"You carry the burden of this pack and all the strings attached when you have someone designated to be your right-hand woman, and yet I'm left with barely any duties upon my desk aside from signing contracts for hours. And now you're expecting me to be silent when you change my entire schedule because you believe I'm ‘unwell.’ How do you think I should feel when my planned work day is sabotaged by my Alpha? And don't go trying to say I should be grateful, because I didn't ask for your aid nor did I require it!"
He actually took a minute to absorb everything I said before he replied. "I didn't like the fact that it felt like you were unwell," he began cautiously while assessing my reaction to his first statement.
When I didn't say anything, he continued, "As an Alpha, it's my duty to make sure my pack members are okay, including my Beta," he emphasized. "I've slacked at assigning you tasks because of my inability to rely on others, and though I've mentally acknowledged you're the Beta of the group, I want you to feel more established in the pack before tossing a bunch of tasks on your side of the court."
I felt like he was trying to make me feel bad, but his words only pissed me off because they held a hint of compassion to them, and I really didn't like that.
Because it made me feel like shit for overreacting.
"I'm not questioning the value you bring to the table, Willow," he stated quietly. "I'm just trying to ensure you're up for what I have in store for you before I throw you off a cliff without a parachute."
Smart, good-looking motherfucker.
"Then next time you want to be such a supportive Alpha, you'll learn how to communicate, like what you're doing now!" I lowered my outstretched leg and slipped right off the desk to walk away, but he caught onto me just as fast - his tugging force pulling me forward until I fell right into his lap.
He moved so quickly, I literally didn't grasp I was sitting on his lap until his hands remained on my hips while my hands were on his shoulders to stabilize myself. He moved the chair forward so my lower back hit the edge of the desk’s surface, leaving me sandwiched right in between.
His eyes were completely locked onto my wide ones before he decided to enlighten me on why the hell I was in his hold.
"You destroy every plan, assault each of our senses, and leave us craving nothing but you," Dimitris whispered before he reached out with one hand to hook it around my neck and pull me so close, our lips brushed. "I've been avoiding being in the same room as you work-wise because I can't think straight when you're around and I need to figure out why I can't assign you tasks knowing they'll be difficult and cause strain on your pretty little head."
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat as I fought to keep my anger at a high. I knew he could see right through me. See my obvious frustration with not being wanted when I was positive that wasn't his intention.
"I was in your office earlier and you were in the washroom vomiting. I didn't want to let you know I was there just in case you'd feel embarrassed or anxious about my presence. I decided to take your load and finish it off so you could go home earlier and rest, or at least get an early start against the traffic jams."
Now I just felt like a bitch.
"I'm not trying to replace you or make you feel inadequate... I'm just...trying to show that I care about you."
Fuck.
"Then what if my way of showing I care for you is wishing to do things for you?" I muttered against his lips. "You're always doing everything. Giving the world every fucking piece of you, and what does that leave? Nothing for you. You carry everything on your shoulders."
I moved my hands to press against his cheeks as if I were trying to make him realize - make him understand - this habit he continuously did.
"When are you going to trust someone enough to let them help you?"
He wasn't expecting my question and I could tell from the way his eyes shimmered with uncertainty that I wouldn't get an answer today. It shouldn't have upset me that he was so blindsided by his insecurities that he couldn't