Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 104

Erin's POV

I had never been on a private jet before, and despite my attempts to appear calm, my nervousness must have been evident. The sleek interior of the aircraft was luxurious beyond anything I'd ever experienced, with plush leather seats, polished wood tables, and what looked like a fully stocked bar at one end.

"First time flying private?" Derek asked, settling into the seat across from me as the engines hummed to life.

I nodded, gripping the armrests tightly as the plane began to taxi down the runway. "Is it that obvious?"

A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. "Just a bit."

As the jet accelerated and lifted off the ground, my stomach lurched uncomfortably. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, but a patch of turbulence made the plane shudder, and I couldn't suppress a small gasp of fear.

When I opened my eyes, I found Derek watching me with a mixture of amusement and something else—something softer that I rarely saw in his expression.

"It's perfectly safe," he assured me. "This jet has flown me to business meetings across the country dozens of times."

"I know," I said, attempting a brave smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "I'm just not used to it."

The flight was mercifully short, but as we began our descent toward the Moon Abyss Pack territory, another bout of turbulence hit. This time, the plane dropped suddenly before stabilizing, and I couldn't help the small cry that escaped my lips. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the armrests even tighter.

"Come here," Derek's voice cut through my panic.

Before I could respond, he had unfastened his seatbelt and moved to sit beside me. With firm but gentle hands, he pulled me against his chest, one hand cradling the back of my head.

"Relax, little Omega," he murmured, his breath warm against my hair. "Focus on my heartbeat."

I found myself instinctively complying, pressing my ear against his chest where I could hear the strong, steady rhythm of his heart. His scent enveloped me—cedar and spice, with that underlying note that was uniquely Derek. It was comforting in a way I hadn't expected, and I felt the tension gradually leaving my body.

"That's it," he encouraged, his hand stroking my hair. "We're almost there."

I remained nestled against him until the plane touched down with a gentle bump. Even then, I was reluctant to pull away, the warmth and security of his embrace making me forget, for a moment, all the complications between us.

---

The Moon Abyss Pack territory was different from what I was used to in the Darkwood Pack. As we descended the steps from the private jet into the crisp morning air, I took in the surroundings with curious eyes. The airport was smaller but impeccably maintained, with modern European-style buildings visible in the distance.

"Alpha Stone!" A voice called out, and I turned to see a young man in his late twenties approaching us, his hand raised in greeting.

Derek nodded in acknowledgment. "Michael."

The man reached us and offered a respectful half-bow to Derek before turning curious eyes to me. "And this must be Ms. Blackwood. Welcome to Moon Abyss territory."

"Michael is the Vice President of our subsidiary company here," Derek explained to me. "He'll be driving us to the hotel."

I blinked in surprise. "You have a company here too?" I knew Derek was wealthy and powerful, but the extent of his business empire was still shocking to me.

Michael smiled. "Stone Group has subsidiaries in several pack territories. It's one of the largest werewolf-owned conglomerates in the country."

"I could have sent a driver," Michael added, addressing Derek, "but I wanted to show proper respect by coming myself. It's not every day we host the Darkwood Pack Alpha."

As we walked toward a waiting black SUV, Michael fell into step beside Derek, immediately launching into business talk. "Alpha, everything is prepared for tomorrow. You'll just need to review the final agreement before we present it."

I followed slightly behind them, reminding myself of my role here. In the Moon Abyss Pack territory, I would need to be careful about how I interacted with Derek. Here, I was just his secretary, not his soul bond. I couldn't afford to be casual or familiar with him in public, no matter how our relationship had been evolving in private.

Two additional SUVs with what I assumed were security personnel followed us as we drove through the outskirts of the Moon Abyss territory. The landscape was beautiful, with rolling hills and dense forests giving way to a more urban environment as we approached the city center.

Michael pulled up in front of a towering luxury hotel, its glass facade reflecting the morning sunlight. Doormen in crisp uniforms immediately approached to collect our luggage from the trunk.

"I'll leave you to get settled," Michael said as we stood in the opulent lobby with its soaring ceilings, marble floors, and crystal chandeliers. "I need to head to the office to make final preparations for tomorrow's meeting. Unless you need anything else, Alpha?"

Derek shook his head. "We'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

As Michael departed, a manager approached us, bowing deeply to Derek. "Welcome back to Moon Abyss Grand Hotel, Alpha Stone. It's an honor to have you with us again." He turned to me with a polite smile. "And Ms. Blackwood, we're delighted to have the Darkwood Pack's secretary staying with us as well."

I nodded in acknowledgment, trying to maintain the professional demeanor expected of someone in my position.

After checking in, Derek led the way to the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. As the doors closed, leaving us alone for the first time since arriving, I allowed myself to relax slightly.

"Have you been here before?" I asked, curious about his familiarity with the hotel.

"I come here every year for business with the Moon Abyss Pack," he replied, his eyes fixed on the climbing floor numbers. "It's a convenient arrangement for both packs."

When the elevator doors opened, Derek strode confidently down the hallway, stopping at a set of double doors at the end. He swiped a key card, pushing the door open and gesturing for me to enter first.

I stepped into what could only be described as the most luxurious hotel suite I had ever seen. The living room alone was larger than my entire apartment back home, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of a lake in the distance. Plush furniture in rich cream and gold tones was arranged around a central fireplace, and fresh flowers adorned every surface.

While I stood gaping at the opulence surrounding me, Derek made himself comfortable on one of the sofas, lighting a cigar with practiced ease.

"This is... incredible," I managed, turning in a slow circle to take it all in. Then a thought occurred to me. "Um, where's my room?"

Derek exhaled a cloud of fragrant smoke, his eyes meeting mine with a hint of mischief. "That one," he said, pointing toward a door on the far side of the living room.

"And where will you be sleeping?" I asked, though something in his expression already gave me the answer.

Derek's lips curved into a smirk that sent a shiver down my spine. "This suite only has one bedroom." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "When outside pack territory, an Alpha's soul bond must stay by his side at all times."