Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 148

Erin's POV

I pushed open the door to the coffee shop near Silvermoon Academy. My jeans and white t-shirt were comfortable, practical—I no longer felt the need to impress anyone. My ponytail kept my hair out of my face, and the minimal makeup I wore was more habit than necessity.

The coffee shop was crowded with students. I scanned the room methodically, noting exits and familiar faces automatically. This awareness had become second nature to me over the past year.

"Erin, over here!" Amy called, waving from a corner table.

I navigated through the tables, nodding briefly to classmates as I passed. Amy and Jack sat huddled together over their textbooks, coffee cups and notebooks spread across the table.

"Sorry I'm late," I said, sliding into the empty chair.

I noticed several people gathering around the wall-mounted television. The news anchor's serious expression caught my attention, but I deliberately turned away, signaling to a waitress instead.

"Border guards found five rogue wolves in critical condition in the forest this morning," the reporter announced. "This is the second such incident this month. Pack Alpha Derek Stone has prevented the guards from killing the rogues, stating he wants to investigate who's behind these attacks, as 'no ordinary person could win a fight against five rogue wolves.'"

My fingers tightened slightly on the menu, but my face remained neutral. I ordered an Americano without looking at the screen. Derek's name no longer triggered the sharp pain it once had. Now it just made something cold and hard settle in my stomach.

"Did you hear that?" Amy asked when the news segment ended, leaning toward me with wide eyes.

"Why?" I asked, stirring my coffee slowly.

Jack rested his elbows on the table. "Someone's hurting rogue wolves, and they must be incredibly powerful. The news said it's probably an Alpha."

I took a sip of my coffee, the bitter taste familiar and grounding. "The person is only hurting rogue wolves. It has nothing to do with us."

Amy chewed her lower lip nervously. "But what if we encounter this mysterious powerful person? What if they mistake us for rogues?"

Jack wrapped his arm around Amy's shoulders protectively. "I won't let anything happen to you."

I watched them lean into each other, their concern genuine. They had no idea who they were sitting with, what I was capable of. Sometimes I wondered if I should tell them, but the secret felt safer kept to myself.

"I don't think that person intends to harm anyone," I said carefully. "Maybe they're just trying to help us, or rather, protect themselves from danger."

"But the rogues had no physical injuries," Amy pointed out. "They were just mentally unstable, repeating 'Alpha, protect us' over and over."

I remembered their pleas, their broken minds. I hadn't meant to push quite so hard, but they'd needed to be stopped.

"It couldn't be Pack Alpha Derek," Jack reasoned. "These wolves were begging for Alpha protection, plus Derek is allowing an investigation. If he were behind it, he wouldn't do that."

Derek's name hit a nerve. I felt my jaw tighten, my eyes narrow. "A man who doesn't know how to handle a soul bond can't handle mentally unstable people."

The words came out sharper than I intended. Amy and Jack exchanged uncomfortable glances.

"I'm sorry, Erin," Amy apologized quickly. "I didn't mean to bring him up."

I forced my shoulders to relax, my expression to soften. "It's fine. He and I are long over. We're both happy with our lives."

I'd gotten good at lying. The words came automatically now, practiced and smooth. I wasn't happy—I was focused, determined. Happiness wasn't my goal anymore.

"So how's that Statistics project coming along?" Jack asked, clearly changing the subject.

I let them steer the conversation to safer topics, participating enough to seem engaged while my mind worked through the implications of the news report. Derek was investigating. Would he connect the incidents to me? Did I care if he did?

---

Later that day, we left the restaurant after finishing our study project. The afternoon sun was warm on my skin as we walked toward the parking lot.

"How's your mom doing?" Amy asked, falling into step beside me.

I checked my watch, calculating how long it would take to get home. "Not much improvement. The doctors say she needs more rest and to take her medication on time."

Amy squeezed my hand. "If you need anything, you know we're here."

"I know," I nodded, feeling a genuine moment of gratitude. "You two have been amazing, especially during... well, everything. I don't know what I would have done without you both when I was at my lowest."

It was true. When Derek had betrayed me, when I'd locked myself away from the world, they had been there. They hadn't understood everything—how could they?—but they had stayed.

"That's what friends are for," Jack said simply.

"I should get going," I said, pulling my keys from my pocket. "I promised to visit the orphanage today."

I needed to be alone, to process what had happened in the forest, to plan my next steps.

In my car, I turned on the radio for background noise as I drove. My body tensed instantly when I heard her voice.

"Mya Windsor, you've been seen wearing a stunning diamond necklace recently," the interviewer was saying. "A gift from Pack Alpha Derek Stone?"

"Yes," Mya answered, her voice smug and satisfied. "Alpha is always so thoughtful and generous. He takes such good care of me."

My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. I focused on my breathing—in for four counts, hold for four, out for four. The technique helped keep my emotions under control, prevented my eyes from shifting to gold in public.

"And what about your brother, Alpha Alexander Windsor? Sources say there's tension between him and Derek Stone."

Alexander. The name brought a slight smile to my lips. Our unlikely alliance had been one of the few positive developments of the past year.

"I... that's not..." Mya stammered, clearly uncomfortable. "Excuse me, we'll have to continue this interview later."

I pressed the button to turn off the radio. "Such a coward," I muttered to the empty car.

At home, I went straight to my mother's room. The curtains were drawn, casting the room in soft shadows. The medication bottles lined up on her nightstand reminded me of her fragility.

"Mom, it's time for your medicine," I said, helping her sit up against the pillows.

Her hands shook as she took the pills, swallowing them with water from the glass I held steady for her. She looked older than she should, worn down by worry and illness.

"I don't know how much longer I have," she said, her fingers closing around my wrist. Her eyes filled with tears. "Since you haven't found your soul mate, I hope you'll choose your life partner soon. I want to see you happily settled with a good man before I go."