Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 40

Derek's POV

It had been three days since I fired Blackwood, and the anger still burned within me. I paced my office with precise steps, though a deep unease gnawed at me beneath the surface.

My wolf prowled restlessly inside me, agitated and unsettled, circling endlessly. He pushed against my control, demanding action, demanding... something. His disquiet translated into a constant tension in my muscles.

She was merely an employee—an Omega wolf who had worked for me for just one month. Her betrayal shouldn't matter so much. I had dealt with traitors before, executing justice with cold efficiency. Why was this one haunting my thoughts, my sleep?

I stopped before the one-way glass leading to her former office. The space now sat empty, her desk cleared of personal items, the chair neatly pushed to the edge. My reflection stared back at me from the darkened glass—jaw tight, eyes hard, shoulders rigid with tension.

For weeks, I had observed her through this window, watching with growing interest her dedication, her attention to detail, her quiet competence despite Claire's obvious attempts to overwhelm her with work. Even exhausted, even pushed beyond reasonable limits, she had persevered relentlessly, enduring where others might have broken.

A month of observation had shown me an Omega of remarkable resilience and intelligence. Which made her betrayal all the more incomprehensible.

Why would she risk helping the Ridgeclaw Pack? The question circled endlessly in my mind. She was Bradley's ex-girlfriend, and my... Soul Bond.

The Moon had chosen her as my mate. Yet she had betrayed me, betrayed the Pack. The thought made my skin burn with anger, my fingers curling into fists at my sides, nails leaving crescent-shaped marks in my palms.

A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts, the sound cutting through the silence. I stood straighter, adjusting my already perfect posture, controlling my expression until it revealed none of the turmoil within.

"Come in," I commanded, my voice steady and authoritative, turning slowly and deliberately from the window.

Thomas walked in, his movements respectful, a folder in his hand. His scent reached me—a clean, straightforward Beta wolf smell with that slight nervousness all my employees carried around me.

"Alpha, I've brought the files you requested," he said, his gaze appropriately lowered.

I nodded, gesturing for him to place the folder on my desk. As he did so, I studied him carefully, noting the slight tension in his shoulders, the quickening of his pulse under my scrutiny.

Thomas was a promising Beta wolf with a bright career ahead—efficient, loyal, detail-oriented. I suddenly remembered he was also the wolf who had dinner with Blackwood. The memory of seeing them together sparked an unexpected surge of possessiveness, my wolf bristling beneath my skin.

"You're familiar with Erin Blackwood?" I asked, keeping my tone casual despite my intense interest. I observed his every reaction, nostrils flaring slightly to catch any change in his scent that might betray deception.

Thomas stiffened, his posture becoming even more upright, his scent shifting with caution as he chose his words. "She's the daughter of my mother's friend, so we're family friends," he answered, the explanation coming quickly but not too quickly—not suspicious.

"Did she ever discuss Pack matters with you?" I pressed, unhurriedly circling my desk, hands clasped behind my back.

Thomas swallowed visibly, his Adam's apple bobbing, but to his credit, he stood his ground. "Alpha, if I may speak frankly," he began, his voice respectfully hesitant.

I inclined my head slightly, granting permission.

"I believe Erin is innocent," he said, his directness surprising me. My eyebrows raised slightly—the only sign of reaction I allowed to show. "She didn't even know the details of the Pack meeting. I was the one who discussed it with her. I told her we were all speculating that someone had leaked our information to the Ridgeclaw Pack."

My expression remained unchanged. "Continue."

Thomas went on, "When I mentioned it, she seemed shocked. If she were involved, wouldn't she have better hidden her reaction?"

Blackwood had never shown skill for deception. Her emotions were always transparent—her fear, her determination, her desperate attempts to hide her attraction to me. Every thought that crossed her mind was immediately reflected in those expressive eyes, in the flush of her cheeks, in the subtle shifts of her posture.

"Thank you for the information," I finally said. Thomas bowed slightly, retreating to the door with appropriate deference.

Alone, I moved to my computer, fingers striking commands with rapid precision. The Pack's financial records appeared on screen—I rarely delegated such sensitive investigations, preferring to maintain direct control. If someone had been paid for leaking information, there would certainly be a trail.

I began systematically reviewing employee accounts, searching for anomalies with the focus of a predator tracking scent. Row after row of normal transactions scrolled past my eyes—regular salary deposits, everyday expenses, nothing to raise suspicion.

