Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 58

Erin's POV

Sunlight streamed through the windows of the Silvermoon Academy cafeteria as I pushed salad around my plate with my fork, my mind continuously replaying fragments from last night. The feel of Derek's body pressed against mine on the dance floor, his teeth grazing my earlobe, and the protective way he'd held me... these memories made my cheeks burn.

"Erin, earth to Erin," Amy's voice pulled me back to reality. "You've been staring at that piece of lettuce for five minutes."

I blinked, noticing the amused expressions on my friends' faces. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About a certain Alpha?" Amy teased, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Jack nudged her gently. "Leave her alone. She's probably just tired from balancing school and her work at Stone Group."

I nodded gratefully. My stomach fluttered whenever I thought about Derek's behavior this morning—how different he'd seemed, the way his fingers had touched my chin at breakfast, that hint of teasing in his voice. It was so unlike the cold, distant Alpha I knew.

"Are you heading straight to work after class?" Jack asked.

I glanced at my watch, calculating how much time I had. "I should. There's a project I need to complete for the Alpha."

"Come on," Amy protested, "you work all the time. At least eat a proper lunch first."

As we chatted about upcoming exams and campus events, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting a message from Derek or my mother. But the screen displayed a number I didn't recognize.

[Are you busy?]

I frowned, quickly typing back: [Who is this?]

The reply came almost instantly: [Your admirer.]

"What is it?" Jack noticed my confusion and asked.

I showed them the messages. "I don't know who this is."

Amy's eyes widened with excitement. "Call them! Maybe you have a secret admirer."

"It's probably just a wrong number," I said, but curiosity got the better of me. I pressed the call button, holding the phone to my ear, listening as it rang several times before going to voicemail.

"No answer," I said, slipping my phone back into my pocket. "It's nothing."

Amy looked disappointed. "Maybe they're shy."

I checked the time and stood up. "I should go. Alpha Derek is expecting me."

After saying goodbye, I walked toward the campus exit, pondering the strange texts. As I walked, my phone vibrated again.

[Where are you?]

I hesitated before replying: [I don't talk to strangers.]

[But I'm not a stranger to you.]

I snorted, rolling my eyes. Probably just some random person texting for attention. I didn't reply again, putting my phone back in my pocket and quickening my pace toward the bus stop.

---

When I walked into the gleaming lobby of Stone Group, I noticed the way people's gazes immediately changed. Their eyes lingered on my purple floral dress and the designer shoes Tom had given me.

A female receptionist I'd seen but never spoken to suddenly smiled warmly. "Good afternoon, Erin. You look lovely today."

"Thank you," I answered, surprised by her friendliness.

In the elevator, a group of employees whispered among themselves, occasionally stealing glances at me. I pretended not to notice, but their words carried clearly to my werewolf hearing.

"How can she afford those shoes? They cost more than my monthly rent."

"Haven't you heard? The Alpha pays her a special salary."

Their speculation made me uncomfortable. Is this how they saw me now? The highly-paid secretary who could suddenly afford luxury brands? If they knew the truth—that Derek had purchased these clothes only because he thought my wardrobe inadequate to represent him.

When I reached my floor, I went directly to my office. My hand unconsciously touched my neck, remembering the feel of his breath on my skin as we danced. I shook my head, trying to clear away these distracting thoughts.

Focus, Erin. You're here to work, not fantasize about your boss.

After organizing the necessary files, I took a deep breath and walked to Derek's office, knocking gently on the door.

"Enter," his deep voice commanded.

I pushed the door open and was immediately struck by the sight of him standing at the window, smoking. Sunlight silhouetted his tall figure, emphasizing his broad shoulders and the powerful Alpha presence he exuded even in stillness. He didn't turn to look at me, continuing to gaze at the city below.

"Alpha," I greeted, working to keep my voice steady.

"Check all projects related to the Silverpine Pack immediately," he ordered without preamble, his voice cold and distant. "Don't miss any details."

I nodded, though he couldn't see me. "Yes, Alpha. Right away."

I turned to leave, eager to escape the tension in the room, but his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Did I give you permission to leave?"

I froze, my hand on the doorknob. "You told me to check the information, so I—"

"Use my laptop," he interrupted, finally turning to face me. His gray eyes were unreadable as he pointed toward his desk. "Everything you need is there."

