Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 10

Erin's POV

"Is that him?" whispered Amy, leaning close enough that only I could hear. "Your soul bond?"

I could only manage a tight nod, not trusting my voice. My throat had closed up, making it difficult to breathe normally.

Amy's eyes widened. "He's... intense."

Derek Stone didn't just command attention—he demanded it. As he took his position at the judges' table, I noticed that two unfamiliar men in expensive suits had followed him onto the stage, along with four Enforcers.

My heart sank when I realized Aaron wasn't among them. Had Derek deliberately left him behind?

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Derek's deep voice resonated through the speakers, sending involuntary shivers down my spine. "Silvermoon Academy has always been at the forefront of innovation, and I look forward to seeing what the next generation has to offer."

His gaze swept across the auditorium, and for a split second, our eyes met. Though his expression remained impassive, I felt a jolt of recognition pass between us. My wolf howled in triumph, while I sank lower in my seat, wishing I could disappear entirely.

All around me, students straightened in their chairs, heads bowed slightly in instinctive submission to the Alpha.

"Did you know he was going to be here?" Jack whispered, looking genuinely terrified.

"No," I murmured, still reeling from the shock. "No idea."

The crowd's whispers grew louder, a constant buzz of excitement and speculation.

"I heard his binding ceremony with the Silverpine Alpha's daughter was postponed..."

"...something about a Soul Bond claim..."

"...poor Mya, after all that planning..."

Each snippet felt like a knife twisting in my stomach. Six months later, and people were still gossiping about that night, even if they didn't realize I was sitting right there among them.

"Erin," Amy turned around with wide eyes. "Quick, lower your head. The Alpha is looking this way."

I ducked my gaze immediately, heart hammering against my ribs. Was he deliberately seeking me out, or was it my paranoia?

The Dean cleared his throat, reclaiming everyone's attention. "Our first presenter will begin in five minutes. Contestants, please make your final preparations."

I fumbled with my notes, trying to focus on the speech I'd practiced countless times. The words blurred on the page as my hands trembled. How was I supposed to concentrate with Derek sitting mere feet away, his presence flooding my senses?

"You'll do great," Amy reassured me, squeezing my arm. "Just breathe."

Easy for her to say. She wasn't fighting a primal urge to run across the room and throw herself at the feet of the most powerful wolf in the territory.

The first presenter was a brilliant human student majoring in business analytics. As he approached the podium, his usual confidence seemed to evaporate under Derek's unwavering gaze. His hands trembled visibly as he fumbled with his notes, and twice he dropped his laser pointer.

"G-good morning," Thomas began, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I'm here to p-present my project on optimizing supply chain management for multi-regional businesses."

He stumbled over simple words and lost his train of thought mid-sentence several times. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes kept darting nervously to Derek, whose expression remained impassive.

When he finished his presentation, the applause was polite but muted. He practically ran back to his seat, face flushed with embarrassment.

"That was rough," Jack whispered. "I've never seen he mess up like that before."

"It's the Alpha effect," Amy murmured.

Throughout all three presentations, Derek remained stoic, occasionally making notes but otherwise showing no reaction. The two associates beside him were more expressive, sometimes nodding in approval or frowning at particular points.

Watching these talented students crumble under Derek's presence, my own anxiety about presenting grew. But alongside the nervousness was a strange, persistent hope.

Unlike the others, I had a connection to Derek. Maybe when I presented my project, he would finally see me as more than just an inconvenient complication. Maybe he would recognize that I had value, that I was worthy of being his Soul Bond.

“Maybe he'll finally see me for who I really am,” my wolf whispered, unexpectedly quiet but hopeful.

I found myself rehearsing my points with renewed determination. My project was good—really good. Even if Derek didn't want me as his mate, he couldn't deny the merit of my ideas.

Professor consulted his list after the third student returned to his seat. "Next up, we have Lily Winters."

Lily, how about we take a look at your presentation? I'm gonna beat you and make the whole school think differently about me.

But no one answered. Professor frowned and scanned the room. "Is Lily Winters present? She was scheduled before Miss Blackwood."

The auditorium remained silent. No one had seen Lily all morning.

