Ten
1288 Vouchers
Isabella’s POV
My entire body felt sore as I dragged myself out of the training room and back into my car. I know there are washrooms and changing rooms back here but I’d rather go back home to wash up and get ready for work especially since the place was going to be filled with guys.
Although I headed to the art gallery and couldn’t get into any trouble for coming late as long as the place was running smoothly regardless, I still hurried, personally not wanting to be too late. since I was definitely going to be late already. After a quick bath, I dressed in the outfit I had already picked out before grabbing my keys and heading out. Since I hadn’t really had anything to eat. except for the protein shake I drank earlier, I stopped at my favorite cafe to get something to go before continuing my journey
to work.
The place had already begun to fill up which was something that always gave me some sort of pride. As an artist, a lover of art, and also a proud member of my pack, it gave me joy to see all these werewolves come from different parts of the world just to see our art. My lips lifted in a small smile as they usually did before my face evened out again.
With every step I took only to have my muscles burn, I cursed Alexander for making me train with men, and not just men but the men who were supposed to be the strongest in the pack. Unexpectedly, I enjoyed myself quite a bit so in case he had wanted to make me suffer since he was only capable of wickedness, I was absolutely glad that he had seen me in good spirits at the end of the day. I honestly planned to remain angry
and miserable but after I had grudgingly listened to Blake’s advice and gone to calm myself down, I came back and shocked
everyone by beating him.
The adrenaline rush had been amazing as well as the joy of winning the beta of my pack in a wrestling game. I refused to agree that it was because he went easy on me. I’ve always been an exceptional fighter and I’ve even tackled Ryder to the floor once and while training with the women, I’ve always been described as someone quite fast as well as strong. I smiled again, reminiscing about my victory today.
1
I forced myself to keep a straight face as I walked to my office, hearing the staff whisper about me. How any werewolf thought it was sensible to whisper about another werewolf in the same room with them was beyond me. We all knew we had sensitive hearing, so how could people I could fire with only a word whisper to each other about how tired I looked? What did it matter to them how tired I looked? Finding no one else to blame and bear my vexation, I cursed Alexander once more.
I gave my secretary a curt reply to her greeting before unlocking my door and stepping in. After taking off my jacket and hanging it, I went to open the windows before finally sitting down. It was a routine, hang my jacket before either opening the curtains and windows or turning on the air conditioning. That last one was dependent on the state of the weather and today I happened to think it was too chilly for air conditioning.
As I brought out some paperwork from my desk drawer, my mind flitted to another memory from earlier today -the way Alexander’s eyes had burned into my skin for the entire time I was there. I don’t know if he thought I wouldn’t realize it just because I didn’t turn to acknowledge it but his stare was so intense and it literally followed. me, it was impossible not to feel it. When I finally gave in and lifted
19.68%
12:08
my eyes to him, he was shirtless and his hard, muscled chest was dripping with sweat. I had averted my gaze as quickly as I could but I had also nearly lost my footing. It annoyed me that I had immediately gotten flustered, my heart rate picking up and a blush dusting my cheeks. Just what exactly was he playing at, I had wondered.
I shook my head, ridding my mind of such thoughts but just before I could properly concentrate on my work, the phone rang and I picked it up and greeted whoever it was on the other end formally.
“Isabella.”
I gasped and taken by surprise, I embarrassed myself by stuttering, “A-Alexander?”
“I need you in my office right now.” He said before the line immediately went dead.
My jaw ticked and I glared at the phone like it was the enemy. How could he just demand my presence?! And ending the call immediately after so I couldn’t even put in an argument. Does he not realize that as much as he had work to do, so did I? He may run the bl oo dy pack but I run this art gallery and I do not take my responsibility lightly. These days though, whenever I wanted to defy Alexander, I’d remember Blake’s words about how he was the Alpha and it was not advisable to go against the Alpha’s
commands.
