Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 90

Erin's POV

I stood frozen in place, my confession hanging in the air between us. Derek's golden eyes were fixed on me, burning with an intensity that stole my breath. The woman at his side looked from his face to mine, her expression shifting from confusion to anger.

"What did you just say?" she demanded, taking a threatening step toward me.

She was several inches taller than me, curvier, dressed in a backless gown that clung to her every curve. Long, manicured nails tapped against the crystal glass in her hand as she looked me up and down without disguising her contempt.

"Look at you," she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain, "a little wolf cub playing dress-up in adult clothes."

My cheeks burned with humiliation, but I refused to back down. When I had seen her touching Derek, something primal deep inside me had awakened—a territorial, fierce feeling that would not be suppressed.

"Listen, little wolf cub," she continued, leaning closer, close enough that I could smell the expensive perfume on her skin, "go find a boy your own age. He's a mature Alpha. He needs a real woman who can ignite his desires, not a little girl who just completed her transformation like you."

Her words cut deep, touching on my deepest insecurities. Was that how Derek saw me too? Just a naive little girl playing at being a grown woman? The wolf inside me bristled, refusing to be so easily dismissed.

"Leave," I said, my voice low and hostile.

The woman laughed, the sound musical yet cruel. "Or what? What can you do to me?" She flipped her hair dismissively. "You think you have some sort of claim because you're his secretary? Every female in the Darkwood Pack knows your position is... temporary."

I struggled to keep my expression neutral, though my hands had balled into fists at my sides. She was deliberately provoking me, and I was dangerously close to losing control.

Derek had been watching our exchange with an inscrutable expression and finally spoke. His voice was soft but carried the undeniable authority of an Alpha.

"Leave."

The woman's face lit up with triumph as she turned to me. "See? He wants a real woman; he wants me."

Looking at Derek's cold expression, my heart sank. Was this all just another game? Another way to humiliate me in public? I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that suddenly threatened.

"Fine. I'm leaving," I said, my voice barely audible above the club's music.

Before I could take a step, Derek's hand shot out, his fingers closing firmly around my wrist. He pulled me toward him with one fluid motion, and though I wanted to protest, my body instinctively responded to his touch. I found myself standing close enough to feel the heat radiating from his chest, my skin tingling where his fingers made contact.

"You misunderstood her words," Derek said to the woman, his eyes flashing gold in the dim light. "You misinterpreted my meaning. I meant: you. Leave. Now."

The woman's confident smile faltered. "But I—"

"You heard what my secretary said," Derek continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. "Now you've heard me too. Leave."

The woman opened her mouth to protest, but Derek's expression silenced her. His face had subtly shifted, canines lengthening, eyes glowing with predatory light—a subtle display of his Alpha power that conveyed a clear message. She instinctively took a step back, her body recognizing a threat her mind had yet to process.

"This isn't over," she muttered, turning on her heel with as much dignity as she could muster and striding quickly toward the exit.

I watched her go, my heart still racing from the confrontation. I became acutely aware of Derek's proximity—his hand still encircling my wrist, his breath warm against my hair. I bit my lower lip, torn between pulling away and leaning closer. The wolf inside me whimpered, wanting to press against her mate, while my human pride demanded distance.

---

"You wanted to go with her, didn't you?" I asked, unable to keep the accusation from my voice. I could feel my hand trembling slightly in his grip, betraying my emotional state.

Derek raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise flashing across his face. "When did I say I wanted to go with her?"

Recalling how he had sat there watching while the woman insulted me, my frustration escalated. "You just sat there," I said, my voice rising slightly. "You watched her insult me and did nothing until I was about to leave."

I pulled my wrist from his grasp, taking a small step backward to create distance between us. The woman's words had touched a nerve, awakening all my insecurities about our relationship.

"I think she was right," I continued, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "You need a mature woman. I'm just a little wolf girl who barely transformed. I should be with someone young, not an experienced Alpha."

Derek's expression darkened, the gold flecks in his eyes becoming more prominent. "Are you implying I'm old?"

