Derek’s POV
It had been three days since I fired Blackwood, and the anger still burried within me. I paced my office with precise steps, though a deep unease gnawed at me beneath the surface.
My wolf prowled restlessly inside me, agitated and unsettled, circling endlessly. He pushed against my control, demanding action, demanding… something. His disquiet translated into a constant tension in my muscles.
She was merely an employee–an Omega wolf who had worked for me for just one month. Her betrayal shouldn’t matter so much. I had dealt with traitors before, executing justice with cold efficiency. Why was this one haunting my thoughts, my sleep?
I stopped before the one–way glass leading to her former office. The space now sat empty, her desk cleared of personal items, the chair neatly pushed to the edge. My reflection stared back at me from the darkened glass–jaw tight, eyes hard, shoulders rigid with tension.
For weeks, I had observed her through this window, watching with growing interest her dedication, her attention to detail, her quiet competence despite Claire’s obvious attempts to overwhelm her with work. Even exhausted, even pushed beyond reasonable limits, she had persevered relentlessly, enduring where others might have broken.
A month of observation had shown me an Omega of remarkable resilience and intelligence. Which made her betrayal all the more incomprehensible.
Why would she risk helping the Ridgeclaw Pack? The question circled endlessly in my mind. She was Bradley’s ex–girlfriend, and my… Soul Bond.
The Moon had chosen her as my mate. Yet she had betrayed me, betrayed the Pack. The thought made my skin burn with anger, my fingers curling into fists at my sides, nails leaving crescent- shaped marks in my palms.
A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts, the sound cutting through the silence. I stood straighter, adjusting my already perfect posture, controlling my expression until it revealed none of the turmoil within.
“Come in,” I commanded, my voice steady and authoritative, turning slowly and deliberately from the window.
Thomas walked in, his movements respectful, a folder in his hand. His scent reached me–a clean, straightforward Beta wolf smell with that slight nervousness all my employees carried around me.
“Alpha, I’ve brought the files you requested,” he said, his gaze appropriately lowered.
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I nodded, gesturing for him to place the folder on my desk. As he did so, I studied him caren noting the slight tension in his shoulders, the quickening of his pulse under my scrutiny.
Thomas was a promising Beta wolf with a bright career ahead–efficient, loyal, detail–oriented T suddenly remembered he was also the wolf who had dinner with Blackwood. The memory of seeing them together sparked an unexpected surge of possessiveness, my wolf bristling beneath my skin.
“You’re familiar with Erin Blackwood?” I asked, keeping my tone casdal despite my intense Interest. I observed his every reaction, nostrils flaring slightly to catch any change in his scent that might betray deception.
Thomas stiffened, his posture becoming even more upright, his scent shifting with caution as he chose his words. “She’s the daughter of my mother’s friend, so we’re family friends,” he answered, the explanation coming quickly but not too quickly–not suspicious.
“Did she ever discuss Pack matters with you?” I pressed, unhurriedly circling my desk, hands clasped
behind my back.
Thomas swallowed visibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing, but to his credit, he stood his ground. “Alpha, if 1 may speak frankly,” he began, his voice respectfully hesitant.
G
I inclined my head slightly, granting permission.
“I believe Erin is innocent,‘ he said, his directness surprising me. My eyebrows raised slightly–the only sign of reaction I allowed to show. “She didn’t even know the details of the Pack meeting. I was the one who discussed it with her. I told her we were all speculating that someone had leaked our information to the Ridgeclaw Pack.”
My expression remained unchanged. “Continue.”
Thomas went on, “When I mentioned it, she seemed shocked. If she were involved, wouldn’t she have better hidden her reaction?”
her
Blackwood had never shown skill for deception. Her emotions were always transparent–her fear, determination, her desperate attempts to hide her attraction to me. Every thought that crossed her mind was immediately reflected in those expressive eyes, in the flush of her cheeks, in the subtle shifts of her posture.
“Thank you for the information,” I finally said. Thomas bowed slightly, retreating to the door with appropriate deference.
Alone, I moved to my computer, fingers striking commands with rapid precision. The Pack’s financial records appeared on screen–f rarely delegated such sensitive investigations, preferring to maintain direct control. If someone had been paid for leaking information, there would certainly be a trail.
2/3
Bonded to My Ex’s Alpha Brother
Chapter 76
