Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 79

Derek's POV

I drove through the empty streets toward Darkwood Estate. My knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel, the leather creaking under the pressure. Without warning, I slammed my fist against the wheel, the impact reverberating throughout the cabin.

"Damn it!" I roared, my voice echoing like thunder in the enclosed space.

I could still smell her—Erin's scent lingering in the car like a ghost, tormenting me with every breath. Sweet, delicate, with that unique fragrance of wildflowers.

I twisted the family silver ring off my finger, rolling it between my thumb and forefinger, watching it glint under the passing streetlights. For generations, this ring had symbolized the Pack Alpha's authority. Yet tonight, that authority had been challenged by a girl—an Omega, a girl who dared to look me in the eyes and refuse me.

The traffic light ahead turned red. I braked sharply, my breathing heavy and uneven. Without thinking, I pressed the button to lower the window, letting the cold rain splash against my face. The shock was welcome—anything to cool the fire her defiance had ignited in my blood.

Closing my eyes briefly, I could see her again. standing in that silver-blue gown I had specifically chosen for her, moonlight outlining the elegant curve of her neck, tears glistening in those amber eyes as she told me she would never submit. Never be mine.

My wolf howled in protest, clawing inside me, demanding I turn around and reclaim what it believed rightfully belonged to us. The primitive part of me wanted to track her, find her, mark her thoroughly so she would never again question to whom she belonged.

The light turned green, and I accelerated too quickly, the tires momentarily skidding on the wet asphalt. With my agitation, Erin's scent seemed to grow stronger, as if the car itself was tormenting me. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, eager to break free, to run back to her, to claim ownership.

I wanted her. Needed her. The realization was both terrifying and undeniable.

And she had walked away from me.

---

The private wine cellar beneath Darkwood Estate was located on the basement level, protected by biometric security systems that allowed entry only to those I personally approved. The central space featured a black obsidian table crafted by top Italian designers, surrounded by temperature-controlled walls of wine cabinets housing some of the world's rarest vintages.

I sat at the head of the table, spinning a crystal cup with Habiki in it. The amber liquid caught the light from the crystal chandelier overhead, shimmering like molten gold.

Mark stood by one of the wine cabinets, casually examining a bottle, occasionally glancing in my direction. Tom lounged on an imported leather sofa at the far end of the cellar, his posture relaxed but his eyes alert.

"Your aura is always difficult to approach during the full moon," Mark observed, gently swirling his whiskey glass, "but tonight it's particularly glacial." He took a careful sip, his eyes never leaving my face. "Does that Blackwood girl really have such power to disturb the Pack Alpha's emotions?"

I slammed my glass down on the temperature-controlled counter with enough force to make the glass doors vibrate. "She dared..." I paused, the memory of her challenging gaze making my wolf restless beneath my skin. "She looked at me as if I were some kind of monster. As if I were something to be feared, rather than the Alpha of Darkwood."

Mark's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Erin Blackwood, the jewel of the Blackwood family... I take it the date at Moonlight Restaurant didn't go well? She actually refused you?"

Tom rose from the sofa, making his way across the room with deliberate steps to dim the crystal chandelier, lowering the light to a more intimate level. "Such speculation is pointless," his tone was even. "Aaron's sister is loyal-hearted, despite her youth. She wouldn't be foolish enough to offend our Alpha."

Before they could react, I lunged forward, grabbing them by the collars of their custom suits, lifting them off the ground. My eyes flashed gold in the dim light, my wolf dangerously close to the surface. "One more word about her," I growled, "and I'll decorate this cellar with your pelts. There are twenty elite wolves in Darkwood territory who would gladly take your positions."

I suddenly released them, turning toward the floating bar in the center of the cellar. "That naive little wolf actually believed..." I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous low, "that I would be with her."

Mark straightened his rumpled tie, his expression carefully neutral. "Alpha Derek caught in emotional entanglement? This is unprecedented."

Tom adjusted his jacket, studying me keenly. "If she's merely a Soul Bond you refuse to acknowledge, then why are you so agitated?"

