Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 29

Erin's POV

One month. I had been working as the Alpha's assistant secretary at Stone Group for exactly one month. And it had been nothing short of pure hell.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the Stone Group executive floor bathroom, fingers gripping the cold ceramic edge of the sink. I blinked rapidly, trying to bring my tired eyes into focus.

The dark circles beneath my eyes had grown more pronounced, my skin had lost its healthy glow, and my once-shiny black hair now hung limply around my face despite my best efforts to maintain a professional appearance. I touched my cheeks, pressing against the cool skin, feeling the bones beneath becoming too prominent.

"Look at yourself," I whispered to my reflection, leaning forward until my nose nearly touched the glass. The fluorescent lights buzzed above me, making me wince.

I cupped water in my hands, splashing the cold liquid against my face. The sudden shock made me gasp, water dripping down my neck, soaking the collar of my blouse. "Such a lucky little Omega, working right under the Alpha's nose."

My wolf paced restlessly inside me, circling, scratching. I pressed my hand against my sternum, feeling the subtle movement beneath my ribs. She had been growing increasingly agitated lately, her restlessness seeping into my dreams and keeping me from sleeping even when I had the chance to rest.

At night, I often woke with a start, heart pounding, sheets tangled around my legs, her distress becoming my own. I could feel her discomfort growing day by day, becoming a constant pressure behind my breastbone.

Over the past month, Claire had almost immediately delegated all of her work to me while maintaining the appearance of being busy herself.

I wasn't naive—I understood what was happening. As a Delta wolf, Claire had found the perfect opportunity to shift her responsibilities onto an Omega who couldn't refuse.

And Derek...

The Pack Alpha seemed determined to pile more work on my desk each day, as if testing how much pressure I could withstand before breaking. Between Stone Group's demands and my courses at Silvermoon Academy, I was sleeping about four hours a night—far too little for a wolf, especially a young werewolf like me who needed adequate rest to maintain control.

Yet I hadn't complained once. I couldn't complain.

I dried my face and checked my watch. Five minutes until the next meeting. Just enough time to pull myself together before facing another room full of high-ranking wolves who would subtly flare their nostrils at my Omega scent while pretending not to notice me at all.

My phone chimed with a notification from Claire. Another urgent task that needed immediate attention.

I took a deep breath, smoothed down my skirt, and left the bathroom. I would get through today just as I had gotten through all the days before.

\---

Three days ago, I had woken up with a fever, my bones aching, my head pounding violently. Even my wolf whimpered in pain, curling into a tight ball inside me. One look at me across the breakfast table, and my mother had immediately insisted I should stay home.

"You're sick, Erin," she had said firmly, placing a cool hand on my forehead. "Take a sick day. I'm sure they can manage without you for one day."

I had nodded weakly, reaching for my phone with trembling hands to dial Claire's number.

"I'm sorry, but I can't come in today," I had said, my voice hoarse and faint. "I have a fever, and—"

"The Pack Alpha doesn't appreciate excuses in the workplace," Claire had cut me off, her voice crisp. "He believes everyone is lazy and always trying to find reasons to avoid work. Even when sick, one should strive to fulfill their duties."

"But I—" I had started to protest.

"I expect to see you in the office within the hour, Erin," Claire had said before hanging up.

So I had dragged myself to work, fighting waves of nausea on the bus, my wolf growing increasingly agitated beneath my skin. By noon, my fever had spiked so high I nearly passed out during a meeting. Only pure determination had kept me conscious.

That night, I had collapsed on my bed still wearing my work clothes, too exhausted to even change. My wolf had howled deep inside me, angry and frustrated with the treatment of our shared body. But what choice did I have? I was an Omega living in an Alpha's world.

Like yesterday, I had been working late in my office, completing a Darkwood Pack project that Derek had assigned to Claire. It was complex work involving financial forecasting and strategic planning—far beyond my job description, but somehow it had become my responsibility.

I had worked through the night, my eyes burning from staring at spreadsheets and reports for hours. At some point, exhaustion had won out, and I had fallen asleep at my desk, my wolf pacing restlessly in my dreams.

When I had jerked awake hours later, my meticulously organized files were gone. Panic had seized me until I heard Claire in Derek's office, presenting my work as her own. Through the door, I had heard Derek's deep voice praising her thoroughness and attention to detail.

Hearing this had chilled me to the bone. Why? I respected Claire so much, only to have her steal my work and take credit for it to the Alpha? I had sighed silently.

Later that day, Claire had strutted around the office with a smug smile on her face, basking in the added favor and status she had gained with the Pack Alpha.

I had said nothing. What could an Omega say against a Delta? Especially one favored by the Pack Alpha.

Being Derek's Soul Bond meant nothing if he refused to acknowledge it. The strange connection between us—the electricity that sparked whenever we were in the same room, the way my wolf responded to his presence—none of it mattered in the face of Pack hierarchy and Derek's determination to keep me at a distance.

\---

This morning, my mother had been waiting for me at the breakfast table, a gentle smile on her face that immediately put me on alert. She only smiled like that when she was planning something.

"Erin, I've invited someone to dinner at our home tonight," she had said casually, setting a cup of tea in front of me.

My fork had paused midair. "Why, Mom?"

She had busied herself arranging fruit on a plate, not quite meeting my eyes. "Just a small gathering. We've been friends with his family for years, and they hope our children might become friends too. He's a good Beta wolf, and it would be beneficial for you to know him."

I had set down my fork, my appetite suddenly gone. "A Beta wolf? Mom, are you setting me up on a date?"

She had finally looked at me, her eyes filled with concern. "You're working too hard, Erin. I just want to see you happy, with some stability in your life."

"I'm fine," I had insisted, though we both knew it wasn't true.

"He works at Stone Group too," she had continued as if I hadn't spoken. "In the finance department. His mother says he's being considered for a promotion soon."

I had sighed, unable to be angry with her. She was doing what all wolf mothers do—trying to secure the best future for her cub. In our world, an Omega paired with a Beta would not only elevate their own status but that of their entire family.

"I'll try to come home early," I had promised, knowing I couldn't deny her this small thing, especially after all her support through everything.

She had reached across the table to take my hand, her expression turning serious. "You look exhausted. Is that Pack Alpha being too hard on you?"

I had forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mom. This job is important for our family, and I can handle it."

\---

When I arrived at my office after my morning classes, I was already drained. As I walked down the hallway, I felt the gazes of other employees—some sympathetic, others gloating.

As the only Omega in an executive position, I had become a curiosity, a spectacle for higher-ranking wolves to observe and discuss.

"Look at the Alpha's pet Omega," I heard someone whisper as I passed. "How long do you think before she breaks?"

I held my head high, pretending not to hear. My wolf growled softly inside me, angry at the disrespect, but I suppressed her reaction. Any sign of aggression from an Omega would be disastrous.

At my desk, I sank into my chair, closing my eyes for a moment's rest. My wolf immediately began pacing anxiously, uncomfortable in our surroundings.

The strange one-way glass wall in my office made me feel like I was constantly being observed, and I was certain that Derek could see into my office while I couldn't see into his.

Why would he watch me through the glass? Was it to monitor my actions? Or was there something more personal in his observation?

Derek, you are so hard to understand.