Guys and Dolls

Sofia quickly followed after Angelo as his long legs made their way to the room the meeting was set to be held. She went to find a spot with the rest of the pack and felt a large hand on her shoulder before a whisper in her ear said, "what are you doing?".

Her head turned to look over her shoulder to see Angelo waiting for her to explain.

"Taking my seat", she said as if it were common sense.

"You're supposed to be by my side, what did you forget you're engaged to the alpha?", he said in a bragging manner that left a bad taste in Sofia's mouth. She could tell he was still upset about the situation upstairs, but didn't understand why he was projecting onto her.

Knowing now wasn't the time to comment on the attitude, Sofia said nothing and just followed him to the front of the room. She watched as he adjusted his tie and took a shaky breath. 'Was he actually nervous?', she thought.

He seemed like a person where nothing would intimidate them. Irregardless, he was showing signs of anxiousness and without thinking twice l, Sofia interlaced her hands with his causing his attention to divert to her.

As soon as he looked her in the eyes she mouthed, "you've been ready, you got this", with an encouraging nod.

As if she had cast a magical spell, his nerves immediately disappeared.

They took their seats before Angelo stood again, announcing the start of the meeting.

The meeting started off and was continuing to go well, with Angelo showing all the signs of a great leader. He was organized, charismatic, and assured everyone he had a plan for the upcoming new year. The energy started to shift when he start bringing up some bigger and riskier plans he had in mind. Angelo began to propose that they make amends a pack that hadn't been spoken to for decades.

"Don't you think you're being overly ambitious?", Niccolo interjected with a know it all face that made Angelo's jaw click and eyes narrow.

He was just about to respond when Sofia spoke.

"Ambitious is just what we need. I've watched my whole life how we've let this coldness to other communities freeze over when the fighting was from past generations. Who says the new generation can't put the past aside and find common ground. Plus it would greatly expand our territory", Sofia spoke with a fire in her eyes Angelo had yet to see.

"Sure spitfire you got there Angelo. Alright I think we all can agree, but I can't help but wonder if you could have backed up the bold plans on your own", Niccolo said crossing his arms with a smirk.

"I assure you I could have explained it better than her and I will not tell you again that you refer to me as alpha", he replied defensively.

Sofia was extremely offended at the jab at her explaining when she thought he should be grateful she defended him. However, she kept her composure and waited to confront him after.

Everyone did a vote on the plans for the new year and everyone agreed to Angelo's ideas in the end. Angelo handed Sofia the keys and told her she could wait in the car while he went and grabbed some things so he could work from home. While going to grab some things form his office room he ran into one of the elders.

"Good job today, boy", the older man said giving him a pat on the back.

"Thank you sir", Angelo said respectfully nodding even though he was rushing to not keep Sofia waiting.

"You going to get that lady of yours in line though?"

Taken aback Angelo had no words. He was upset at multiple occurrences that involved her that day but would never say something so sexist and old fashioned.

The older man continued, "listen all I'm saying is every man needs a strong woman, but you can't have her making you look weak up there by speaking for the alpha. I mean, what would your father say."

Those were all the words he needed to hear to set something off in him. His dad had put too much pressure on him for him to underperform as alpha.

"It won't happen again", was all he said as he quickly said goodbye and made his way to the car.

The car ride was completely silent with the tension building between the newly engaged couple, although Angelo was oblivious to the fact that Sofia was upset as well after his comment about him being able to explain things better than her.

When they arrived back to Sofia's new overly cumbersome home, Sofia quickly made her way up the steps and made went into her room without a word. Shocked that she had the audacity to do that after her actions today, Angelo went up the stores after her to give her a piece of his mind.

He opened the door to Sofia sitting on her bed with her arms crossed. He approached the bed his large stature towering over her. They stared at each other for a long moment before he sighed before speaking.

"You can't belittle me like that", was all he could get out.

"Belittle you?! If anyone belittled someone today it was you", she said with a huff.

She continued seeing his confused facial expression in response.

"I assure you I could have explained it better than that her", she quoted him in a mocking tone.

As the realization hit him his eyebrows raised and he sat next to her.

"I'm so sorry. That was a weak attempt at trying to look like I knew what I was doing, but was no where near the truth", he said looking deeply in her eyes in a way that made her know his words held meaning.

Sofia fell silent, surprised he owned up to his actions instantly.

"I appreciate that", she finally said quietly before continuing, "but it was clear that you do know what you're doing. I could never have everything laid out and organized like that. You must have planned so much beforehand. I'm sorry I didn't let you explain your plans yourself".

She looked down feeling remorseful, remembering how much this position meant to him since losing his father.

He lifted her chin and made her look at him again.

"I could have never spoke with that passion. I'm already realizing I am very lucky to have you by my side. I shouldn't have let Niccolo get in my head like that. It's just when I saw you two upstairs, I don't know why, but my nerves started acting up."

This past part of his statement confused her, but he spoke again before she could question it.

"You know one of the elders told me I needed to put you in line after the meeting", he said with a chuckle going on, "imagine taking some old fashioned advice like that. I think just communicating more will do the trick".

Sofia snorted in response not even surprised because the elders always had some out-of-date advice they were giving unsolicited.

"Yeah, what are you going to spank me?", she said giggling and playfully wiggling her eyebrows.

"Oh I must properly punish my woman for such out of line behavior!", he joked back in an old timey accent.

"Oh please no sir, I would hate that!", she said in a sarcastic voice, sitting up and arching her back feigning that she didn't want to.

"Oh you're just going to jokingly seduce me now?", Angelo raised his eyebrows. "Are you into that kinda that kind of thing doll face?", he finished with a wink.

"I don't know", she said blushing while trying to laugh it off.

"Do you want to try it?", he said not laughing anymore causing her eyes to widened. Was he serious?!