Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 232 - One Wolfy Companion Is Being Catty...

***[POV: ’New Face’ Vixen]***

I rotated slowly as I thought of all the information I released to her, getting a feel on how the cut of the garment didn’t fight any of my bodily movements. This coat practically promising not to restrict me, just like she did.

Well designed to enhance rather than hide curves - unlike the cheap but serviceable jacket I’d obtained through charity. I suppose when it comes to clothes truly fit for royalty, items that you can pick up at any ’big box’ store are not going to cut it.

"Excellent. It does rather seem like it will photograph beautifully, but we won’t know until we get to that point. The key part is that it doesn’t swallow you, which can be a significant problem with outerwear shoots."

Understanding what Mr. Laurent meant from the tutorials I watched, he was speaking of how some thinner people can get lost in structured pieces. And how not so thin models could still have problems with fitting depending on the piece.

> But that was clearly no worry with his design, but I may be biased. I really do think this would look good on nearly anyone! <

Proof of that is the belt closure, which would allow for an even better fitting for all sizes and all sorts of underlayers. The coat was nice on me before but transformed as Simone closed it, creating far cleaner lines of drape that followed my natural waist.

"Perfect. Can I take some samples?"

Jess said while raising her camera again and looking at the people in charge. They nodded at her and she smiled while stepping up closer.

"Can you walk a few steps now? Also-"

I took several steps forward, stopped, turned back slowly... and generally followed all of her instructions for a while - except the sudden one to ’flip off’ the camera. Which I think was some sort of test. One that made Anise groan out loud and cover her face.

Catching some whispering between her and Ember, I come to understand what is going on. As well as why she had been nervous.

> So this is the niece... and they are a bit more estranged than it seemed. Interesting. Do you think I should get her number to use as a weapon against the meddling seamstress? <

My wolf huffs loudly, not at all pleased that I am thinking of getting women’s numbers. In my mindscape, my current form appears to roll my eyes before grabbing on and rubbing against the sides of its jaw.

> Already I have a feeling that one pretty white wolf will be insufferably jealous like this, I don’t need you to think I’m so promiscuous either. Just because I didn’t follow her back home after what we did... <

It also sends impressions back at me, bits and pieces that I’d shared with it already of my time with wealthy merchant’s daughters. As well as something like a connection between them and why I seem to understand certain aspects of business so well.

Hanging around them required at least learning enough about merchants to know how, where, and when to sneak into their homes to bed their daughters. As well as how much I could realistically... borrow.

> Look we already established that I consider late twenties as still young, okay? Just think of those admittedly fun and relaxing indiscretions as- VRIKA! <

My wolf barked loudly while sending a shared memory from Helene. A movie where someone was talking about seeking out ’sugar mommies’. Curling my fists when its blue eyes will not meet mine, I curse loudly while turning all... most of my focus away from there.

Though not before I douse retaliation on the entire center of my soul, drenching it’s favorite slab of | Guardian’s Composure | with thick honey mixed with chili spices. HAH!

"Are you alright? Did you eat something that is giving you indigestion? Or is the jacket getting too warm in here?"

Blinking, I shake my head at the concerned seamstress, who had wandered over to check on me while the others were looking at the photos taken. On a screen that the grad-student connected her digital camera to with a set of cables.

"Just got struck by some silly thoughts. Sometimes the truth hurts. But I’m fine. Are you?"

Pale blue eyes wince and look away. A soft sigh comes from the normally so optimistic woman.

"Did she say something that made it obvious?"

"Other than specifically choosing an aunt for me to pretend to be defiant to? Not really. But you were staring at her like you knew her and were concerned about something."

"I see. Well, yes. It’s my niece. Ember apparently thought it would be a lovely repayment to get us into the same room again."

Nodding at her while also listening to them discuss me quietly - or rather the combination of model and garment as one promising piece of art, I try to think of what to say. Ultimately, I decide only something slightly ’lame’ will do to fix her mood.

"She seems nice. Do you think if I exuberantly pet her on the head she’ll get even madder at you?"

"Please don’t. She really likes you and that’s already a big bonus in my favor today."

"I know. They all like me. That’s kind of why I want to ruin it for you."

Giving me a very evil side-eye, like she is both not sure I’m serious and wants to threaten me in case I am... her elbow looks like it wants to dart out and poke me in the side. If only I wasn’t wearing a coat that probably cost as much as one of those nice chairs.

A good reason to buy one of these, to be honest. If I was wearing my cheap jacket and said that, she probably would have delivered a number of stomach punches before I could react.

"Relax. I meant that in the most friendly way possible. And now... we’re even."

"Even for what?"

"For you getting drunk and putting someone else in a group chat, sending her pictures that I didn’t give you permission to send."

Once again her eyes swim to the side. She seems to be doing that a lot today.

"You must be remembering a different Anise. I’m afraid she is no longer with us."

"Oh? That’s a shame. I liked her more than this one."

"Ouch. Why?"

> Pretending to be wounded, or at least pretending to pretend. No, I’m still not talking to you, I was just checking to see that the fountain of sticky sweet spice is still running! <

Reaching up and poking her lightly in the side of the temple, I return some of the physical friend gesture she showed me by flicking her skull very lightly. Probably far lighter than she did to me, making sure that I had no werewolf enhancing going on.

"Because that past one made me feel better about a few things a number of times already since I met her, but this present one right here is making me worry. If you need my help or advice - for whatever little it is worth - please don’t hesitate. Okay?"

"...Yeah."

"That was a little quiet. Do you make all your vows in a mumble?"

My entire body shakes the feeling away violently, once. Because that just sounded like my vocal etiquette instructor... and because of that old lady, it also sounds like my mother.

> Unironically... oh, I believe this is that ’cringe’ feeling that youthful humans here describe! <

"Yeah. Okay. I promise. If I need your help with her, I’ll ask. I guess you are close to her age."

With a little chuckle, I raise my hand up near her head. What I intended was more than obvious... with my smirking as it hovers over her crown-like braid of blonde hair.

She gives me an awful look before I can even deliver a line!

"Does that mean that in her place I can-"

"No. Don’t you dare, Citra. Why would you even want to do that to a poor old woman?"

Without even getting the chance to tell her I had not actually wanted to, but certainly do now... Ember flops his own hand onto her hair. Though he does not shake it side to side like I was going to.

"If you’re old that makes me old, so lets not start throwing that word around, hm? I think we’ve seen enough. You can take the coat off now, Ms. Lomdi - carefully, please."

When I look at him, I also find that the expected pulse is happening on the checkmark of the Apocalypse System. Considering I’ve never seen what happens during a failure, I can only assume that it was a resounding success.

> Though this would certainly be a crushing way to discover failure... <

My task to ’impress the project lead’ seemed so straightforward. But I guess I should have thought it through more. After all, he was already supposed to have been impressed by the photos Anise sent.

Maybe the ’establish professional identity’ part was the real key that I was missing before. And whatever they were discussing has sealed it. As soon as Anise finishes helping me keep the coat from touching the floor, she whirls on Maia and steps over that way like an entirely different person.

Almost like a soldier going to war... or a merchant going to a new market.