I couldn't help the challenging smile that tugged at the corner of my mouth. "Yes, I am implying that. What about it? Does that bother you, Alpha? You didn't have the same reaction when she called me immature."

Derek opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off. "Enjoy your club night, Alpha Derek. I'm going to find my own fun." With that, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding so loudly I was certain he could hear it.

---

I headed toward the dance floor, anger and hurt propelling each step. If Derek thought I was just a child, I would show him differently. I would let him see exactly what he was so casually dismissing.

I reached up and undid my carefully pinned hair, letting it cascade down my back in waves. I took the silver hair tie and wore it on my wrist like a bracelet, this small act of rebellion giving me a strange sense of liberation.

The dress I wore—a modest yet elegant black number with silver accents—suddenly felt too conservative. I reached for the neckline, tugging it down slightly to reveal more collarbone and a hint of cleavage. Not too much, but enough to make a statement.

I ran my fingers through my newly freed hair, arranging it around my face. The transformation was subtle but effective—no longer the prim secretary but a young woman out to enjoy her night.

As I approached the dance floor, I noticed a werewolf about my age standing at the edge, watching the dancers. He had a boyish handsomeness, tousled brown hair and a friendly smile with no ulterior motives.

I caught his eye and smiled, walking toward him with a confidence I didn't entirely feel. As I approached, his eyes widened slightly in obvious appreciation of what he saw.

"Hey, beautiful!" he greeted me enthusiastically, his voice warm and friendly. "Would you like to dance?"

---

Derek's POV

I stood by the bar, my fingers gripping the glass tightly as I watched her through the dancing crowd. Every movement, every subtle change in posture, did not escape my notice. When Erin reached up to undo that carefully arranged bun, allowing her waterfall of hair to cascade down, my throat tightened, my breath almost stopping.

In that moment, she was no longer my meticulous personal secretary but a vibrant woman. The taste of Blood Moon wine turned to ash on my tongue, replaced by a primitive desire rushing through my veins.

She was mine.

The wolf inside me awoke with a snarl, demanding to break free from the confines of skin. It yearned to surge forward, pull her into my arms, mark every inch of her skin with my scent so all werewolves would know whom she belonged to. The urge was so powerful I had to use all my strength to maintain my human appearance.

I looked at her again, remembering the first time I saw her at Stone Group. She had stood at my office door, somewhat nervous yet unable to hide the stubbornness in her eyes. A girl not yet fully aware of her own allure, a new wolf exuding an aura of purity. That image had branded itself into my mind, sneaking into my dreams during the quiet hours of night, leaving me waking in cold sweat, desire unquenched.

She smiled at those around her, displaying the elegant curve of her collarbone. That expanse of skin I had countless times imagined tracing with my lips was now exposed to the gaze of other wolves. A hot anger exploded in my chest.

When that young wolf placed his hand on Erin's slender waist, a primitive rage swept through me. My vision instantly sharpened, the world dissolving into shades of red and gold. The wolf's instincts completely took over, my proud self-control slipping through my fingers like sand.

He dared to touch my woman.

The glass in my hand made a dangerous cracking sound, almost shattering under my grip. I forcefully set it down on the marble bar top, the sound exploding in the surrounding air, drawing wary glances from several patrons.

My body moved of its own accord, cutting through the crowded floor, each step carrying the determination of a predator closing in on prey. My eyes never left her figure, noting how she had pulled down her neckline slightly, revealing more of her pale skin. That skin glowed enticingly in the dim light, making my mouth go dry.

I could smell her scent, even in this air mixed with perfume, alcohol, and desire; her scent guided me like a beacon. My canines ached beneath my gums, longing to mark her, to permanently imprint my scent within her.

The distance closed, my heartbeat quickened. Reason told me I should maintain restraint, maintain the dignity of an Alpha. But in this moment, I only wanted to snatch her away from that presumptuous young wolf, to let everyone know that Erin Blackwood belonged to me.

She was my Soul Bond. Mine. No one else could touch her.

When my patience reached its limit, I suddenly stood up and walked toward the two of them.