"Very well," Professor Williams said after a moment. "We'll proceed with Miss Blackwood, and if Miss Winters arrives, we'll adjust accordingly."

I took a deep breath and stood. Just as I started walking toward the aisle, the auditorium door at the back swung open with a bang that made everyone jump.

Lily strode in as if she owned the place, her high heels clicking against the polished floor. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in an elegant twist, and she wore an expensive-looking navy suit that made my simple white blouse and black pants feel painfully inadequate.

I froze mid-step, caught in the awkward position of having half-risen from my seat while Lily commanded everyone's attention.

"I apologize for my tardiness, Professor," she announced, not sounding sorry at all as she approached the stage. "I had some last-minute preparations to complete. I was so focused on perfecting my project that I seem to have lost track of time."

Professor frowned, clearly displeased by the interruption. "Miss Winters, you're just in time. We were about to move on to Miss Blackwood's presentation in your absence."

Lily's eyes flickered to me. "Oh, I wouldn't want to disrupt the schedule. I'm prepared to present now, as planned."

I slowly sank back into my seat, a strange sense of foreboding settling over me as Professor nodded.

Lily flashed him a dazzling smile. "Of course, Professor. I just want to make sure my presentation materials are properly uploaded." She held up a USB drive.

I watched, a knot forming in my stomach, as she handed her drive to the tech assistant. There was something about her confidence that felt off.

"She's certainly making an entrance," Jack muttered beside me.

"That's Lily," I replied, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "Everything's always about her."

As Lily took her seat across the aisle, her eyes met mine. Instead of the guilt or shame one might expect from someone who had betrayed their best friend, she gave me a small, smug smile before deliberately looking away.

My wolf growled in response, clawing at my insides. The same wolf who had been so focused on Derek now wanted to challenge Lily, to make her submit for her betrayal.

Finally, Professor Williams announced, "Our next presenter is Lily Winters, with her project on 'Sustainable Resource Management for the Pack.'"

Lily walked confidently to the podium, pausing to smooth her already perfect hair. "Good morning, esteemed judges, Professor Williams, fellow students. Today I'm honored to present my innovative approach to resource management specifically designed for the unique needs of our pack."

I leaned forward, curious despite myself. Lily had never shown any interest in resource management before. In fact, she'd frequently complained about my "boring" research on sustainable practices for werewolf territories.

I watched with growing anticipation, curious about what Lily would present. My own project had taken months of research and analysis, exploring sustainable resource management models that could benefit werewolf territories without compromising our traditional ways. It was something I was genuinely proud of, and I couldn't wait for my turn to share it with everyone—especially Derek.

As the first slide appeared on the screen, I felt the blood drain from my face.

It was my project. My research. My ideas.

"That's my project," I whispered, shock giving way to rage that burned through me like wildfire. "She stole my project!"

Amy glanced at me in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Everything she's presenting—it's all mine. I've been working on this for months. She must have—" I stopped suddenly, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. "The USB drive. She must have copied my files when I submitted them this morning."

The volunteer who had taken my drive—she'd reacted to my name. She must have been working with Lily.

My eyes darted to Derek, wondering if he could somehow sense the deception. But his expression remained neutral as he watched Lily's presentation, occasionally making notes on the pad in front of him.

Every word she spoke was like a knife twisting in my chest. This wasn't just academic theft—it was personal. Lily had already taken Bradley from me. Now she was stealing my work, my future, my chance at building something for myself beyond Pack politics.

"I can't believe this," I muttered, my hands curling into fists. I could feel my wolf rising to the surface, responding to my rage. My vision sharpened, colors becoming more vivid as my wolf's perceptions began to bleed into my own.

"Erin," Sarah whispered urgently from in front of me, turning around with wide, frightened eyes. "Your eyes are changing. Calm down! The Alpha will notice."

I forced myself to take deep breaths, struggling to push my wolf back down. The last thing I needed was to shift—or even partially shift—in the middle of the auditorium. And Sarah was right—drawing Derek's attention this way would only make things worse.

"That's my project," I repeated, my voice shaking with the effort of controlling myself. "She stole it from me, just like she stole Bradley."