Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 42

Erin's POV

I was so shocked I nearly dropped my phone. Amy's eyes widened, and she silently mouthed "Is that him?" I nodded, my heart suddenly racing.

"I don't want to come back, that's why," I managed to answer, proud that my voice remained steady.

"Why?" His tone was hard, impatient.

I took a deep breath, gathering my courage. "Alpha, thank you for offering me a position at your company. But after being fired, I don't wish to continue working there."

"Reason?" he pressed.

"You know the reason," I said, anger beginning to replace shock. "I should stay away from you. In case something else happens, you'll blame me again after listening to someone else. I can't work in a place where no one trusts me."

"Come back," he commanded. "It wasn't your fault. I'll have a letter of apology sent to you on behalf of the company."

The audacity of his offer—not even a personal apology, but a company letter—sparked my indignation. "I know you think I'm a shameless Omega. But I have dignity. I can't come back."

Before he could respond, I hung up, my hand trembling slightly as I set the phone down.

"What did he say?" Amy immediately asked.

"Same old. He wants me back at his company."

Amy's expression turned incredulous. "Did he apologize to you?"

I laughed bitterly. "Him? Apologize? That's impossible. I don't think he's apologized to anyone in his life."

"Then how does he expect you to come back?"

"He said the company would send me a letter of apology."

Amy's jaw practically dropped. "Is he serious? No, I can't believe it. How can he be so unromantic?"

I glanced at her, realizing she still misunderstood the nature of my relationship with Derek. She still believed Derek secretly pined for me and was only prevented from openly pursuing me because of Pack politics and his engagement to Mya.

"He's not trying to be romantic," I clarified. "He's just fulfilling his duty as Alpha."

"Whatever you say," Amy replied, clearly unconvinced. "But he called you personally, didn't he? Didn't send Thomas or another employee to relay the message."

I shook my head, amused by her persistence. As if Derek would come looking for me, would admit he was wrong, would set aside his pride. No, he would continue as he always had—cold, distant, concerned only with his position and power.

\---

"We're here," Amy announced, parking the car in a mini-golf club lot. "Jack and the others are already inside."

I followed Amy into the indoor golf center, looking around. Bright neon lights illuminated various themed courses, with miniature waterfalls and windmills scattered throughout. We quickly spotted Jack waving to us from one of the courses. He was surrounded by several other wolves, most of whom I recognized from campus.

"You made it!" Jack called out joyfully, genuine delight spreading across his face as we approached.

"Hey everyone," Amy greeted cheerfully.

Jack placed his hand on my shoulder, guiding me toward the others. "This is our friend, Erin."

To my surprise, two young men nodded in recognition. "We know her," one said.

"You look beautiful," the other added with a friendly smile.

"Thank you," I responded, somewhat surprised by the compliment.

I recognized them now—they were in several of my classes at Silvermoon Academy, though we'd never directly spoken before. Jack quickly handed each of us a putter and a colored golf ball, then began explaining the rules of the game.

Jack's technique was surprisingly good, scoring a hole-in-one on the first hole, which earned him a round of applause. When my turn came, I approached the tiny tee with hesitation, feeling my wolf stirring within me.

She had been so withdrawn lately that her sudden movement caught me off guard. As I swung the putter to hit the ball, she retreated again, causing my timing to be off. The ball veered off its intended path, hit a barrier, and eventually rolled into a water hazard.

"That's okay," Jack said encouragingly. "You'll do better on the next hole!"

But my performance on the next course was equally unimpressive. I pushed the ball up a ramp, only to have it roll back down, almost to where it had started. I wasn't particularly disappointed—golf had never been my strong suit, and right now, I was just grateful to be out doing something normal, surrounded by people who didn't look at me with suspicion or contempt.

After completing all eighteen holes, Amy suggested we continue to the next part of our evening. "There's a great restaurant not far from here. They have private rooms we can reserve."

Everyone agreed enthusiastically, and soon we were all piling into cars, following Amy to our next destination.

\---

The restaurant was located inside an upscale hotel, glittering with elegant lights and sophisticated landscaping. Small fountains near the entrance were surrounded by perfectly maintained greenery. It looked much more expensive than the casual places I usually frequented with Amy and Jack.

