Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 33

Erin's POV

Time seemed frozen as we stood locked together, the Soul Bond between us humming with energy, demanding acknowledgment. In that moment, I caught a fleeting glimpse of gold in Derek's eyes—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.

His thumb pressed against the thin fabric of my blouse, the heat of his skin burning all the way through to mine. I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening, a tingling sensation spreading outward from where his fingers pressed into my flesh.

As I breathed in his scent—cedar and leather, with something uniquely his—the strangest thing happened. Instead of anxiety or fear, a sense of calm washed over me.

My wolf, restless all day, suddenly quieted, whimpering with something close to contentment. My muscles relaxed involuntarily, causing me to lean further into his solid chest. It made no sense. How could this man, who caused me so much stress, now make me feel so... safe?

I wanted nothing more than to remain in those strong arms forever, my body going soft in his embrace. His solid chest pressed against mine, sending electricity through every nerve ending in my body. I stiffened immediately, berating myself for allowing such thoughts to form. Yet my traitorous body refused to pull away completely.

"Always so careless when you walk, Blackwood?" Derek's cold voice broke through my momentary lapse in judgment, snapping me back to reality. His breath fanned across my face as he spoke, warm with subtle hints of tobacco and coffee.

I looked up, making the mistake of meeting his deep gray eyes directly. A shiver ran through my body. My chest tightened, breathing suddenly difficult as awareness crackled between us.

My fingers curled against the fabric of his shirt, feeling the solid muscle beneath. My wolf surged forward again, her presence in my mind almost overwhelming, pushing heat into my limbs until my skin felt too tight.

*Mine*, she insisted firmly, causing my fingers to grip his shirt more tightly.

*He will never be mine*, I silently countered, forcing myself to loosen my hold. He was Bradley's brother.

Despite my internal protests, I couldn't help noticing how handsome Derek looked up close. The strong line of his jaw, that slight shadow of stubble that gave him a dangerous edge, the subtle lines around his eyes that hinted at rare smiles.

As my heartbeat accelerated, his scent intensified with it, filling my senses until I could taste him on my tongue. Everything about him radiated power and control, wrapped in a cloak of indifference that somehow made him even more magnetic.

"If you're done staring, we should head to the meeting room," Derek said dryly. "I'm already late, and I have no interest in holding you all day."

I realized I'd been staring, heat suddenly rushing to my cheeks. I quickly stepped backward, creating much-needed distance. With his touch gone, I felt strangely bereft, my skin cooling where his hand had been. I pressed my thighs together tightly, unsettled by the lingering warmth low in my abdomen.

"Th-thank you, Alpha," I stammered, smoothing down my skirt with trembling hands. My fingers caught on a crease, and I realized my knuckles had gone white from gripping too tightly.

Derek completely ignored my thanks, turning to stride down the hallway without a backward glance. My eyes followed the broad line of his shoulders, the confident line of his spine, and the way his tailored pants hugged his form. I shook my head violently, biting the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, forcing my gaze to the floor.

I hurried to keep up with his long strides, my heart still beating irregularly. My heels clicked sharply against the polished floor, each step unsteady as my legs hadn't quite regained their strength. The space between us—just a few feet—felt simultaneously too vast and not far enough.

As I followed him, a deep sadness settled over me. I twisted my fingers together, nails digging into my palms as I struggled for control. The Soul Bond connecting us was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore with each encounter.

My emotional responses to him were growing stronger, harder to control, and my body's reactions were becoming impossible to hide. Every cell in me seemed attuned to his presence, responding without my permission. Something had to change—we needed to talk about this bond, find a solution before it consumed me completely.

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When we entered the meeting room, everyone immediately stood, heads slightly bowed in respect to their Alpha. The room was impressive—a long black marble table surrounded by thirty high-backed leather chairs. The two chairs at the head were slightly larger than the rest, clearly meant for the highest-ranking wolves. Derek's position faced a high-end projection screen mounted on the wall.

Derek waved a casual hand, indicating for everyone to sit. I stood behind his chair, head lowered, acutely aware of the curious and disdainful glances thrown my way.

An Omega attending a high-level Pack meeting was unprecedented, and I could almost hear their thoughts—wondering what I had done to earn such a privilege, or perhaps what I had done to be punished with such a task.

"Let's begin," Derek said, his voice filled with authority instantly commanding attention. "Department reports first."

The meeting dragged on for over an hour. Department heads presented their reports, discussing financial statuses, upcoming projects, and potential partnerships. Despite my nervousness, I found myself occasionally stealing glances at Derek, fascinated by the way his mind worked.

He asked razor-sharp questions, cutting straight to the heart of issues, identifying potential problems before they were even mentioned, and offering solutions that had others nodding in appreciation.

In the business world of Stone Group and the Darkwood Pack, he truly was the undisputed king. His way of thinking was different, always seeing opportunities others missed. His strategic mind began where others' thinking ended.

"Miss Blackwood?"

A voice pulled me from my thoughts. I blinked, suddenly realizing someone was speaking to me.

"Hmm?" I responded instinctively, then realized my mistake.

"The Alpha has called your name twice," the person said, their tone filled with disapproval. "Does an Omega dare to daydream during a Pack meeting?"

I turned toward Derek, shame washing over me. "I'm sorry, Alpha. I was just—"

"It seems this Omega assistant has a special interest in our Alpha," someone commented from across the table, causing several wolves to chuckle softly.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I averted my gaze, wishing the floor would open up and swallow me whole.

"Enough," Derek commanded, his voice like ice. "Focus on your work reports, not my assistant secretary."

I noticed he slightly emphasized the words "my assistant secretary," as if reminding everyone that I worked directly for him. Almost immediately, everyone bowed their heads respectfully, and the meeting continued.

"Thank you," I whispered, relieved.

Just as the meeting seemed to be winding down, my phone began to ring. The sudden noise startled me in the otherwise quiet room. I quickly pulled it from my pocket, seeing my mother's name on the screen. I immediately silenced it, but everyone in the meeting room had already heard my ringtone.

Too late.

I glanced at Derek. His eyes met mine, a flash of gold appearing briefly before disappearing. My heart sank to my stomach. This was surely my worst day at Stone Group yet.

To my surprise, Derek spoke: "Take the call."

"Wh-what?" I asked, certain I'd misheard.

"Take it," he repeated, gesturing toward the door.

I turned away from the table, answering with trembling hands.

"Erin?" my mother's voice came through, warm and familiar.

"I'm in the Alpha's meeting room," I said softly, acutely aware of the many enhanced wolf ears that could hear both sides of our conversation.

"Oh, I'm sorry, dear," she responded immediately. "I just wanted to remind you to come home early tonight. You remember we have that dinner with the Beta wolf, right?"

"I'll try to get back early," I promised quietly.

When I ended the call and turned around, every wolf in the room was staring at me with expressions ranging from shock to contempt. An Omega taking a personal call during a formal Pack meeting was unheard of. I glanced at Derek, expecting a reprimand or worse.

To my shock, he simply said, "Continue with the meeting," as if nothing unusual had occurred.