16.55
Alexander’s POV
I had to say, this was the most interesting talk I’ve had with Isabella since. It was hard to decide how I felt about it. I don’t remember the last time we had a conversation without arguing harshly and throwing insults back and forth. I admit, I had been thrown off at first at the way she responded when I made a jab about her job and said that she wasn’t doing good at it. I had expected the fire I had gotten used to to flame in her eyes but all I had gotten was calm submission.
It took a few more tries to find that it wasn’t real and she was suppressing her desire to bite my head off. Yet even when we eventually argued, she managed to be calm and civil about it and I gave her props for that, knowing that she would most likely throw a tantrum as soon as I left. Leaving her office, her secretary, Tanya bowed to me to which I just nodded and carried on, seeing her go to knock on Isabella’s door, a cup of coffee in her hand.
On getting back to my own office, I met Blake waiting outside for me so I opened the door for us to go in. Now seated, I raised my eyebrow.
“Did you think about what I said? About the exhibition and how it’s a great idea to introduce yourself properly to the Alphas and other top figures from neighboring packs.”
“Yes. I did actually. I thought I had already given you feedback on that. I think it’s a great idea.”
Blake nodded, “We’ll start preparing for it immediately. I had already begun to source out some new, exotic paintings from all over that would look good in our gallery. I showed them to you if
III
16:57
Fifteen
you remember. Should I go on and make the purchase?”
“Sure, just let me go through them again.”
Blake nodded.
“How is the rogue situation? Any attempts on our pack?”
288 Vouchers
Blake shook his head, “Rogues scents have not even been picked up in a while. Everything is fine.”
I hummed, raising my brow. Since when did rogues not care about attempting attacks on packs? Whether they knew that the pack was strong and whether they would be killed anyway or not.
“Well, we shouldn’t relax. Keep up your guard still. You can never trust rogues. Their advantage is how cu nni ng they are. We would be able to kill a rogue with our eyes closed but I would still hate for them to catch us unaware.”
Blake nodded, “You’re right.”
I looked at the papers before me, “I guess that’ll be all for now. Kindly do me a favor and send for Isabella on your way out.”
Blake bowed slightly and left. I had told him countlessly that there was no need for that but I guess I was just going to have to get used to it since it appeared he wasn’t going to listen. Then I co ck ed my head, should I just use my Alpha tone? He’s definitely not going to have a choice then. But I shook my head, knowing that that was just insane.
Not too long after, I heard a knock at the door and sensed that it was Isabella, shocked that she was here so fast. I sat up in my seat before calling out for her to come in. The door opened and sure enough, it was her. She stepped into my office and my eyes
16-571
Fifteen
288 Vouchers
followed her as she came to stand in front of my desk.
“You may sit,” I said and she did just that. “We have an art exhibition coming up which will be hosted by our pack. Numerous Alphas and other top dignitaries would be in attendance. Not only do I require a lot of effort to go into preparing the art gallery for this occasion, but I also require you to make a new painting for the exhibition. Something that would ‘wow’ people.”
She finally looked up, her brows narrowed, “How soon is this… event, Alpha?”
“Soon,” I said simply, my jaw tensing slightly. I decided that what I hated the most about this new persona of hers had to be her calling me that. What happened to calling me by my actual name? What fueled this particular decision?
“Okay, but the thing is, I can’t just come up with something spectacular on a whim. Over the past years since my last painting went up on the walls of the gallery, I have made other paintings but none of them were all that great. Inspiration for great paintings doesn’t just come to you whenever you wish it to. It takes continuous trial and error and I don’t know if I would be able to come up with something quick enough.”
“I just love how you think you have a say.” I said and watched as her face fell, “If it’s so hard, I guess you’d better start as quick as you could and paint until you produce something as worthy as the rest of your works. Is that understood, Isabella?”
She took a while to answer that and I could feel myself getting ticked with each second she took, “Yes, Alpha.”
I gritted my teeth, “Since when do you call me that?”
I thought I could see amusement swimming in her eyes which only
37.605
16:57
Fifteen
288 Vouchers
ticked me off further, “It’s what your subjects call you, Alpha.” She said simply and in a second I had gotten up and was sitting at the edge of the table in front of her. I leaned into her.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at but don’t you ever forget that I can make your life miserable with the most minimal of efforts.”
“You already have.” She whispered under her breath before smiling softly like she had not said anything.
I moved away from her, “Get out.”
She stood up and bowed slowly before turning to leave.
“I will be coming around to check your progress. You either come up with something great or risk losing your position.” I said, satisfied when I saw her back tense before she finally opened the door and left.
I went back to sit at my desk, wondering how she managed to push my buttons the way she did. Somehow, she managed to push her way into my thoughts every single time which didn’t help with me just taking over such a great position in such a great pack. I still had so much to learn and was trying every day to prove to my pack that I was not going to lead them into destruction and that I could be the Alpha they deserved.
The pack loved my father. He put the pack first in everything and I remember being jealous of the pack at some point in my life. I thought my dad cared more about his position as Alpha than his own son but I guess it was the sacrifice he had to make. Not that he didn’t care about his family. I had come to understand that it was a matter of him not showing that care as much as I wished he would.
That was all in the past now and he was the best guide I could
58 53%
16:57
Fifteen
288 Vouchers
ever ask for in becoming the Alpha I wished to be. He was always ready to offer advice and answer my questions. I think the only thing I would do differently would be never to let the people I care about ever doubt my devotion.
I worked well into the evening and when I decided I had done. enough for the day, I went to dismiss my secretary knowing she had a family to get back to and I would hate to keep her too long just because I was still in the office. I knew that in a year from now when I was fully accustomed to my job as the Alpha, I may not need to spend as much time here but it wasn’t like I’d know what to do with all that time anyway.
Strolling around the pack house, I decided that having people bow to me at every second was something I’d really need to get used to as I let my feet lead me until I was at one of the balconies.
Something pulled towards me and I looked in that direction, shocked to see Isabella sitting on a stool in front of a large canvas and dipping her brush into her palette of colors. I settled into my position and watched her. Her hair was tied up in a lazy but cute messy bun and something stirred inside me at the sight of her exposed neck.
Forcing my eyes away, I looked at her canvas which was already covered with several paint strokes in multiple colors. I couldn’t quite make out anything but if there was one thing I had learned about art, it was that you needed to trust the process.
Granted, I didn’t think she’d obey since I didn’t force her into it with my Alpha tone but I was glad she was doing it anyway. I would really like her to come up with something new for the exhibition and I know she’d be proud of it at the end of the day.