I tugged at my tie again, loosening it further as if it were strangling me. "I am the heir to six generations of Darkwood Pack leadership. I control the largest business empire in this city." My voice grew harder with each word. "What is a Soul Bond compared to that? It doesn't dictate my decisions. It doesn't allow me to be distracted by a wolf pup barely transformed, at the expense of my responsibilities."

The frustration burning inside me finally erupted. With a roar, I smashed my fist through the glass door of the nearest wine cabinet. Expensive liquid splashed across the floor, filling the air with the rich aroma of aged grapes and oak. Neither Tom nor Mark dared speak as I stood there, breathing heavily, knuckles dripping both wine and blood.

For the first time, I had revealed to my closest lieutenants the depth of my obsession with Erin. The golden glow in my eyes reflected in the broken glass shards at my feet, a visual display of the dangerous turmoil within.

---

In the morning, I sat in the back of the company car, massaging my temples as the vehicle navigated through the foggy city center. The sleepless night had intensified my werewolf characteristics—my canines slightly elongated, pressing uncomfortably against my lower lip, my senses abnormally sharp.

"James," I called to the driver, my voice rougher than usual.

"Yes, Alpha?" he responded immediately, his eyes briefly meeting mine in the rearview mirror before respectfully lowering again.

"What time is my first meeting?"

"Nine-thirty, Alpha. With the board of directors."

I nodded, leaning back against the leather seat. Last night's scene kept replaying in my mind—Erin's expression when I proposed our arrangement, the hurt in her eyes, the challenge in her voice as she refused me.

"Alpha," James interrupted my thoughts, "after dropping Miss Blackwood home last night, I found these items in the back seat."

He passed back a handcrafted leather wallet and a smartphone decorated with silver moon phases. Both items carried Erin's scent, causing my nostrils to flare involuntarily.

I took the phone, turning it over in my hand. As Pack Alpha, I had access to the biometric data of all pack members—a security measure established generations ago. I pressed my thumb against the scanner, unsurprised when the screen immediately unlocked.

Fifteen voice messages from Thomas awaited her attention. I clicked on the most recent one, holding the phone to my ear.

"Erin, where are you?" Thomas's voice came through, tense and worried. "I've been trying to reach you since midnight. Your mother said you came home early after the party, but you haven't responded to any calls. Please contact me as soon as possible."

I disconnected the call, a growl building in my chest. "Contact the technical department," I instructed Robert. "I want all surveillance footage from the Darkwood territory boundaries last night. Particularly any sightings of Erin Blackwood."

I brought the phone to my nose, inhaling deeply. Her scent clung to the device, enticing and maddening. With a sudden surge of frustration, I slammed the phone down on the seat beside me, my eyes flashing gold in the dim interior of the car.

My fingers dug into the armrest, the expensive leather yielding under my strength, leaving five deep grooves. The realization that Erin might not have gone directly home after refusing me—that she might have gone somewhere even Thomas didn't know about—ignited a possessive fury that threatened to consume me.

---

The panoramic windows of my penthouse office provided an unparalleled view of the city—a daily reminder of the Darkwood Pack's dominance. Maps of wolf territories decorated the walls, marking boundaries established centuries before the skyscrapers rose from the ground.

I stood by the window, black coffee in hand, a Bluetooth earpiece connecting me to a call with executives.

"Very well," I answered distractedly, my attention drawn by a faint but familiar scent approaching from the hallway outside.

A soft knock sounded, and before I could respond, the door opened. Erin walked in, her appearance hitting me like a physical blow. Her eyes were puffy and rimmed with red, dark circles beneath them indicating a sleepless night. Her silver-gray dress was wrinkled, showing signs of time spent outside a bedroom. In her hand, she held a folded piece of paper.

"I'll call you back," I told the person on the other end, tapping the earpiece to disconnect.

Erin walked toward my desk with measured steps, placing the paper precisely in the center of the polished ebony surface. I immediately recognized it as a resignation letter.

Without hesitation, I picked it up, walked to the fireplace that occupied one wall of the office, and threw the paper into the flames. It curled and blackened, turning to ash within seconds.