Chapter 21
I took an involuntary step back, my heart hammering against my ribs. Holy crap. This close, his scent made my knees weak. My wolf practically purred. pushing against my control as heat flooded my body. Six months of avoiding him had done absolutely nothing to dampen my reaction. If anything, it was
My eyes couldn’t help but trace over him–the hard line of his jaw, the slight scar above his eyebrow that somehow made him even more attractive, the way his tailored sunt hugged his broad shoulders.
had a sudden, vivid image of those strong hands gripping my waist, pulling me against him, and I had to swallow hard to regain my composure
God, what was wrong with me? I hated that my body responded to him like this when my mind was screaming danger.
“Alpha,” I managed, my voice embarrassingly breathy. I forced my spine straight, fighting the instinct to bare my neck in submission. “About what happened at the speech competition
Im not interested in your excuses,” he cut me off, his eyes raking over me in a way that left me feeling stripped bare.
The dismal stung, and I hated that it did. Why should I care what this arrogant Alpha thought of me? But my stupid wolf was practically whimpering, desperate for his approval. She clawed at my insides, urging me to get closer to him, to make him see me.
“Lily stole my research project. Those pictures… she sabotaged my presentation to humiliate me,” I said, my voice stronger as I stepped toward him.
Derek’s eyes narrowed slightly, his nostrils flaring as if he was catching my scent. Was he smelling my emotions?
I suddenly realized how close we were standing. If I took one more step, I’d be close enough to touch him. The thought sent a rush of heat through my body that made my face burn.
Those were private photos from months ago, I continued. “I would I never display them publicly, especially not with those… those captions.”
Derek raised an eyebrow, studying me intensely.
ard work and dedication, he said, changing the subject abruptly. “It would be a shame if his progress
“Your brother in Enally regaining his position through hard v
wa derailed by further incidents involving his sister.”
The thinly veiled threat made my blood run cold. “I would never do anything to hurt Aaron,” I whispered.
“Then I suggest you maintain a lower profile, Miss Blackwood.” He glanced at his watch.
Before I could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. One of Derek’s security detail appeared, stopping at a respectful distance.
“wlpha, the car is ready,” be announced, not meeting my eyes,
Derek nodded, walking away from me without another word.
My wolf white pitifully, already feeling the growing distance between us. I pressed a hand to my sternum, trying to soothe the hollow ache that expanded with each step he took
I followed them at a distance, not ready to let him go yet. Through the glass doors, I watched as Derek climbed into a sleek black SUV parked at the curb Without thinking, I can down the steps
“Alpha 1 called, reaching
ng the vehicle just as he was about to close the door
Derek looked up. “Mass Blackwood, this conversation is over.
“I know, but I gripped the edge of the door, my knuckles white with the effort. “I need you to understand that I didn’t do this. Please, just look into what happened today. That’s all les asking ”
His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied my face. For a brief moment, I thought I saw the gold of his wolf flicker in his rises
“Driver,” he said, not breaking eye contact with me, “let’s go.”
The SUV’s engine tumbled to life. I had no choice but to release the door or risk being dragged alongside the vehicle, I stepped back, watching as Derek s
Chapter 21
profile disappeared behind tinted windows.
The car pulled smoothly away from the curb, leaving me standing alone on the sidewalk, the scent of cedar and leather lingering in the air around me.
I walked home in a daze, my brain replaying the encounter with Derek on an endless loop. The way he’d stood so close,
e, towering over me. The intensity in his eyes when I mentioned my father. That split second when I thought stupidly–that he might have looked at my lips.
What was wrong with me? The man clearly thought I was pathetic. A troublemaker. A liar. So why couldn’t I stop thinking about how his large hands would feel on my skin!