Then my gaze fell on an account showing recent large deposits. My fingers stilled on the keyboard, an icy stillness descending over me as I read the name attached to the account.

"Claire?" The name came out as a low, dangerous growl, my disbelief rapidly giving way to certainty.

The large deposit had been made two days before I fired Blackwood, originating from an offshore account associated with... the Ridgeclaw Pack. The evidence was undeniable, the betrayal irrefutable.

My wolf went still inside me, no longer restless but focused with predatory intensity.

I picked up the phone, dialing Delta Mark's number with precise movements. He answered on the first ring, as expected.

"I need information," I said without preamble, my voice steady and controlled. "I'm sending you a bank account number. I want details on every transaction, especially recent ones. This is Alpha priority."

The last three words carried significant weight—a direct command from the Pack Alpha that superseded all other tasks.

\---

While waiting for Mark's response, I summoned Claire to my office. She arrived promptly, entering with practiced grace, coffee in hand, her professional demeanor flawless.

"Alpha, would you like me to prepare your suit for the upcoming meeting?" she asked, placing the coffee precisely on the spot on my desk where I preferred it.

Her question unexpectedly reminded me of Blackwood—her nervous hands smoothing the jacket I had angrily thrown to the floor, her determined chin when she'd returned despite my rough treatment. I realized I was still wearing that suit, the fabric holding her scent beneath it, hidden under wool and lavender detergent.

"I want to know what happened that day," I said instead of answering Claire's question.

Claire's head tilted slightly. "Which day, Alpha?"

"The day you overheard Erin speaking with Ethan," I clarified, watching her with unwavering focus. "You said you heard her discussing the project with him, congratulating him."

Claire nodded, her confidence unwavering—a practiced liar, unlike Blackwood. "Yes, Alpha. I was walking past the hall when I saw them in deep conversation. She was telling him how the project details had helped Ridgeclaw's bid."

"Strange," I commented, my tone deceptively casual while noting the subtle increase in her heart rate, the faint sheen of sweat at her hairline. "Because Thomas just told me that he informed Blackwood about the leak, and she was surprised by the information."

I observed the microexpressions that flitted across Claire's face—too fast for a human to catch, but clear to my enhanced senses. Alarm. Calculation. Recovery.

"Well, she would pretend to be surprised, wouldn't she?" Claire countered smoothly.

My phone buzzed with an email from Mark. I opened it while maintaining eye contact with Claire, the blue light of the screen reflecting in her increasingly wary gaze. The evidence was damning—multiple payments over the past three months from Ridgeclaw-affiliated accounts, the largest transaction coinciding perfectly with our lost bid.

"Money," I said calmly, carefully setting down my phone. "How much money?"

Claire's pulse visibly jumped at her throat, her scent suddenly sharp with genuine fear. "Money? What money?"

"How much did Ethan pay you?" I rose slowly from my chair.

Claire instinctively took a step back. "I don't know what you're talking about, Alpha."

"A million?" I pressed, unhurriedly circling around the desk. "Is that the price of your loyalty, Claire?"

"Alpha, I would never—" she began, her voice rising.

I crossed the remaining distance between us, my hand gripping her throat with precise force. I lifted her partially off the ground, my strength allowing me to hold her with minimal effort. My wolf surged forward, eyes flashing gold.

"How dare you deceive me?" I growled, feeling her pulse race beneath my fingers like a trapped rabbit. "How dare you frame her and place all the blame on her?"

Claire clawed at my hand with increasing desperation, panic taking over her features. Her feet kicked uselessly, finding no purchase. "Alpha... please..."

"You've been leaking information to Ridgeclaw for months," I continued. "You took their money, betrayed your Pack, then had the audacity to frame an innocent Omega to cover your tracks."

Tears streamed down Claire's increasingly red face as she struggled to breathe. "She... deserved it. Just an Omega... taking my position... getting close to you..."

Disgusted by her petty jealousy, her willingness to betray not just me but the entire Pack for such trivial reasons, I suddenly released her, stepping back as she collapsed to the floor in an undignified heap, coughing and gasping.

"Your jealousy led you to betray the Pack," I said, my voice cold as winter. "And I believed you. I threatened her, humiliated her publicly, fired her without giving her a chance to defend herself."

"Get out," I commanded, my voice barely restrained. "The Enforcers will escort you from the building. The Pack Council will decide your punishment."