I hesitated. "But... your personal files are on your laptop. I shouldn't—"

"If I didn't trust you, you wouldn't be standing in this position at all," he said, his voice low and forceful. "Don't question my decisions, Erin."

My heart skipped a beat when he pronounced my name in that deep voice of his. I walked to his desk and sat in his chair, opening his laptop. The screen illuminated, displaying dozens of folders and files, many I'd never seen before.

"You probably have many hidden folders with information that shouldn't be known to others," I said softly.

Derek moved to stand behind my chair, directly at my back. I could feel his presence looming over me, his scent enveloping my senses.

I swallowed hard, a question escaping my lips before I could stop myself. "Did you trust Claire too?"

The atmosphere in the room instantly changed. Derek's eyebrows dangerously furrowed, a flash of gold appearing in his eyes. "Are you suggesting you're like her? Choose your answer carefully."

"No, of course not," I said quickly, realizing I'd overstepped. "I just... I'm sorry."

Derek said nothing, the silence between us stretching awkwardly as I began searching through his files for information on the Silverpine Pack. His even breathing behind me made it difficult to concentrate. My fingers trembled slightly on the keyboard as I navigated through folders, acutely aware of his proximity.

After more than an hour of searching, I found what we needed. "Alpha, I'm finished. We have all the information required."

He looked down at me, his expression serious. "Good. At least you can accomplish basic tasks."

Then, to my complete shock, Derek leaned down close to my ear, his voice carrying a commanding tone that brooked no refusal: "Such performance deserves a reward."

"R-reward?" I stammered, my heart racing.

Derek's eyes flashed with something dangerous: "Yes. I've decided you'll accept it."

He swiftly rotated my chair to face him directly, his hands gripping the armrests on either side, trapping me in place. I gasped, pressing my back against the chair, my wolf not just stirring but almost desperately pacing beneath my skin, eager to be closer to him.

The heat radiating from his body intensified with proximity, his scent growing stronger with the decreased distance. The chair suddenly felt impossibly small as Derek's tall frame blocked everything else from my view.

"Al-Alpha, I don't n-need any reward," I stuttered, my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks burning.

Derek looked down at me, his eyes darkening as they swept across my face, lingering on my slightly parted lips. The intensity of his gaze made my skin tingle everywhere it touched.

"Where is the bold Omega from the club?" he asked. "Or was that just the alcohol's disguise?"

"No, it wasn't," I said softly, finally gathering the courage to meet his gaze, only to find I couldn't look away.

"No?" his voice dropped lower. "Are you refusing my offer? Or..."

He leaned closer, so close his cheek almost brushed against mine, his breath hot against the sensitive skin of my ear and neck. I trembled involuntarily, my hands gripping the edges of the chair to steady myself.

"Perhaps you only dare to show your true self with alcohol's courage?" he whispered, his lips so close to my skin I could almost feel them.

My pulse thundered in my ears, my breathing quick and shallow. "Al-Alpha, what's happening to you?"

Derek pulled back just enough to look directly into my eyes, his gaze intense enough to burn. His sharp eyes glinted with hunger, barely disguised by a hint of mockery. "Why so surprised?" he said softly, one hand leaving the armrest to hover near my face, not quite touching but close enough that I could feel the warmth of his skin. "Did you think the Pack Alpha wouldn't notice your longing? I'm merely considering fulfilling my personal secretary's... wishes."

I tried to stand, but Derek remained firmly in place, his strong arms forming an impassable barrier. The subtle scent of his cologne mixed with his natural Alpha musk made me dizzy. Part of me wanted to submit completely, bare my neck in submission, while another part desperately tried to maintain some semblance of professionalism.

Finally, gathering what remained of my composure, I ducked under his arm and moved toward the door, my legs unsteady. "I should get back to work now," I managed, my voice betraying my uneven breathing.

"Stop," he commanded.

"Y-yes?" I whispered, slowly turning to face him.

Derek approached with deliberate steps, each one bringing him closer until I could feel the warmth radiating from his body. He extended his hand, and between his long, elegant fingers was a black credit card. "Take it," he said.

"What is this?" I asked, staring at the card, my fingers trembling slightly as they neared his hand. Even this potential touch seemed dangerously intimate.