Chapter 58
Balancing the fresh outfit carefully, I headed back toward Derek’s office. As I rounded a corner, I overheard hushed voices from a small group of female employees huddled near the water cooler.
“She’s so lucky to be handling the Alpha’s personal items,” one whispered. “But I guess that’s her strategy.”
“You’re right,” another agreed with a smirk. “Since Claire isn’t here today, she’s seizing the opportunity to touch his clothes and be in his private space. Poor Omega, thinking this will elevate her status.”
My step faltered, my wolf suddenly surging forward with unexpected aggression. Before I could stop. myself, I had pivoted toward the gossiping women.
“Excuse me?” I said, my voice steady despite the rage building in my chest. “Are you talking about
me?”
Their eyes widened in surprise, clearly shocked that an Omega would directly confront them. The taller one–a Beta wolf with perfectly styled blonde hair–recovered first, her expression hardening.
“Nothing important,” she replied coolly. “Just discussing certain wolves‘ ambitions.”
I met her gaze steadily, finding strength I didn’t know I possessed. “I’m on my way to the Pack Alpha’s office right now. Would you like me to share some thoughts with him about unprofessional behavior among his staff?”
The women exchanged alarmed glances, their confidence visibly wavering.
“I suggest you focus on your own work rather than gossiping about others,” I continued, my voice surprisingly calm. “It would better serve the Pack.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and continued toward Derek’s office, my heart pounding with adrenaline. I couldn’t believe I had just stood up to higher–ranking wolves. My hands trembled slightly, but not from fear–from a strange, unfamiliar sense of power.
As I approached Derek’s office, I noticed a cleaning worker emerging from the doorway, carrying cleaning supplies. I realized Derek must have called someone to pick up the discarded navy suit from the floor.
Taking a deep breath to steady/myself, I knocked on the door once more.
“Enter,” came the familiar command.
I stepped inside, the scent of cleaning solution now mingling with Derek’s natural cedar and leather
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Chapter 58
aroma. My wolf immediately perked up, pushing against my control.
Carefully, I placed the charcoal gray suit on the wooden valet stand in the corner of his office, making sure the cufflinks were prominently displayed in their small box. Derek didn’t look up from the document he was reading, but his nostrils flared slightly, catching the scent of the fresh suit.
After what felt like an eternity, he glanced at the suit and then looked back at his papers. “You forgot the platinum cufflinks, not the silver ones,” he stated flatly.
Something inside me snapped. My wolf, usually content to lurk beneath the surface, suddenly reared up with such force that I couldn’t contain her frustration.
“If you knew that already, why didn’t you specify which cufflinks?” The words escaped before I could stop them, hanging dangerously in the air between us.
Derek’s head snapped up, his piercing gaze locking onto mine. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
“Because this is not a college orientation,” he stated, his voice razor–sharp. “This is a professional work environment where employees are expected to know their responsibilities. Claire doesn’t need
to be told which cufflinks to select.”
I held my breath, waiting for the explosion, for him to fire me on the spot for my insubordination. Instead, he simply gestured toward the door.
“Go back to work,” he ordered, but as I turned to leave, he added unexpectedly, “Leave the suit.”
I paused, confused. He had just told me I’d selected the wrong cufflinks, yet he wanted to keep the suit as I’d prepared it? My wolf noticed this contradiction too, releasing a soft whine deep in my chest. I quickly suppressed the sound, nodding stiffly before exiting the office.
The hallway felt like a sanctuary after the suffocating tension of Derek’s office. I drew several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart, when a male voice called out.
“Hey, Erin.”
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exact repeat of before
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