Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 15

Erin's POV

The hallway went silent after my words. I could feel dozens of eyes on me, waiting to see how Bradley would react to my rejection. His face had gone pale, jaw clenched so tight I could see a muscle twitching below his ear.

"You don't mean that," he said, his voice dangerously low as he stepped closer to me. "You're just upset about what happened yesterday."

I stood my ground, even as my heart hammered against my ribs. "I've never meant anything more in my life. We're done, Bradley. For good."

Something in his eyes changed—a flash of gold that signaled his wolf pushing forward. His breathing quickened, nostrils flaring as he struggled for control.

"You think anyone else will want you?" he growled, loud enough for everyone to hear.

I'd heard it all before—the same cutting remarks he'd made the day I caught him with Lily.

"Maybe," I replied, surprised by the steadiness in my voice. "But I'd rather be alone than with someone who never respected me."

Bradley's face contorted with rage. His wolf was too close to the surface now, causing his features to shift slightly—canines lengthening, eyes flashing between human and wolf. His fingers curled into claws at his sides.

I stumbled backward, but another figure stepped between us.

"That's enough!" Jack shouted, placing himself directly in Bradley's path.

Jack was taller than me but still several inches shorter than Bradley. His lanky frame looked painfully vulnerable against Bradley's muscular build, but he didn't back down, shoulders squared as he faced the enraged wolf.

"Get out of my way, omega," Bradley growled, the double timbre of his wolf giving his voice an inhuman quality.

"Bradley, are you insane?" Jack demanded, standing his ground even as Bradley advanced another step. "One minute you're saying you love her, the next you're about to attack her? You think that's going to win her back?"

Bradley's eyes narrowed dangerously. "This doesn't concern you."

"It does when you're threatening my friend," Jack replied, his voice remarkably steady despite the fear I could smell coming off him in waves. "Learn to respect her choices, man. Be a real wolf and accept when you've lost."

For a moment, I thought Bradley might actually attack Jack. His body was coiled tight, tension radiating from him as his wolf pushed for dominance. Then, abruptly, he took a step back.

"You'll regret this," he said quietly, eyes moving from Jack to me. "Both of you."

With that, he turned and stalked away, the crowd parting hastily to let him pass. Lily hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flashing across her face before she hurried after him, shooting me one last venomous glare.

As they disappeared around the corner, I released a shaky breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My legs suddenly felt too weak to support me, and I leaned heavily against the lockers.

"Hey, you okay?" Jack asked, turning to face me with genuine concern in his eyes.

I nodded, not trusting my voice just yet. The adrenaline that had carried me through the confrontation was draining away, leaving me trembling and exhausted.

"That was..." Jack shook his head, a small, disbelieving laugh escaping him. "I can't believe I just did that. I might have just signed my own death warrant."

"Thank you," I managed finally, reaching out to squeeze his arm gratefully. "You didn't have to do that."

He shrugged, attempting nonchalance though his hands were still shaking slightly. "What are friends for, right? Besides, someone needed to tell that entitled jerk to back off."

"Come on," Jack said gently, noticing how I was still leaning against the lockers for support. "Let's get out of here."

\---

"There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Amy's voice broke through my thoughts as she hurried toward our bench, her bright red hair catching the sunlight like fire. Her expression was a mixture of concern and excitement.

"Is it true? Did you really face down Lily and Bradley in front of half the school?"

I exchanged a glance with Jack, who grinned and nodded.

Amy dropped onto the bench beside me, her eyes wide. "I can't believe I missed it! I was stuck in that stupid student council meeting." She grabbed my arm. "Are you okay? Did Bradley really try to attack you?"

"I'm fine," I assured her, touched by her concern. "Jack stepped in before things got out of hand."

Amy's gaze shifted to Jack, her expression softening with something like pride. "That takes serious guts."

Jack's blush deepened, and he looked away, clearly embarrassed by the praise.

"Anyway," Amy continued, turning back to me with a bright smile. "This calls for a celebration!"

I raised an eyebrow. "A celebration? For what?"

