Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 32

Erin’s POV

I turned to see a tall, well-dressed man approaching with a friendly smile. It took me a moment to recognize him—the son of my mother's friend and the Beta wolf she had mentioned at breakfast.

"Hi," I greeted, summoning a polite smile despite my inner turmoil. "I didn't expect to meet you at the company."

"I worked in the finance department," he explained, gesturing vaguely toward the elevator. "Just started a few months ago."

An awkward silence fell between us before he spoke again. "My mother mentioned your mother invited us over for dinner tonight. If you don't mind, we could go together."

"Go together?" I echoed, confusion momentarily overriding my stress.

He held up his hands quickly. "Don't misunderstand. I'll go directly from the office to your home. I just wanted to check if that works for you."

"What about your mother?" I asked, grasping for an excuse. "Shouldn't you pick her up first?"

Thomas smiled, a hint of pride crossing his features. "She has her own car. Her driver will take her. Beta families in the Darkwood Pack always have such arrangements."

I shifted uncomfortably, my wolf growling softly at the prospect of spending time with this Beta wolf. "The Pack Alpha's secretary isn't here today," I explained. "So I have extra work to complete."

"That's no problem," Thomas replied smoothly. "I have some work to finish up as well. If you're worried I'll be waiting for you, don't be. I'll meet you at the main entrance when you're done."

Trapped by politeness, I nodded reluctantly. "Alright, see you later."

As he walked away, my wolf's unease grew stronger. She didn't want this Beta near us, didn't want to entertain the possibility my mother was clearly hoping for—a match between an Omega and a respectable Beta, a practical union that would elevate our family's standing.

\---

Back in my office, I focused on the tasks Claire would normally handle. Derek's schedule was complex, filled with back-to-back meetings with various Pack departments and business associates. I carefully organized the information, preparing everything he would need.

After an hour of sorting through files and answering emails, my phone rang. The caller ID showed Derek's extension, making my pulse jump.

"Come to my office," he ordered without preamble, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

When I entered his office moments later, he was standing by the window, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the light. He didn't turn around.

"Alpha, you have a meeting with the group directors in the next hour," I informed him, consulting my notes.

"Go to the Human Resources department," he instructed, still facing the window. "Get the monthly assessment reports the department manager should have submitted to me."

I blinked, surprised by the mundane request. "Yes, Alpha," I responded, quickly leaving the office.

The elevator ride to the Human Resources floor seemed to take forever. With each passing floor, I felt more eyes on me, more subtle sniffs as higher-ranking wolves detected my Omega scent. I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, ignoring the stares.

When the doors finally opened, I stepped into an unfamiliar corridor. Several employees glanced up from their desks, their conversations faltering as they caught sight of me.

I approached a woman sitting at a nearby desk. "Excuse me, could you direct me to the department manager's office?"

She looked me up and down, her nostrils flaring slightly. "What business does an Omega have here?" she asked, making no effort to hide her disdain.

I straightened my shoulders, summoning every ounce of confidence I could muster. "The Pack Alpha sent me to collect the monthly assessment reports."

The effect was immediate. The woman's expression shifted from contempt to surprise, then a grudging respect. "This way," she said, standing quickly. "I'll take you to the manager's office."

The manager was a stern-faced Beta wolf. He regarded me with obvious skepticism when I entered his office.

"Miss Blackwood, why are you here?" he asked, leaning back in his chair. "What reports? Claire should be the one collecting these."

I maintained my composure despite his challenging tone. "If you have any concerns, you're welcome to contact the Pack Alpha directly for confirmation."

The manager narrowed his eyes, studying me for a long moment before reaching for his phone. I waited silently as he spoke briefly with Derek, his expression growing increasingly uncomfortable. When he hung up, he reluctantly pulled a file from his drawer and handed it to me.

"Here," he said tersely. "Tell the Alpha these are the most current reports available."

