Chapter 74
My hands clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms, the tiny pain helping me focus. “He mentioned someone might be leaking our upcoming project details to Ridgeclaw. I didn’t know who that man in the lobby was–he approached me, asked my name, then said something about congratulating me for helping them get the project. I thought he had me confused with someone
else.”
Derek turned abruptly. “If Claire hadn’t overheard your conversation with him, I might never have known the identity of the traitor.”
My voice became tiny with shock. “Claire?”
Claire had framed me. The realization was so shocking that I momentarily forgot my fear, indignation taking its place instead. My wolf stirred, no longer just cowering but confused and angry
at the injustice.
I began,
“Alpha, please listen, Stepping forward. My hand instinctively reached out, not actually
touching him, but the gesture was pleading. “I didn’t-
Derek cut me off. “Leave Stone Group. I don’t want to see your face again. It’s only because your brother is my Enforcer that I’m letting you go this time. But if I see you again, I’ll be the last person you see before you die.”
This was no empty threat–1 could feel the absolute conviction behind his words. This was the Pack Alpha speaking, the most powerful wolf in the region, capable of ordering my exile or death with a single command.
But worse than his threat was what I felt inside. My wolf howled in primal pain, the rejection from our Soul Bond cutting through my body like broken glass.
I stumbled toward the door, my vision tunneling, legs wooden beneath me.
When I emerged from Derek’s office, the executive floor immediately fell silent. Everyone turned in my direction, dozens of eyes staring, expressions ranging from shock to disgust to morbid curiosity.
Someone must have already spread the news–the accusations, the damning photographs.
Under their scrutiny, I felt exposed, my skin prickling uncomfortably. With each step, my legs trembled, and though I tried to appear composed, my shoulders still slumped. Tears threatened again, burning behind my eyes, but I blinked them back fiercely. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me completely break down.
1/3
As I entered my office to retrieve my belongings, my hands were shaking. I paused, staring at the one–way glass that had always made me uncomfortable. Had Derek been watching me all along observing my every move, just waiting for an opportunity to accuse me of betrayal?
When I walked back into the hallway, I found my path blocked by an increasing number of employees.
Traitor!” The accusation came from somewhere behind the crowd.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, my voice stendier than I felt.
My eyes scanned the crowd until I spotted Claire. She stood slightly apart from the others, arms crossed over her chest, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Unlike the others, whose expressions showed genuine anger or curiosity, hers was something altogether different- satisfaction.
I walked toward her, forcing my legs to move forward when they only wanted to run in the opposite. direction. The crowd parted reluctantly, some wolves even physically backing away as if my presence might contaminate them.
“Why did you do this to me?” I asked Claire directly, not needing to lower my voice. I wanted
everyone to hear.
Claire affected a surprised expression. “What are you talking about?”
i
“Why did you lie to the Alpha?” I persisted, my voice growing stronger with indignation. “I never discussed any project with Alpha Ethan.”
Claire straightened her spine, lifting her chin slightly in a show of superiority. “Why would I lie? I’ve worked for the Alpha for years.”
“Yes, why would Claire lie?” someone called out, others quickly joining the chorus. “You’re the one who leaked our information to Ridgeclaw.”
I studied Claire’s face carefully, noting the subtle triumph in her eyes, the slight upward curve of her lips she couldn’t entirely suppress. Memories suddenly surfaced–Claire in her office, speaking urgently in a hushed tone on the phone, abruptly ending the call when she noticed my presence nearby. The furtive way she shoved documents into a drawer when I entered. Unexplained absences during crucial meetings.
“What’s going on here?”
The commanding voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a knife. Immediately, the crowd parted, wolves clearing a path. Their postures instantly changed–shoulders lowering, heads slightly bowed, eyes respectfully downcast.
Chapter 74
Derek stood at the edge of the gathered crowd, his powerful presence radiating outward like the heat from a flame. He hadn’t raised his voice, hadn’t needed to. His presence alone was enough to completely alter the atmosphere.
Every wolf around responded instinctively to the arrival of their Alpha. Even I felt the pull to submit, to lower myself before him, though I fought against it, maintaining what dignity I had left.
“Why are you still here?” he asked.
My face burned with this, my lungs struggling to breathe under the weight of dozens of stares. I had never felt so small, so completely alone despite being surrounded by people. Each pair of eyes seemed to strip away another layer of my self–respect until I felt naked and exposed.
“I’m leaving,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Chapter Comments
Cherie A
didn’t he tell her who he was as he walked away
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