Chapter 65
Erin’s POV
My knees nearly buckled, a shock of electricity running from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. I stood perfectly still, my back pressed firmly against the door, feeling the cold wooden panel in
stark contrast to my heated skin.
Derek’s powerful body still held me in place, the heat radiating from him penetrating my clothing,
every inch of my skin hyperaware of his presence. His words echoed in my mind, my thoughts a
chaotic mess. My wolf tumbled with excitement, nearly breaking through my control.
“W–why?” I stammered, my voice barely audible, tone unsteady. I had to lick my dry lips to produce
sound. My heart was beating so violently that the pounding in my chest was like a drumbeat, and I
was certain he could hear it.
Derek’s steel–gray eyes met mine, flickering with complexity in the light. His expression was
unreadable. I tried to discern a hint of emotion, but I could see nothing beyond absolute control and
power. “The reason is obvious. I don’t want to lose my position.”
The coldness in his response dropped me instantly into disappointment. For that brief, foolish
moment, I had hoped… what? That he actually cared about me? That beneath his icy exterior, he felt
something for the Omega who had crashed into his life claiming to be his Soul Bond?
Heat rushed to my cheeks–not from desire now, but from anger and humiliation. My wolf
whimpered, retreating to the depths of my being, hurt by his callous response.
“What about me?” I asked, my voice stronger now, fueled by indignation. “How am I supposed to live my life?”
Derek’s eyebrow raised slightly, genuine confusion passing over his features. He finally stepped back, creating a small space between us that felt both too vast and not nearly enough.
“Have I prevented you from living?” he asked calmly. “You’re standing perfectly fine before me, with a good job, living a fulfilled life.”
The sudden absence of his body heat left me strangely bereft, though relief flooded through me. I straightened my blouse with trembling fingers, trying to collect my scattered thoughts.
“So you’re saying I can live however I want, and you have no issue with that?” I challenged, crossing my arms defensively over my chest.
Derek shrugged his powerful shoulders, his expression maddeningly neutral. “Why would I have an
issue?”
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Chapter 65
He turned away, walking unhurriedly back to his desk. I remained rooted to the spot, shocked by his
indifference.
“Only one requirement,” he added, almost as an afterthought, his back to me. “Stay away from my
brother.”
My jaw tightened, a new irritation rising. “Bradley came to me to apologize,” I blurted out, unable to stop myself. “I didn’t seek him out.”
Derek turned so quickly I gasped, his eyes flickering with gold. The temperature in the room seemed to plummet, his Alpha aura expanding, pressing down on me.
“Don’t talk about him like that,” he warned, his voice dangerously low. “This is my final warning. Remember that he is the Pack Alpha’s brother.”
I instinctively lowered my gaze, my wolf cowering beneath his dominance. “Yes, Alpha,” I murmured.
When I dared to look up again, Derek had turned his back once more, his broad shoulders rigid with tension. This was clearly a dismissal–our conversation was over.
As I slipped out of his office, a hollow emptiness spread in my chest. I couldn’t believe he could be so close to me one moment, his body pressed against mine, and then turn away the next as if he felt nothing–as if the Soul Bond connecting us was merely an inconvenience rather than the powerful, sacred connection it was supposed to be.
I felt lost, directionless, with no hope for my future. What would become of me if Derek would never formally reject me, but also never truly accept me as his mate? Trapped in an eternal limbo, forever bound to a man who saw me as an obligation to maintain his position?
My wolf curled into a tight ball inside me, her misery reflecting my own. For once, we were in complete agreement–this situation was intolerable.
The following day, I immersed myself in work, grateful for the distraction it provided. The stack of files that Claire normally handled grew smaller as I methodically worked through them, my thoughts occupied with mundane tasks that conveniently required just enough concentration to keep me from thinking about Derek.
The office gradually emptied as employees left for the day, conversations and ringing phones fading into silence. I barely noticed the changing light outside as evening fell, my focus on the documents
before me.
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Bonded to My Ex’s Alpha Brother
