Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother (by CalebWhite) novel Chapter 189

Chapter 189

Erin’s POV

The employees scattered like startled puppies, quickly returning to their workstations. Only one female employee remained, her shoulders hunched slightly.

“Miss Blackwood,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “You don’t know? Alpha Derek fired someone from the marketing department this morning, the moment he arrived.

My brow furrowed. “Why? What did they do wrong?”

“No one dares to ask,” she whispered, leaning closer. “His eyes… they’ve been golden all morning. Someone said he was at Darkwood Estate’s training grounds last night, and he beat three challengers until they couldn’t even stand.”

My wolf preened with pride at my mate’s strength, even as my human side grew concerned. Golden eyes all morning meant his wolf was close to the surface, his control tenuous at best.

“I understand,” I said, beginning to prepare his special coffee blend. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”

I knocked three times on Derek’s office door, receiving no response. After a moment’s hesitation, I pushed it open gently.

Derek stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, a trail of black cigarette smoke curling around his powerful silhouette. My wolf immediately sensed danger, instinctively wanting to retreat, but my human loyalty kept me rooted in place.

I approached cautiously, my movements slow and deliberate, like approaching an angry predator. The silver moon–patterned cup made a sound that seemed too loud when I placed it on the onyx side table.

Derek remained with his back to me, the muscles of his shoulders tense beneath his custom–tailored suit, radiating danger and power. When I finally gathered the courage to reach out toward him, he turned suddenly, his gray eyes flashing with golden light.

He towered over me, the black cigarette between his fingers creating a barrier between us.

“Alpha?” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “Your coffee.”

Derek exhaled a perfect smoke ring, saying nothing, his gaze unnervingly intense.

“Derek?” I tried using his name, my voice wavering slightly.

His eyebrow arched, his voice when it finally came was deep as distant thunder. “Miss Blackwood, I believe Stone Group has clear protocol stating no one enters my private office without permission. It seems you need to relearn basic rules.”

I lowered my head automatically, my throat making a small, involuntary sound of appeasement. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”

Derek’s lips curved into a cold smile. “What exactly are you apologizing for, Erin Blackwood? Is it for entering without permission, or for something else I don’t know about?”

His long fingers suddenly lifted my chin, his grip firm but carefully controlled not to leave marks. I trembled involuntarily, my wolf immediately submitting to the Alpha’s touch.

He took a deep drag from his black cigarette, then leaned down, deliberately exhaling the smoke just inches from my lips. The “smoke kiss” made me cough slightly, my eyes watering at the corners, but he seemed to find satisfaction in my discomfort.

Derek stepped closer, the distance between us now so minimal I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My knees nearly buckled, both from fear and my body’s instinctive response to my Soul Bond.

1/2

Chapter 189

I can smell your bear, little woll, he said, his voice dangerously soft. ‘Tell me, what are you afraid of? What have you done that would displease me?

I breathed rapidly, my fingers curled into fists so tight my nails nearly broke the skin of my palms. ‘T… I should have told you earlier. Bradley and I are in the same research group… we have to work together on a genetics project. Yesterday we met at the school library to discuss the project.