Chapter 175
Erin’s POV
I stood frozen in place, my confession hanging in the air between us. Derek’s golden eyes were fixed on me, burning with an intensity that stole my breath. The woman at his side looked from his face to mine, her expression shifting from confusion to anger.
“What did you just say?” she demanded, taking a threatening step toward me.
She was several inches taller than me, curvier, dressed in a backless gown that clung to her every curve. Long, manicured nails tapped against the crystal glass in her hand as she looked me up and down without disguising her contempt.
“Look at you, she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain, “a little wolf cub playing dress–up in adult clothes.”
My cheeks burned with humiliation, but I refused to back down. When I had seen her touching Derek, something primal deep inside me had awakened–a territorial, fierce feeling that would not be suppressed.
“Listen, little wolf cub,” she continued, leaning closer, close enough that I could smell the expensive perfume on her skin, “go find a boy your own age. He’s a mature Alpha. He needs a real woman who can ignite his desires, not a little girl who just completed her transformation like
you.”
Her words cut deep, touching on my deepest insecurities. Was that how Derek saw me too? Just a naive little girl playing at being a grown woman? The wolf inside me bristled, refusing to be so easily dismissed.
“Leave,” I said, my voice low and hostile.
The woman laughed, the sound musical yet cruel. “Or what? What can you do to me?” She flipped her hair dismissively. “You think you have some sort of claim because you’re his secretary? Every female in the Darkwood Pack knows your position is… temporary.”
I struggled to keep my expression neutral, though my hands had balled into fists at my sides. She was deliberately provoking me, and I was dangerously close to losing control.
Derek had been watching our exchange with an inscrutable expression and finally spoke. His voice was soft but carried the undeniable authority of an Alpha.
“Leave.”
The woman’s face lit up with triumph as she turned to me. “See? He wants a real woman; he wants me.”
Looking at Derek’s cold expression, my heart sank. Was this all just another game? Another way to humiliate me in public? I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that suddenly threatened.
“Fine. I’m leaving,” I said, my voice barely audible above the club’s music.
Before I could take a step, Derek’s hand shot out, his fingers closing firmly around my wrist. He pulled me toward him with one fluid motion, and though I wanted to protest, my body instinctively responded to his touch. I found myself standing close enough to feel the heat radiating from his chest, my skin tingling where his fingers made contact.
“You misunderstood her words,” Derek said to the woman, his eyes flashing gold in the dim light. “You misinterpreted my meaning. I meant: you. Leave. Now.”
The woman’s confident smile faltered. “But A-
“You heard what my secretary said,” Derek continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. “Now you’ve heard me too. Leave.”
The woman opened her mouth to protest, but Derek’s expression silenced her. His face had subtly shifted, canines lengthening, eyes glowing with predatory light–a subtle display of his Alpha power that conveyed a clear message. She instinctively took a step back, her body
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Chapter 175
recognizing a threat her mind had yet to process.
“This isn’t over,” she muttered, turning on her heel with as much dignity as she could muster and striding quickly toward the exit.
I watched her go, my heart still racing from the confrontation. I became acutely aware of Derek’s proximity–his hand still encircling my wrist, his breath warm against my hair. I bit my lower lip, torn between pulling away and leaning closer. The wolf inside me whimpered, wanting to press against her mate, while my human pride demanded distance.
“You wanted to go with her, didn’t you?” I asked, unable to keep the accusation from my voice. I could feel my hand trembling slightly in his grip, betraying my emotional state.
Derek raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise flashing across his face. “When did I say I wanted to go with her?”
Recalling how he had sat there watching while the woman insulted me, my frustration escalated. “You just sat there,” I said, my voice rising slightly. “You watched her insult me and did nothing until I was about to leave.”
I pulled my wrist from his grasp, taking a small step backward to create distance between us. The woman’s words had touched a nerve, awakening all my insecurities about our relationship.
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