Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 34

Erin's POV

When the meeting finally ended, I let out a long breath, uncurling my fingers to find crescent-shaped indentations from my nails on my palms. As the other wolves filed out, I waited for Derek's instructions, desperately trying to figure out how to salvage the situation after my series of blunders.

Derek gathered his files, seemingly ignoring my existence completely. After several tense minutes, he glanced up to find me watching him.

"Is there something else, Blackwood?" he asked coldly.

"No, Alpha," I answered automatically.

Derek suddenly rose to his feet, the abrupt movement nearly throwing me off balance. I quickly steadied myself, following him back toward his office while maintaining a respectful distance.

As we walked, I gathered my courage. Despite everything, this might be my only chance to address the Soul Bond issue directly. The tension between us couldn't continue indefinitely. My work, my studies, even my health were suffering.

When we reached his office, I took a deep breath, closing the door behind us, my heart racing with fear and determination.

"Alpha, I need to speak with you," I said, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

Derek sat behind his desk, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"

"About the Soul Bond," I answered, forcing the words out before I lost my nerve.

His entire body went rigid, eyes flashing gold for an instant. "What about it?"

I decided to be direct. "Have you found a solution? We can't stay bound like this forever, right? I'm your brother's ex-girlfriend. It's too complicated. So I was wondering if there's a way to break it."

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The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Derek's expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he stared at me with an intensity that made me want to run.

I averted my gaze, feeling uneasy and confused. Even my wolf, usually eager for any interaction with Derek, whimpered uneasily deep within me.

Derek rose from his chair in one fluid motion, coming around the desk and walking silently toward me. I instinctively backed up until my shoulder blades pressed against the door. My heart pounded wildly as he closed the distance between us.

Derek placed one hand on the door beside my head, effectively trapping me, his powerful Alpha aura washing over me in waves. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, so close to mine.

His chest rose and fell with each breath, drawing my gaze to the skin visible at his collar where he had loosened his tie. A vein pulsed in his neck, strong and steady, and I had to curl my fingers into fists to prevent myself from reaching out to touch it.

"What did you just say?" he asked, his voice dangerously low. "You want to break the Soul Bond?"

His familiar scent of cedar and leather surrounded me, growing stronger with his proximity, making it difficult to concentrate. I pressed my back harder against the door, trying to create distance, but there was nowhere to go. The metal door felt cool against my overheated skin, a stark contrast to the warmth emanating from Derek's body.

I fought an internal battle, my mind demanding I stay composed while my body yearned to lean into him, to close the insignificant distance between us. My lips parted slightly, my breathing becoming shallow and rapid.

"Yes," I managed to keep my voice steady despite the tremor that ran through my body. My tongue darted out to moisten dry lips, and I noticed Derek's eyes tracking the movement. "It would be best for both of us."

His eyes narrowed. "Where was this concern when you announced to everyone that I was your Soul Bond while drunk at Club Moonshade?"

I winced, remembering my shameful behavior that night. "My wolf was in control then. If I'd been in my right mind, I would never have done or said those things."

"Is that so?" he mocked, his voice surprisingly soft. "Then why the sudden urgency to break the bond now?"

When I turned my head to look directly at him, my nose accidentally brushed against his, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. The contact, though brief, sent a jolt through my system.

My lips parted silently, suddenly dry. My heart skipped a beat before racing frantically, and I clutched the edge of my skirt so tightly I heard a thread snap.

I pressed my thighs tightly together as a dull ache built between them, my wolf surging forward eagerly, craving more contact.

Derek didn't pull away. His pupils dilated, leaving only a thin ring of gray. Rather than backing off, he lowered his face, his nose tracing along my cheek all the way to my ear.

His stubble scraped against my skin, rough and masculine, causing me to shiver involuntarily. He inhaled my scent deeply, the sound primal and possessive. His other hand found my hip, fingers digging into the soft flesh there, holding me in place as he leaned closer. I felt the hard plane of his chest against mine, his thigh inadvertently wedged between my legs.

No, no. I shouldn't be feeling this way. He's Bradley's brother. I thought desperately, even as my head tilted instinctively, exposing more of my neck to him.

My eyelids fluttered, nearly closing completely as his scent overwhelmed me. My hands, acting of their own accord, moved from my skirt to his arms, fingers pressing into the solid muscle there.

\---

"No matter how much you pretend, you can't resist the power of the Soul Bond, Blackwood," he murmured against my ear, his warm breath fanning over the shell, lips brushing against the sensitive skin beneath. The vibration of his deep voice so close sent unmistakable tremors through me.

Heat pooled low in my abdomen, liquid and insistent. My body responded to his proximity in ways I couldn't control. A quiet, involuntary sound escaped my throat—not quite a moan, but close enough to make my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

My wolf ran circles inside me, pushing me to get closer. I found myself arching slightly, my chest pressing more firmly against his, my hips moving forward to meet the solid pressure of his thigh.

"Don't pretend you really want to break it," Derek continued, his voice hardening even as his fingers traced an absent pattern on my hip. "I know what you really want. You want Mya's position. You want to become the Pack Alpha's mate."

His words hit me like a bucket of ice water. My entire body stiffened, the pleasurable warmth immediately replaced by cold anger.

My hands, previously resting on his chest, now pushed against him hard. Even my wolf halted her eager movements, letting out a low, displeased growl, her hackles rising.

"You're wrong," I insisted, my voice tight with emotion. I pushed at his chest with both hands, my arms trembling with the effort, but my Omega strength was no match for his Alpha power.

My nails scraped against the fabric of his shirt as I struggled. "I never wanted that position!"

Derek's anger seemed to intensify, the muscles in his jaw jumping as he clenched his teeth. His body pressed closer, eliminating what little space remained between us, pinning me more firmly against the door.

His entire body length was now pressed against mine, his thigh firmly between my legs, his chest against mine. I could feel his heart pounding, surprisingly fast for someone who appeared so controlled.

"Then why do you keep showing up in front of me?" he demanded, his breathing now coming faster. His hand moved from my hip to the small of my back, fingers splayed, pulling me tighter against him. "Why do you keep inserting yourself into my life?"

Our eyes locked, faces only inches apart, the air between us charged with tension and something else—something I refused to acknowledge but could no longer deny. Raw desire, powerful and undeniable.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw his pupils dilate further. For a moment, I thought I saw the corners of his mouth turn up in the faintest hint of a smile, the darkness in his eyes gradually receding as gold flickered once more.

His thumb drew small circles at the base of my spine, an unconscious gesture that sent sparks of pleasure up my vertebrae.

"The only way to break a Soul Bond is for me to formally reject you as my mate in my capacity as Pack Alpha," he finally said, his voice surprisingly gentle, almost tender.

His forehead lowered until it rested against mine, our breaths intermingling in the space between us. "According to Pack Law, that would bring eternal suffering to us both. So, Blackwood, I will never do that."