Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 88

Erin's POV

"Erin, quick, say something," I whispered to myself, drumming my fingers nervously against the polished surface of my desk.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Ah, no, nothing special. Just work being a bit draining," I blurted out, answering a question that hadn't been asked.

A deep, rich chuckle came through the speaker. "Is that so?" Derek's voice was low and intimate, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. "From what I understand, you've only just arrived at the office."

I froze, my breath catching in my throat. Heat rushed not just to my cheeks but spread down my neck to my chest. My fingers gripped the phone tighter, suddenly aware of how his voice affected me even from a distance. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, recognizing her mate's call even through the electronic device. I shifted in my seat, trying to ignore the warmth pooling in my lower abdomen.

"Wait... how do you know when I arrived?" I asked, my heartbeat accelerating.

"Don't read too much into it, Blackwood," Derek replied smoothly. "Since you've called me, I assume there's something important you need to discuss."

I bit my lip unconsciously, a nervous habit I couldn't seem to break. "Alpha... where are you right now?"

"Handling some personal matters," he answered, his tone revealing nothing.

Personal matters? Stop pretending. I know you're at Darkwood Estate. Why can't you just say you're visiting your mother? Why act like you're on some mysterious date?

I scrolled through my tablet, checking the Alpha's schedule that had meticulously organized. Sure enough, the morning was marked simply as "personal time."

Clearing my throat, I tried to sound professional. "I just wanted to remind you about the joint meeting confirmed for tonight."

There was a rustling sound on the other end of the line, then Derek's voice returned, dropping to a tone that felt like velvet against my ears. "I'll pick you up directly after work."

The way he said "pick you up" made my skin prickle with awareness. I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. My free hand unconsciously moved to my collarbone, fingers tracing the skin where he'd once marked me.

My heart pounded so wildly I wondered if he could hear it through the phone. Heat spread through my body, settling between my thighs. I pressed them together, trying to suppress the sensation.

Damn it, why does my wolf get so agitated every time I hear his voice? The way my body responds is humiliating. He clearly doesn't care about me, so why won't my heart—and other parts of me—listen to reason?

After hanging up, I pressed my fingers against my temples, massaging them gently.

"Why is this connection getting stronger every day?" I murmured to the empty office. With a sigh, I turned my attention to my computer, hoping that burying myself in work would drown out these troubling feelings.

---

At lunchtime, I carefully balanced my tray as I navigated through the bustling corporate café. Several male werewolves in tailored suits straightened their postures as I passed, their nostrils flaring slightly as they caught my scent. I felt their eyes follow me, lingering on the sway of my hips and the curve of my waist.

I was wearing a fitted black dress with intricate silver moon phase patterns embedded in the fabric. The dress hugged my body in all the right places, the neckline just low enough to reveal the elegant line of my collarbone without being inappropriate for work.

The fabric felt cool against my skin as I moved, occasionally brushing against my thighs in a way that reminded me of how Derek's fingers had once grazed the same spot.

Thomas waved to get my attention as I looked around for a place to sit. I had just started heading in his direction when I overheard the conversation at a nearby table, where several female werewolves were speaking in deliberately hushed tones.

"Look at that outfit, obviously trying to catch the Alpha's attention," one whispered.

"I know, right? And that figure—is it natural?" another added with a hint of envy.

"I heard the Alpha pays special attention to her. I guess we know why now."

"Maybe she spends every night training at Darkwood Estate, just waiting for the day she can catch the Alpha's eye."

Thomas's fork clattered loudly against his plate. He turned to face the gossiping women, his eyes cold. "During lunch hours, ladies, perhaps focus on your own food."

The women immediately fell silent, their bodies instinctively lowering slightly in submission, their eyes darting back to their plates.

As I approached, I felt their prying glances. A flash of amber appeared in my eyes, and my fingertips gripped the edge of my tray more tightly.

Thomas was not only the head of the finance department but also a purebred werewolf whose mother was a close friend of my mother, Elena Blackwood. His position in Stone Group was just below the core management team.

"That dress looks good on you today, Erin," Thomas said, deliberately raising his voice. "The black really makes your eyes stand out."

---

Twilight was settling over the city as Derek and I sat side by side in the plush leather backseat of his luxury car. Outside the window, neon lights were beginning to illuminate the growing darkness.

I could feel Derek's gaze on me. His eyes moved slowly from my face down to my neck, lingering at the pulse point where my heartbeat visibly quickened under his attention.

The backseat suddenly felt too small, the distance between us charged with electricity. My skin flushed hot where his gaze traveled, and I pressed my thighs together, trying to control the growing ache between them. The wolf inside me paced restlessly, wanting to move closer to her mate, to press against him, to feel his skin against mine.

The scent of him filled the confined space - cedar, leather, and something distinctly male that made my mouth go dry. I turned my face slightly away, but that only exposed more of my neck to him. My fingers twisted together in my lap, looking for something to hold onto.

"I've prepared all the materials for tonight's meeting, Alpha," I said, my voice coming out huskier than intended. I cleared my throat, trying to regain control.

"I noticed," Derek replied, the words rumbling from deep in his chest. He shifted slightly closer, the movement casual but deliberate. His thigh now only inches from mine, radiating heat I could feel even without contact.

Despite my best efforts, my eyes kept tracing the sharp lines of his profile, noting how his custom-tailored black suit perfectly hugged his broad shoulders. Suddenly, Derek turned his head, catching me staring.

"It seems my personal secretary is interested in more than just clothing," he remarked, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

I quickly averted my gaze, feeling heat rush all the way to the tips of my ears. "No, I was just... thinking about the meeting."

"Is that so?" The playfulness in his voice was unmistakable.

"Of course," I insisted, forcing myself to appear calm. Damn it, he definitely sensed it. Werewolf perception is annoyingly acute, especially when one is your Soul Bond.

A cool night breeze swept through the half-open window, causing me to shrink my shoulders slightly and close my eyes against the sudden chill.

The leather seat creaked softly as Derek's body heat suddenly approached. My eyes flew open, my body instinctively tensing as I almost gasped. "A-Alpha?"

Derek leaned toward me, his strong arm almost enveloping me. The rich scent of cedar and leather mixed with his distinctly wild, predatory aroma overwhelmed my senses. My wolf whimpered with pleasure inside me.

"What are you...?" I asked, my breathing becoming shallow and rapid.

"The night wind is too cold," Derek's voice was close to my ear. "It's not good for young wolves who have only recently completed their transformation."

My heart raced to the point where I thought it might burst from my chest. Then I realized I had misunderstood the situation, feeling both embarrassed and slightly disappointed.

As Derek reached to close the window, his chest pressed briefly against my shoulder. His warm breath fanned across the sensitive skin of my neck, sending goosebumps racing down my arm. When his fingertips grazed my exposed knee, I had to bite my lip to suppress a gasp. The brief contact left behind more than just his scent - it left a trail of fire that burned up my thigh.

I suddenly noticed my dress had ridden up, exposing more of my legs than was proper. Derek's eyes followed my hands as I hurriedly pulled the fabric down. My voice came out breathless, barely audible. "I can do it myself."

"It's already done," Derek replied. As he moved back, his eyes locked with mine.