As we approached the entrance, a familiar sensation washed over me—the unmistakable presence of Alpha energy, powerful and dominant. My wolf, who had been curled tightly within me just moments before, suddenly became alert, vigilant and watchful. I glanced around, noticing several high-ranking wolves in the restaurant, their auras pulsing in the space.

"Do we have a reservation?" I whispered to Amy as we entered the marble lobby.

She nodded, gesturing to Jack, who was already speaking with the hostess.

"We reserved a private room three days ago," he said, his posture straight and confident.

The hostess checked a tablet, then nodded. "Of course. Please follow me."

We were led through the main dining area toward a separate section where private rooms were located. As we walked, I felt my wolf growing increasingly restless, pacing beneath my skin. Something about this place made her uneasy—or perhaps excited. I wasn't quite sure.

"Here's your room," the hostess said, stopping at a door decorated with ornate numbers.

As we passed another private room, my wolf suddenly surged forward with such force that I nearly stumbled. Through the half-open door, I caught a glimpse of a familiar broad-shouldered silhouette, the scent of cedar and leather immediately reaching my nostrils.

"Derek?" I whispered involuntarily, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

But somehow, he seemed to hear me. His head snapped toward the doorway, the powerful silhouette visible for just a moment before I hurried past. My wolf whimpered longingly deep inside me, the pull toward him so strong that I had to press my hand against my stomach as if I could physically restrain her.

How was this possible? Out of all the restaurants in the city, how had we ended up at the same one as Derek? The Soul Bond seemed to be playing a cruel joke, constantly bringing us into each other's orbit despite our mutual desire to keep our distance.

No, that wasn't entirely true. My wolf certainly didn't want to keep her distance. And sometimes, in weak moments, neither did I.

\---

In our private room, I forced myself to focus on my friends, on the elegant decorations, on anything but the fact that Derek was just a few doors away. We ordered a variety of dishes, each of us sharing our preferences with the attentive server.

"After dinner," Jack said, "I thought we might check out that new club downtown. They have a great DJ tonight."

A chorus of approval went around the table, but I remained silent, unsure if I could handle a club after the emotional roller coaster of the past few days.

The food arrived, beautifully presented and delicious, temporarily distracting me from thoughts of Derek. As we ate, conversation flowed easily, filled with jokes and campus stories. I found myself laughing more freely than I had in days, the weight on my shoulders gradually lifting.

After the plates were cleared, Jack opened a complimentary bottle of red wine provided by the restaurant. As the rich, fruity liquid filled my glass, I realized I was actually enjoying myself, the specter of Derek temporarily forgotten.

"Let's play a game," one of Jack's friends suggested, and soon we were immersed in a round of "Never Have I Ever," each revelation accompanied by laughter and playful accusations.

Between the wine and multiple trips to refill my water glass, I eventually felt the inevitable pressure on my bladder.

"I need to use the restroom," I announced, rising from my seat with a smile.

"I need to go too," one of Jack's friends said, standing up. "Let's go together."

We left the private room and walked into the hallway. As we passed Derek's room, I anxiously glanced inside, then felt a rush of relief seeing it was empty. My wolf, however, seemed disappointed, whimpering softly within me.

"Ladies' room is that way," Jack's friend told me, pointing down the hallway as he headed toward the men's facilities.

I nodded gratefully and walked toward the ladies' room, pushing open the heavy door to find it blessedly empty. After using the facilities, I moved to the sink, splashing some cold water on my face to counteract the flush from the wine. As I straightened up, water droplets sliding down my cheeks, I noticed a discoloration on my left cheek—a yellowish bruise where Amy's makeup had worn off.

I sighed, remembering the moment Derek had thrown those photographs at me, one slicing across my arm, another hitting my face. The physical pain had been nothing compared to the emotional devastation that followed, the public humiliation of packing my belongings under the watchful eyes of the entire office.

Reaching for my purse to reapply concealer, I caught a flicker of movement in the mirror. My wolf suddenly came alive, eagerly pushing against my skin, her excitement washing through me before I even realized what had triggered her reaction.

I slowly straightened, lifting my eyes to the reflection, and froze.

Derek stood behind me, leaning against the now-closed door, his powerful arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes flashed with unmistakable gold—his wolf, close to the surface, watching me with intense focus.

A startled gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it, my heart leaping into my throat.

My wolf, however, was jubilant.