"For standing up to those jerks! For finally telling your truth!" Amy exclaimed. "Plus, it's my birthday today, remember? We're celebrating tonight at Moonshade!"

Moonshade was the most upscale establishment in the city center—a two-story architectural marvel where only the wealthy and well-connected could access even the first floor, while the second level was strictly VIP only. It was exactly the kind of high-profile place I'd been avoiding for months.

"I don't know, Amy..."

"Please?" she wheedled, giving me her best puppy-dog eyes. "It's my birthday. All I want is for my best friends to be there."

I glanced at Jack, hoping for support, but he just shrugged unhelpfully. "Don't look at me. You know she'll get her way eventually."

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. "I'll think about it, okay?"

"Nope, not good enough," Amy declared, standing up and pulling me to my feet. "We're going shopping right now to find you something amazing to wear tonight. No arguments!"

Amy replied with determined cheerfulness. "Come on, Erin. I know you're scared, but you can't let them win by making you hide away forever. I promise I won't leave your side all night."

Her earnestness wore down my resistance. Maybe she was right. Maybe what I needed was to reclaim my life, to show everyone—including myself—that I was more than just the girl who'd been rejected by the Alpha.

"Okay," I agreed finally. "But I'm not staying late, and I'm definitely not drinking."

Amy whooped in triumph, doing a little victory dance beside her car that made me laugh despite myself.

\---

After classes ended, I decided to head to the mall alone. With everything that had happened today, I needed some time to clear my head, and I still hadn't bought Amy a birthday present. The mall was mercifully quiet at this hour, most students still in their final classes of the day.

I wandered through several stores before finding myself in a small jewelry boutique. A delicate pearl necklace caught my eye—elegant with just a hint of whimsy in the way the pearls graduated in size.

"Would you like to see this one?" the saleswoman asked, noticing my interest.

I nodded, watching as she carefully removed it from the display case. The pearls gleamed softly under the store lights, and I knew immediately that Amy would love it.

"I'll take it," I said, feeling a small satisfaction at finding the perfect gift.

After paying for the necklace, I strolled around the mall for another hour, enjoying the simple normalcy of window shopping without any real purpose. It felt good to be somewhere where nobody knew me or cared about my Pack status—just another teenager killing time at the mall.

When I arrived home, I heard Amy's cheerful voice in the room. A moment later, they both came out and greeted me.

"Hey, Erin!" Amy beamed, then turned to my mother. "Mrs. Blackwood, I was hoping I could steal Erin tonight for my birthday. I'm having a small gathering at my house."

I stared at Amy in confusion. This was the first I'd heard of any gathering at her house. Last I knew, we were going to Moonshade.

"That sounds lovely," Mom said, smiling at Amy. "Erin could use a night out with friends."

"Great!" Amy clapped her hands together. "My parents made me promise not to stay out too late."

"That's fine," Mom agreed, clearly pleased. "It will be good for Erin to get out of the house for a bit."

Once we left my home, I turned to Amy with wide eyes.

"You shouldn't lie to my mom like that," I hissed. "She's been really worried about me lately."

Amy rolled her eyes. "Relax, Erin. It's just a party. Besides, I didn't exactly lie—we are celebrating my birthday, just not at my house. But first, I've got to take you to my house to get dressed."

"Nervous?" Amy asked, studying my face as she pulled away from the curb.

"I’m terrified," I admitted with a weak laugh. "What if Bradley shows up? Or Lily?"

"Then we'll handle it," she said confidently. "Besides, Moonshade is neutral territory. Even wolves have to behave there."

I wasn't so sure. Pack laws applied everywhere, and Bradley's status as the Alpha's brother gave him considerable leeway.

"Hey," Amy said softly, sensing my continued anxiety. "Tonight you're just Erin, an eighteen-year-old girl going out with her friends."

I took a deep breath, trying to embrace the idea. "Just Erin. I think I've forgotten what that feels like."

"Well, I'm going to help you remember," Amy promised, flashing me a grin as she turned up the radio. "Starting with getting you a hot new werewolf boy tonight!"