Chapter 67
Erin’s POV
The elevator doors closed behind us, the heavy metallic sound echoing in my ears, sealing the three of us in the small space. The subtle background noise from the lobby was suddenly cut off, leaving a
silence that suffocated me.
My back pressed against the elevator wall, standing as far from Derek as possible, fingers clutching my bag so tightly my knuckles turned white. My heartbeat was so loud in my ears that I feared they could hear it too. I forced myself to breathe deeply, my gaze fixed firmly on the illuminated floor numbers above the door, counting each second that passed.
Thomas seemed oblivious to the tension, rocking slightly on his heels as we descended, humming a light tune. I gripped the elevator handrail, my joints whitening from the pressure. Derek, however, stood ramrod straight, muscles taut, emanating a cold anger. His presence grew increasingly
oppressive in the confined space, and I could feel the tension flowing through the air like electricity.
“You seem quite friendly with my assistant secretary,” Derek suddenly said, his voice low and
controlled, each word seemingly squeezed through clenched teeth. I noticed his fingers curling
slightly, as if controlling some impulse.
Thomas smiled, clearly missing the dangerous note in Derek’s tone. “Our mothers are friends. We’re
having dinner together tonight.”
When Thomas mentioned “dinner together,” I distinctly felt the temperature in the air drop. I
couldn’t help stealing a glance at Derek, immediately wishing I hadn’t.
His jaw was clenched, his eyes darker, almost black, with muscles twitching at the corners. His expression wasn’t just anger but something I couldn’t fully interpret. His Alpha aura expanded in a visibly tangible way, pressing against every inch of space in the elevator, making the air thick and
difficult to breathe.
My lungs began to burn, and I had to struggle not to gasp. My wolf instinctively cowered, making
herself as small as possible inside me, releasing a faint whimper. I stepped back, my spine against
the elevator wall, trying to create some distance.
When the elevator finally reached the ground floor, Derek was the first to stride out, his movements
swift and powerful, like a predator unleashed. The air current from his departure was strong enough to flutter my hair and clothes. I/unconsciously stepped back, my calves hitting the rear wall of the
elevator. His anger was almost tangible, like invisible hands grasping the air around him.
Thomas and I both immediately lowered our heads, bowing in respect, my neck aching from the
posture and tension. I counted my heartbeats–one, two, three–until I was sure he had walked away
before daring to raise my head. My fingers trembled slightly, and I clenched them into fists, hiding
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Chapter 67
them at my sides.
“The Alpha seems angry,” I whispered, my voice shakier than I’d intended, and I cleared my throat, watching Derek’s retreating form. Every step he took was filled with authority and control, the muscles in his back visibly tense beneath his suit.
Thomas nodded, his eyes showing clear confusion and a touch of unease. “It’s strange. He was normal when we were talking. Before you entered the elevator, we were just discussing some routine Pack matters. But he seemed to become unsettled only after you joined us.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, frowning, “That kind of aura… I haven’t felt the Alpha release that level of pressure in a long time.”
The implications of Thomas’s observation caused a strange flutter in my stomach. My hands suddenly went cold, a sensation of both excitement and fear spreading along my spine.
Was Derek truly bothered by seeing me with Thomas? The thought made my breathing quicken. But that was absurd–he had just made it clear in his office that he had no personal interest in me beyond maintaining the Soul Bond for his own benefit.
I bit my lower lip until I tasted a hint of blood. I couldn’t deny the flash of gold I’d seen in his eyes just before the elevator doors closed–something possessive and primal that completely contradicted everything he’d said in his office hours earlier. My heart raced, my chest tightening, and I took a deep breath, trying to control my chaotic emotions.
The next day at Silvermoon Academy, I found myself distracted during lectures, my thoughts returning again and again to Derek’s words and the mixed signals that followed. My notes were scattered and incomplete, my participation at a minimum. By lunchtime, I was grateful for the pause from pretending to concentrate.
Amy found me sitting alone under a large oak tree on the campus grounds. She plopped down beside me, playfully nudging my shoulder.
“You look like you’re carrying the weight of the entire Pack,” she observed, unwrapping her sandwich. “What’s wrong?”
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