“You can’t be serious,” I muttered.
He frowned slightly, as if he truly didn’t understand the problem. “Why not? You want a job. I can give you one. You’d be safe, I’d know you’re taken care of.”
“Because that’s not the point, Alexander.” I leaned back against the couch, shaking my head. “I don’t want to be handed a position because of who I am to you. I don’t want to be your employee. I want something that’s mine...separate from you. Do you understand that?”
His eyes held mine for a long moment. Then he said, “You don’t need my permission to do that.”
“No,” I agreed, “I don’t. That’s not why I’m telling you this. I’m telling you out of respect for your authority. You’re Alpha. I wouldn’t just disappear and take a job without letting you know.”
Something in his expression softened at
