Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 98

Erin's POV

My mouth went dry as the full weight of Derek's dinner invitation sank in. Darkwood Estate's family dinners weren't casual affairs—they were intimate gatherings reserved exclusively for family members and their acknowledged mates. My heart hammered against my ribs as I processed what this meant.

He wanted to bring me to the private section of Darkwood Estate. He must have feelings for me. Maybe he's finally accepting our Soul Bond.

Derek's gray eyes tracked my reaction, his gaze lingering on my face. I shifted my weight from one foot to another, suddenly aware of how close we were standing in his office.

"Do I need to remind you that as my Soul Bond, whenever and wherever I need you by my side, you must accompany me?" His voice carried that unmistakable Alpha command that made my inner wolf immediately submit.

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to bare my neck. "I can go anywhere with you, Alpha."

When I said "Alpha," his pupils dilated slightly. The air between us seemed to thicken, and I found myself unconsciously leaning toward him.

A knock at the door interrupted whatever was happening. With a final meaningful glance, I slipped out of his office to resume my secretarial duties, my skin still tingling where his eyes had been.

---

By eight o'clock that evening, I had finished organizing the Stone Group files and returned to Derek's office. I found him still hunched over his desk, focused intently on documents related to the business competition with the Ridgeclaw Pack.

"Alpha," I said softly from the doorway, "it's eight o'clock. The family dinner at Darkwood Estate..."

Derek barely glanced up. "I need to finish reviewing these proposals. The Ridgeclaw Pack is attempting to undercut our bid on the Westlake development."

I stepped fully into his office, my wolf urging me forward. I could smell his scent growing stronger as I approached. My pulse quickened involuntarily.

"Surely this can wait until tomorrow? Your family is expecting us."

"Five more minutes," he muttered, reaching for another folder.

I stepped forward and placed my hand over the document he was reading. The contact sent a jolt of electricity up my arm, and I saw Derek tense at the touch.

"For a Pack Alpha, family gatherings should take priority over business deals," I said, surprised by my own audacity. "You can't sacrifice connection with your family for work."

Derek's eyes flashed as he looked up at me, his expression hardening. He stood slowly, bringing our bodies uncomfortably close. I could feel the heat radiating from him, making it hard to focus.

"Is that so? Can family provide the power and resources that a major business alliance brings to the Darkwood Pack?"

I stared at him, momentarily speechless. His proximity was making it difficult to think clearly. My wolf was reacting to his dominance, wanting to submit, while my human side struggled to maintain composure.

"Let's go," he said coolly, adjusting his already perfect tie.

His fingers brushed against my arm as he moved past me, a seemingly accidental touch that sent shivers down my spine. I followed him out, trying to steady my breathing.

---

In Derek's Jaguar, my anxiety mounted with each mile closer to Darkwood Estate.

My fingers twisted nervously in my lap, and I couldn't stop my leg from bouncing slightly. Memories of my last humiliating visit flooded back—the contemptuous looks, the whispers, the clear message that I didn't belong.

I stared out the window, my reflection showing wide, frightened eyes. My wolf was growing increasingly restless, sensing my distress. I bit my lower lip hard, trying to use the small pain to focus.

"Alpha, I don't want to go there," I finally admitted, my voice barely audible. "Can't I stay at the company and finish the remaining work?"

I glanced at Derek and found him already watching me, his expression unreadable. When he didn't immediately respond, I continued, words tumbling out faster.

"Last time was... they all looked at me like I was nothing. Less than nothing. I don't think I can—"

"Erin." His deep voice cut through my spiral. Without warning, his hand covered mine, stilling my fidgeting fingers. The warmth of his touch sent a shock through my system, immediately calming my wolf.

"Look at me."

I turned to face him fully. Derek released my hand only to reach up and cup my face, his thumb brushing my cheek in a surprisingly gentle gesture. My breath caught in my throat.

"As my Soul Bond, your presence is required," he said, his voice softer but still carrying that unmistakable authority. "I will be with you. Don't concern yourself with how other wolves might react."

When I remained tense, he sighed and did something completely unexpected. He pulled me across the center console and into his side, his arm wrapping firmly around my shoulders. I froze in surprise, then gradually relaxed against him, my head resting against his chest where I could hear his steady heartbeat.

"No one will disrespect what's mine," he murmured, his lips brushing my temple. The possessive words should have offended me, but instead, they sent a wave of warmth through my body.

His hand moved to my back, rubbing firm circles between my shoulder blades. The pressure was just right—strong enough to ground me, gentle enough to comfort. I found myself melting into his touch, my anxiety receding.

When we approached the estate gates, Derek tilted my chin up with his finger. His eyes searched mine for a moment before he leaned down and pressed his lips to the corner of my mouth—not quite a kiss, but more intimate than any touch we'd shared before.

"Remember who you are with," he said against my skin, his breath warm. "You're under my protection."

The words carried weight beyond mere reassurance—they were a declaration. I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. When he released me to return to my seat, I felt oddly bereft, but significantly calmer.

---

When the luxury Jaguar pulled up to the private entrance of Darkwood Estate, my newfound confidence began to crack. This was where I'd made my desperate claim, where I'd disrupted Derek's binding ceremony with Mya, where I'd been humiliated in front of the entire pack.

Each step toward the entrance felt heavier than the last. My palms grew sweaty, and I wiped them discreetly against my dress. The guards at the door straightened as they saw Derek approach, their eyes widening slightly when they noticed me beside him.

I remembered how Judy Stone had once smiled warmly at me when I was just Bradley's girlfriend—the sweet omega dating her younger son. She'd even invited me for tea once, commenting on my "lovely manners."

But that was before I'd crashed her elder son's binding ceremony, before I'd publicly claimed to be the Alpha's Soul Bond, before I'd thrown the carefully arranged pack hierarchy into chaos.

Derek strode ahead with his characteristic authority, then paused when he realized I wasn't keeping pace. He turned back, waiting for me, his expression softening just enough for me to notice.

I hurried to catch up, and as I reached him, his hand found the small of my back, guiding me. The contact steadied me, though my heart still raced with apprehension.

Together, we entered the family wing of Darkwood Estate. Derek's parents were seated on plush sofas in the grand living room. Judy's eyes found me immediately, and the warmth I'd once seen there had frozen into ice. Her lips thinned to a hard line, and her nostrils flared slightly—a werewolf's instinctive reaction to an unwelcome scent.

The transformation in her attitude toward me was stark. Where once she'd seen a suitable girlfriend for her younger son, she now saw the omega who had disrupted her carefully laid plans for the pack's future. The omega who had the audacity to claim her powerful son as a mate.

She sneered and stared at me angrily. "Long time no see, Erin."