrong there. I had been a single father for a long time, so Penny and I already had a routine for our home life. I felt bad that I hadn't even bothered asking Violet if she needed anything to keep her entertained. I had assumed she would spend her days doing hobbies and seeking out new friends, but I should have known that wasn't all she would want to do. She was purpose-driven, unlikely to be content without a task that utilized her skills.

"Do you know if she's found any leads yet?" I asked.

"Nothing that I'm aware of," April said. "But she's only been looking for a few days. I'm sure she'll get something sooner or later."

I thanked April for her help and hung up the phone. I may have overlooked Violet's obvious need for employment and intellectual stimulation, but I already had a plan on how to make up for my shortcomings. Violet had always been an avid artist, and I had a feeling she would seek out a job within the art community if she was able to find a suitable position.

The local art shop was an eclectic mix of commercial needs and hobby crafting. Even more appealing was the fact that there was an art gallery and studio attached to the shop. It also happened to be owned by a werewolf from within our pack.

Walter and I had done some business together when I was remodeling my store a few years ago. He was an older man in his late sixties and a prominent member of the Pinedale Pack. We weren't particularly close, but I knew that he was often in need of seasonal help. I also hoped that my status as alpha would persuade him to help me out with my plan. Even if he said no, it wouldn't hurt to stop over and talk to him about Violet wanting a job.

"Good morning, Alpha Nile," Walter said when I entered the art shop. "What brings you in? Needing some more work done at the store?"

"Not right now, but you know you'll be the first person I call if I need anything," I assured him. "No one in the state has better work ethic and quality than you, Walt."

"I appreciate that," he said. "So, what is it that I can help with?"

"Actually, I came in to talk to you about my wife," I said.

"I haven't had a chance to talk much with the luna yet, but I heard she was a bit of an artist. I've been hoping she would stop in sometime so we could talk shop and I could show her some of the local art pieces we have on display. Do you need to get some supplies for her?" Walter asked.

"Not quite," I began. "Violet has been looking for a job and I have a feeling she might come in to ask if you have any openings. I wanted to see if I could streamline her application process and give you a heads-up. If she comes in to ask, would you be willing to hire her?"

"I'd be more than happy to. I could use the help, anyway, and I certainly owe you a favor for hiring me on that big job a few years back," Walter said.

"I really appreciate it, Walt. And don't tell her that I came in to talk to you, if you don't mind," I added quickly.

"Of course, Alpha," he replied. "Mum's the word. If she doesn't stop in, would you like me to give her a call and get the wheels moving? I'd be more than happy to."

"Let's give it a few days, but if she hasn't come in by Monday, I wouldn't mind you extending the offer yourself," I said.

Walter and I chatted for a bit longer about the pack before I bid him goodbye. As I left the shop, I decided to dash into the market across the street to grab a bite to eat before heading back to work. I purchased a sandwich and a bag of chips from the deli and was about to leave the store when I spotted Violet entering Walter's art store.

"That was fast," I muttered to myself. I had an inkling she might apply there, but I had no idea it would be so soon after I had made my own efforts to get her hired.

I moved away from the door to allow other patrons to go in and out while I spied on Violet from the deli's front window. She was only inside for about ten minutes when she emerged once again, grinning from ear to ear. I smirked, pleased that I had been able to help her, as I watched her make her way down the street back towards our house.

The rest of my day passed fairly quickly, and I was excited to get home and hear about Violet's day.

In the evening, I walked through the front door of the house, hoping that her good news would mean that she would be less inclined to be reclusive and withdrawn from me. Maybe with the prospect of starting a new job, she would find it in herself to open up to me as her partner. Instead, I found Violet sitting at the kitchen island, seething with anger.

"Is everything okay?" I asked. "Where's Penny?"

"She's fine. She's upstairs playing with her dolls. You , on the other hand, are about to be the opposite of fine," she said.

"Has something happened?" I asked.

"I got a phone call from your mother-in-law congratulating me on my new job," Violet began.

I had no idea how Diana got ahold of Violet's phone number, but that was far from the most pressing issue at the moment. I wasn't supposed to know about the job yet, so I decided to play dumb.

"You got a job? Where?" I asked.

"Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, Nile," she replied. "Walter told Diana that you came into the art shop today and made him give me the position. You've turned me into a fool in front of the pack."

My face turned red as I realized I had been caught out. Diana would be hearing from me about how she was treating my mate, but I needed to clarify what had actually happened this morning.

"I didn't make him give you the job," I insisted. "I came in to talk to him, mentioned that you might be looking for a job. I asked if he had any available."

"And then you told him to give the job to me," Violet said.

"You deserve the job," I told her, skirting around the issue. "You would have gotten it, anyway. I just wanted to help shorten the process by talking to Walter first."

"You just don't get it!" she exclaimed. "You are making me feel like I am dependent on you for every single thing in my life. I wanted to do something for myself, and you ruined my one opportunity to do that."

"What do you mean, your one opportunity? You can do anything you'd like to do."

"Don't you understand the position I'm in? I didn't choose this life. I didn't choose to be luna. I thought I was going to be heading back to Sparkle Hollow in just a few months, but now I live in Pinedale forever. I need to have the respect of the pack, but there is no way for me to earn it if you keep going behind my back and making me look like a fool," she said, her voice escalating with each sentence. "My entire life has always been about doing what is best for my pack, and I thought I had found one thing that could be just for me. But you had to go and make it about what you could do for me."

When she spelled out her circumstances, I began to understand that I had been going about this entire relationship the wrong way. I had thought I was making life easier for her, but what I was doing instead was making her feel trapped. She had come into this marriage with no agency, and I had prevented her from achieving any independence within it. She was entirely in the right for being upset about it, and I felt guilty for my actions.

I was about to apologize when Penny came down the stairs. She looked between Violet and me, sensing the tension in the room.

"Violet, are you leaving us? I don't want you to go," she said. Her voice was steady, but I could see glistening tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Violet's face transformed from anger to sympathy as she walked over to Penny and knelt down to hug her.

"No, sweetheart," she said. "I'm not going anywhere."