Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother (by CalebWhite) novel Chapter 81

Erin’s POV

“What are you doing in the women’s restroom?” I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper as 1 spun around to face him directly.

Derek didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed himself away from the door and took several deliberate steps toward me..

The distance between us shrank rapidly, and I instinctively backed up until I felt the cold edge of the marble sink press against my lower back.

“Answer me,” I insisted, though my voice had lost its earlier conviction.

Still silent, he continued his approach until he stood directly in front of me, so close that his expensive cologne–cedar and leather–overwhelmed my senses. The familiar scent sent an involuntary shiver down my spine, my body reacting traitorously to his proximity.

My heart pounded violently against my ribcage. I could feel each beat echoing in my ears, feel the blood rushing through my veins. My wolf, who had been so subdued in recent days, now circled eagerly beneath my skin, pushing forward with such intensity that I had to clench my fists to

maintain control.

Derek’s eyes traveled slowly over my face, lingering on my lips before returning to meet my gaze. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his deep voice resonating in the tiled restroom.

“I’m here with my friends,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the trembling that had started in my limbs. “We’re having dinner.”

His eyebrows drew together slightly. “Who was that boy who walked you to the restroom?”

The question caught me off guard. Was that… jealousy in his tone? The idea seemed absurd–Derek had made it abundantly clear that his only interest in me was maintaining the Soul Bond for his position’s sake.

“Just a friend,” I answered, watching his reaction carefully.

Derek’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “Just a friend?”

I nodded. “Yes. Why do you care?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t respond to my question. Instead, he shifted topics abruptly. “Why won’t you return to Stone Group?”

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The unexpected change in subject made me blink in confusion. I took a deep breath, trying to collect my scattered thoughts.

“Please, Alpha,” I said, deliberately using his title to create distance between us. “Don’t make my life more difficult than it already is. I’m happy where I am now.”

His eyes flashed gold again, a brief glimpse of his wolf responding to my formal address. “Are you?”

“Yes,” I insisted, though we both knew it wasn’t entirely true. “I don’t want to go back to your company. I don’t want to be near you.”

“Why?”

The question was so direct, so unexpected, that I faltered momentarily. “You know why,” I finally said, my voice growing stronger with indignation.

“You humiliated me. You accused me without evidence. You threw those pictures at me and said… I swallowed hard, the memory still painful. “You said I was the last person you’d want to see.”

As I spoke, Derek’s gaze shifted, focusing on something on my face. His expression changed. Before I could react, he raised his hand toward my face.

I flinched instinctively, turning my head away. “Don’t.”

His hand stilled in midair. “What happened to your face?”

My hand flew to my cheek, where the makeup had worn off, revealing the yellowish bruise beneath.

“Nothing. You should leave,” I said quickly, attempting to turn away.

Derek caught my wrist before I could move. “Tell me who did this to you.”

“You did,” I said, meeting his eyes directly. “When you threw those photographs at me. One of them hit my face.”

His expression shifted, recognition dawning in his eyes. His grip on my wrist loosened, but he didn’t release me completely.

I tried to pull away again, but Derek tightened his hold, tugging me closer until I collided with the solid wall of his chest. My free hand instinctively came up between us, palm flat against his sternum, feeling the strong, steady heartbeat beneath my fingers.

“Let me go,” I said, my voice embarrassingly breathy.

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Chapter 81