fault for not seeing the signs, for assuming that she was alright because she projected that resilience of power in every step she took and every move she made. I’d known Willow long enough to confirm how much she despised relying on others. It was a defense mechanism from years of trauma, years of being tortured, abused, neglected, and the list could go on and on.
No matter how many times I inquired whether she was alright, I was sure she would answer the same.
I'm fine, Viktor. You worry too much.
My mind recalled the elevator ride on the day of the sudden deal meeting - the smothering touch of Willow's lips pressing against mine to get us out of confronting those Russian agents.
That kiss threw me so off orbit, my wolf almost fucked up my damn career. If I hadn't reeled him in, the whole guarding job would have been thrown out the window.
Instead, we'd have been devouring Willow's lips before fucking her senseless against the mirrored walls.
I normally never interfered with what my wolf wanted. His animalistic needs being met would give me the level of concentration I needed to do my job. But his response to Willow's sudden intimacy would fuck shit up so hard, I wouldn't be able to fix it.
I wasn't ready to walk on that path yet, to admit that this little girl I watched go through the hardships no child, teenager, or young adult should endure was now a woman that made my heart beat fast and my cock harden at the mere thought of her being in my grasp.
Even now, she looked so fucking gorgeous, and her tamed fury only made her more attractive. If only things were different. I'd already have had her against the wall, her short dress lifted enough for me to slip my hand between her thighs and taunt her until she begged to be fucked.
Focus.
"It could be because you're Willow and it's late afternoon," I suggested. "Your magic isn't used to you not expelling the magic you use to maintain William."
"Good point," she replied. "I'll try to get back into routine. Which reminds me: why did you stress we need three months off?"
"When an Alpha falls ill, it's allowed to be kept a secret for three months. If you announce Roberto's having health issues, every enemy he's made is going to come out of the woodwork to kill him or take you out," I revealed. "You may be the new owner of his assets in the business world, but in the world of wolves, Roberto has made far more enemies and their packs are antsy to get the opportunity to take the De Lucas down."
"Hmph." She fixed her glasses to sit higher on her face, but I could still catch a glimpse of them from the side. "They think because he's not present they can waltz in and destroy everything he worked for?”
"It's a smart move," I admitted. "Taking advantage of when an Alpha is down."
"Smart, indeed," she replied. "I shouldn't even care."
"Yet, you do," I whispered.
"Regrettably," she sighed.
I moved my hand further to slip around her waist. She didn't seem hesitant to relax against me, her eyes closing briefly.
"Willow," I whispered and didn't hide my worry.
"I'm okay," she assured me. "Aurelia said I'd feel weak on and off until I adjusted to my meds. I'm a bit glad for this break and that Dimitris approved it. I'm not sure I can deal with these blows from all angles."
Her voice was barely audible, as if she were embarrassed to admit she was struggling.
"Dimitris surely isn't showing it, but I'm sure he feels your pack's exhaustion."
"Ya," she admitted. "Neo's pretty tired, which makes him slightly irritated. Onyx is burned out. I can see it, even if the rest of them can't. Saint and Jayce feel equally tired. Not crazy exhausted, but I'm sure if we went on an intense mission of some sort, something would be skipped by accident. Dimitris feels like a train wreck ready to happen. I wonder how much I can pay Aurelia to drug him for a week?"
That actually amused me. "Would you be willing to face the consequences?"
"Probably not," she said with amusement as her lips quirked up slightly. "But would he punish me as William?"
I didn't need time to reply to that. "Nah. He’s love-stricken."
She giggled and let out a long sigh. "These last few days have been a lot."
I held her a little tighter as if she needed me to be her wall