Clutching the file, I thanked him and left the office, eager to return to the executive floor. As I waited for the elevator, a familiar voice made my blood run cold.

"...and then he practically guaranteed me the position after my internship ends."

I turned slightly, my heart sinking as I confirmed what my ears and nose had already told me—Lily Winters, my former best friend, the girl who had betrayed me with Bradley and stolen my research, was standing just a few feet away.

She looked different from when I'd last seen her at university. Her makeup was flawless, her clothing expensive and clearly chosen to accentuate her figure. She stood among a group of high-ranking female wolves, her posture confident and slightly arrogant as she regaled them with stories of her success.

My stomach churned as I remembered how she had plagiarized my academic work, claiming my research as her own during the speech competition. That theft had earned her an internship at Stone Group—ironically, the very place where I now worked.

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped inside quickly, just as Lily turned in my direction. I caught a flash of surprise in her eyes before the doors closed between us.

"I should avoid this floor in the future," I muttered to myself, disgust filling me. "Nauseating."

When I returned to Derek's office, he was seated at his desk, reviewing documents with intense concentration. I approached quietly, holding out the file. "The reports you requested, Alpha."

As he reached for the file, his fingers brushed against mine—the briefest, lightest contact, yet it sent a jolt of awareness through my entire body. My wolf shuddered beneath my skin, responding instinctively to his touch.

"You'll attend the meeting with the directors in Claire's place," he announced suddenly, his eyes still on the file.

I froze, sure I had misheard him. Claire's role in these meetings was vital—she took extensive notes, provided directors with necessary information, and facilitated discussions. For an Omega to take her place in such a high-level meeting was almost unheard of.

"Is something wrong?" Derek asked, his sharp gaze finally lifting to my face.

"N-nothing," I stammered, panic rising. "I'll just get my phone. It's in my office."

His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why would you need your phone in a board meeting?"

"In case I need to consult Claire about something," I explained hastily. "I could text her with questions."

The excuse sounded weak even to my own ears, but Derek didn't challenge it. I backed toward the door, desperate for a moment to collect myself. "I'll be right back."

\---

In my office, I grabbed my phone and took several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. My wolf paced anxiously beneath my skin, sensing my distress. Attending a meeting with Pack directors—all high-ranking wolves who would immediately detect my Omega status—was terrifying. One mistake could humiliate not only me but Derek as well.

After gathering the necessary files and my phone, I hurried back toward Derek's office. My mind was so preoccupied with worry about the upcoming meeting that I wasn't watching where I was going. I pushed open my office door without looking, immediately colliding with a solid, immovable object.

The impact knocked me off balance, sending me stumbling backward. Before I could fall, a strong arm wrapped around my waist, steadying me. Heat radiated through the thin fabric of my blouse where his palm pressed against the small of my back.

The sudden physical contact sent an electric current through my entire body, my wolf responding with immediate, overwhelming excitement. Her reaction was so strong that I gasped, the sound embarrassingly loud in the quiet hallway.

I looked up slowly, already knowing who I would see. Derek Stone stood just inches away, his steel-gray eyes staring down at me with an intensity that made my knees weak. His scent enveloped me completely—cedar and leather and something uniquely, dangerously him—making my head spin with primal awareness.

For one endless moment, neither of us moved. His arm remained locked around my waist, his body heat seeping into mine. I could feel his steady heartbeat against my palm where it rested on his chest, the solid muscle beneath his expensive shirt making my fingers tingle.

My wolf pushed forward with such force that I struggled to maintain control, desperately fighting the urge to lean into him, to bury my face in the curve of his neck and breathe him in more deeply.

Time seemed suspended as we stood locked together, the Soul Bond between us humming with energy, demanding acknowledgment. In his eyes, I caught a fleeting glimpse of gold—his wolf responding to mine—before it disappeared under his iron control.

"I—" I began, but my voice failed me, the words dying in my throat as Derek's grip on my waist tightened almost imperceptibly.