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Alexander’s POV
I held my iPad in my hands like I had been doing before she walked in but I was no longer using it. From above the top edge of the device, I watched Isabella’s internal debate with herself and the fury in her eyes as I further forced her off her high horse. I knew how much she would hate doing this which is why I would not give her a choice.
Blake leaned into me, “It’s okay, we can help ourselves.” He said but I refused to entertain him. It annoyed me how everyone in the room seemed to become tense because of this little scene she was creating.
“I’ll do it.” She finally said and I looked up, co cki ng my head at her now neutral expression. The crease in her forehead had smoothed out as well and I heard her take a deep breath before she took a few steps forward to pick up the coffee again.
Even with the possibly heavy tray in her hands, she walked upright, her heels clicking against the floor with purpose. I saw the once nervous guys, follow her with their eyes and regard her like she was some meal ready to be devoured, and something twisted in my stomach. Had I made a mistake? Had I made her seem more attainable to these guys by bringing her to this level? She probably snubbed these guys in the club and seeing her do this may just boost their morale to flirt with her and it surprised me how I quickly visualized strangling anyone who would so much as make a suggestive comment towards her.
I thought she moved impossibly slow as she dropped cups in front of the guys and I willed her to pick up the b loo dy pace so she could finish quickly and leave. I know I couldn’t call out these guys I leave. I know I cou
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for the shameless use of their eyes since it would only cause suspicion but I can tell you, it needed a lot of self-control to sit through.
When she passed by Caleb, he didn’t check her out but I saw him smirk and wave at her. An action which she blatantly ignored as she dropped the coffee and moved on. My lip turned up in a small amused smirk. I had seen them in the kitchen. I could see whatever room of the house I wanted to since they were all fitted with tiny cameras and I could watch from my iPad and yes, I admit to looking around for Isabella but it was really only to make sure that she did what I asked and didn’t run off.
Yeah, right.
“Shut up,” I said to my wolf as my jaw ticked once more when I saw someone follow her with his eyes and I was just about to snap when she reached me. I heard a sound, like something hit against the leg of my chair, and the next thing I knew, I had hot coffee pouring all over my white shirt, from the arm nearest to Isabella to some parts of my chest as it continued to spread.
I brought my hand down on the table before turning to glare at her. I saw fear flash in her eyes before she stumbled back slightly. From my other side, Blake’s hand clamped down on my wrist but I just shook him off. I could feel the tension return to the room as everyone watched, wondering what I would do with the fury that clearly showed on my face.
Meet me in my office. NOW!
I saw her eyes widen and I knew she had gotten the message. It was the first time I would actually use my Alpha tone on Isabella, the one she couldn’t disobey even if she wanted to. I had never used it on her before. Other times I had just given her instructions
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which she had chances to disobey if she was daring enough. I stood up from my seat and stormed out, hearing her reluctant but resigned steps behind me.
My secretary stood up at my entrance only to sit back down when it became obvious that she wasn’t needed. I walked past her and into my own office where I placed one hand on my desk and let the other run through my hair in frustration.
I was frustrated at myself, at the guys at the meeting, at Isabella and when she closed the door behind her, I pinned all that frustration on her, before going to pin her to the wall. Her wrists were tightly secured in my hands and her lips parted in shock and fright. I heard her heartbeat pick up as her eyes darted left and right. At such a proximity, I could smell her better but instead of her scent to calm me down, it somehow infuriated me even more.
“You know Isabella, if you really wanted to see anyone all wet, you could’ve just taken daddy’s money and paid for a hotel room instead and do what you do best!” I raged and I saw something snap immediately.
Her face flamed red and her brows narrowed impossibly. She tried to yank herself free from me but I was too strong and it only showed how angry she was when she kept trying, kept pulling until I eventually relaxed my grip and she broke free.
“I hate you.” She spat and her eyes abruptly filled with tears which was something that threw me off balance but I refused to falter.
“I hate you so much and I know for certain that I don’t deserve the way you talk to me. You don’t get to use your Alpha position to bully people, Alexander! That’s not what it’s for! What I do best is not sleep around as you find pleasure in accusing me. In fact, it may interest you to know that I have only ever slept with one man
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in my entire life and we were in a relationship until I caught him cheating with my best friend.”
She breathed heavily, “What I do best, Alexander is my job which you pulled me away from this morning to get coffee. If this isn’t madness, I don’t know what is so even if you refuse to acknowledge me and be the mate I dreamed to have, can you kindly leave me alone? Why don’t you just leave me alone if you think I’m such a w h ore?” She screamed, her face soaked with
tears.
Everything inside me wa’s screaming at me to go and comfort her since I couldn’t help but feel her hurt through the bond and it took serious restriction to keep myself in place.
I moved further away from her and watched her compose herself and something twisted inside me at the thought that this must be how she dealt with her problems. She didn’t have anyone in her life right now except her parents who I doubted she could go to to cry about the stuff she dealt with as a grown woman. Plus, I did tell her not to tell anyone about us being mates.
To think that she gets emotional with no one to cry to and is left to pick herself back up all by herself, pierced something inside me. She had no support system and at this time, the pull towards her was much stronger as my wolf was basically dragging me towards her to…to be that for her but luckily I train my person as well as I train in wolf form so I held my ground. She sniffed her last and produced a handkerchief from goddess knows where. Seconds later there was no trace of her having just cried.
It was chilling because I realized that this woman could be having a hard time and just put on that fierce mask she always wore and I’ d never know.
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I ignored my wolf and straightened my posture. She was back to the normal Isabella. Shoulders squared and jaw set, her eyes icy as usual and her lips unsmiling. Seeing her less vulnerable made it easier for me to be less feeling toward her. I quickly took off my ruined shirt before throwing it at her feet.
“I want that shirt washed, dried, ironed, and returned to me in person tomorrow,” I instructed.
I half expected her to fight or argue or say she won’t do it but she simply bent down and picked it up, “Yes, Alpha. Anything else?”
I faltered, “N-no.”
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“Alright. I would like you to remember that every staff member in this pack house is paid for the work that they do. There is someone whose job includes making coffee and I’m sure there are people employed to wash your clothes. Nowhere in my job description states that I have to do these things and I’ve never had to do it until now. It’s alright though, make me do these odd jobs as much as you want, but I expect to be paid for it, Alpha.”
Her voice was calm and collected and when she was done, she gave a small bow which I couldn’t help but feel mocked by before going to open the door and even gently closed it behind her as she left.
My fist slammed into the wall before I could help it, and
remembering that I had a meeting to attend, I went to find a clean shirt.
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