I cursed before getting up and grabbing my bag. I was impressed when my secretary did not ask me questions. Surely she had to have finally gotten used to me not answering questions I deemed unnecessary and if I had anything to tell her, I would just do that.
I walked the familiar path to the Alpha’s office and just because I did not want to give him any form of respect, I pushed the door
12:09
open, not bothering to knock. His secretary was not here today and I assumed that she had been sent on an errand or something.
I had been in Alexander’s office for a full minute and he had not bothered to acknowledge my presence. He just continued working with no reaction even when I had walked in to show that he knew that I was in here. But I knew that he knew and I know that he was trying to spite me and it was working.
Giving up, I finally cleared my throat and Alexander sat up. I rolled my eyes at him before raising my brow waiting to finally hear why exactly I had been called here.
“Oh, there you are,” Alexander said and I fought the urge to roll my eyes again. He looked at his watch, “I’m about to go in for a meeting. Go get coffee, will you?” He thought for a while and scratched his chin, “I’m expecting there’ll be about twelve of us at this meeting. Don’t bother with sugar or cream.”
The more he talked, the deeper my frown grew and my frown only mirrored a fraction of my anger.
“What is the meaning of this?!” I demanded. “What do I look like to you? You seem to always have a reason to try to vex me but this is simply annoying and childish! Do I look like your assistant? I’m pretty sure there are thousands of people from the staff in this pack house that you could send on such an errand but you called me!” A sigh left my lips.
“I have my own work cut out for me if you do not realize and as if it isn’t enough that you made me arrive at work late today because of your s tu id command for me to train with the fighters. And then-”
I paused to catch my breath “-and then Alexander, you go ahead and call me right in the middle of my own duties to tell me to fetch
12:08
coffee for twelve people? I won’t do it.”
He had been quiet until I finished talking and remained so for a few seconds before raising his head and looking at me, his deep brown eyes taking on the icy look he had reserved specially for me. I jutted out my chin still, refusing to cave in.
“You won’t do it, Isabella?” He spoke in a calm yet icy tone, “You would refuse my command because you’re so important and you have such an important job?” He said in a mocking voice that was meant to imitate me before laughing in a way that mocked me even more than his voice. I gritted my teeth.
“I’ll tell you what, Isabella. It’s either you do what I have just asked or kiss your little job that you love so much goodbye. Last time I checked, as the Alpha, I am perfectly capable of removing you from that position that you love so much. Since you’re so good at fighting, I may spare you a place in security.”
I stared at him angrily. How could he? How dare he threaten me like this? I breathed heavily as I thought of ways to possibly hurt him. I knew he could do it though, I knew he would hurt me like that because Alexander hated me. I took a deep breath and we both knew that I had resigned to my fate. A self-satisfied smirk appeared on his face.
“Black for all of them, don’t forget.” He called after me as I stormed off.
12:08
Isabella’s POV
I hate my mate
I hate my mate
I hate my mate
I turned that into a song and sang it about forty times as I made my way to the pack house kitchen downstairs. I cannot even believe the pettiness of him. What exactly was his point? What did he aim to achieve by pulling me from my own job and threatening to take it away from me if I don’t get coffee for him and whoever it was he was meeting with? I wondered what his father would say about this.
He keeps proving my point that he’s unfit for this role every single day. There were so many people capable of getting the Alpha coffee and running other errands but he chose to belittle me and my position by making me do it. My jaw ticked as I began to sing my I hate my mate song. It’s not like it’ll kill him to be even a little nice to me.
I know that if he fired me based on these circumstances it would be unfair but I believe more in Alexander’s hatred for me than fairness. I used to beat myself over my behavior the night we met and wonder how things would be if we had just met on the night of his party but I didn’t care about that anymore. Alexander has shown himself to be horrible and unfeeling and all I wish is that the moon goddess did not hate me so much as to pair me with him.
I have thought about rejecting him thousands of times but my wolf. would always whine and complain and I wondered how much ill-
