Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 155

Erin's POV

A young couple at the far end of the table whispered to each other, and I caught fragments of their conversation.

"...can't believe she dared to..."

"...disrespecting the Alpha like that..."

Bradley cleared his throat. "She was just asking out of curiosity," he said, trying to defuse the situation. "There's nothing to gossip about."

I felt a rush of gratitude toward Bradley. Despite everything that had happened between us, he was still willing to stand up for me. He was a thousand times better than Derek, I thought, even as my heart ached with the knowledge that it was already broken beyond repair.

As the dinner progressed, the atmosphere gradually returned to normal. Aria was enjoying her birthday celebration, surrounded by friends and admirers. Her boyfriend, a tall young man with an eager expression, attempted to engage Derek in conversation.

"Alpha," he said, "I heard there's going to be a pack gathering next week. Can we get an invitation?"

Derek barely glanced at him. "You're Bradley's friend, so you'll definitely get an invitation," he replied, his tone making it clear that others at the table might not be so fortunate.

Amy laughed softly beside me. "The last party was really fun," she said, nudging me playfully.

My hand froze halfway to my glass. The last party. The night I had confessed my feelings to Derek. The night he had rejected me. Memories flooded back unbidden—the feel of his lips on mine in the car, the pressure of his body against mine, the way his hands had gripped my waist, the devastating words that followed.

My hand trembled, and the wine in my glass sloshed over the rim, spilling onto my dress. The cool liquid against my skin snapped me back to reality.

"Oh!" Amy exclaimed, quickly grabbing napkins. "Here, let me help."

As I dabbed at the stain, my phone rang. I pulled it from my purse and saw Ryan's name on the screen. Relief washed over me—a perfect excuse to step away from this nightmare dinner.

I answered immediately. "Ryan? Where have you been? Do you know how worried I've been? Have you called your father?"

I was aware of both Bradley and Derek shifting uncomfortably at my concerned tone. Derek's eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see him watching me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

"Erin, I'm sorry," Ryan's voice came through the speaker. "I was with my girlfriend."

"I knew it," I said, shaking my head. "Make sure you call your dad, okay? He's been worried sick."

"Where are you?" Ryan asked. "Do you need me to pick you up?"

"No, I'm at a birthday dinner," I replied. "But you made me worry for so long, I'm going to punch you tomorrow."

I laughed as I hung up, genuinely amused by Ryan's antics despite the tension of the evening.

"Is that your boyfriend, Erin?" Aria asked with a teasing smile.

"No," I said, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, "but he's a very good friend."

Amy nudged me playfully. "You mean a very special friend, right?" She winked at me suggestively.

"I hope you find your love soon," Aria said sincerely.

Bradley abruptly stood up. "Happy birthday, Aria," he said. "I need to go now. Thank you for dinner. Goodbye."

Everyone watched as he left, understanding the real reason for his departure. The mention of my potential new relationship had clearly made him uncomfortable.

---

After dinner, it was time for Aria's birthday cake. As the waiters brought in the elegantly decorated cake, I couldn't help but remember my own eighteenth birthday. And the two birthdays since then that I'd refused to acknowledge properly.

Aria cut into her cake, feeding the first piece to her boyfriend with a loving smile. I remembered cutting my cake alone a year ago, Derek not even waiting to see if I would celebrate.

Derek remained seated, sipping his drink as he watched the proceedings with detached interest. His eyes occasionally drifted to me, and each time they did, I felt a jolt of awareness. Mya whispered something to Aria, whose expression shifted to one of shock before she quickly composed herself.

Shortly after, Derek excused himself from the table and left the private room. I found myself watching the way he moved, the confident stride, the broad shoulders under his tailored suit. I hated that I still noticed these things.

As the celebration continued, I decided it was time for me to leave as well. I congratulated Aria once more on her birthday and made my goodbyes. Jack insisted on driving me home, but I told him to stay and enjoy the rest of the evening with Amy.

In the hallway outside the dining room, I paused to admire the hotel's elegant decor. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the marble floors. I thought about how money could buy beautiful surroundings but not genuine connections. I had almost become one of those rich men's mistresses myself, I realized with a start.

Lost in thought, I collided with someone turning the corner.

"I'm sorry," I began, then looked up to see Thomas.

"Erin?" he said, surprise evident in his voice. "Hello, how are you?"

"I'm good," I replied with a genuine smile, smoothing down my dress. "How about you? How's your mother?"

Thomas had always been kind to me. His mother and mine were friends, and he had often checked on me during my time at Stone Group.

"We're both well," he said warmly. "You and your mother should come visit us sometime."

I noticed Thomas studying me carefully, and I wondered what he was thinking. I didn't know that he was remembering his concern when Derek had first shown interest in me, and the warning Derek had given him to stay away from me.

"Thomas?" A woman's voice called from behind him. She appeared at his side, a petite blonde with bright blue eyes. "Who's this?"

"This is Erin, Elena's daughter," Thomas introduced me. "Erin, this is Grace."

"I'm his soul bond," Grace added proudly, slipping her arm through Thomas's. "He proposed to me last month."

"Congratulations," I said, forcing a smile. Is this why Mom is so concerned about me? I thought, feeling a twinge of emptiness. She must be thinking even her friend's son has found his partner, but her daughter hasn't.

"I found my true love three months ago," Thomas explained, looking at Sophia with undisguised adoration.

"I'm happy for you both," I said, and I meant it, despite the pang of envy I felt.

After saying goodbye to Thomas and his fiancée, I made my way to a terrace I'd spotted earlier. I asked a staff member for directions and soon found myself standing alone under the night sky.

The full moon hung low and bright, bathing everything in silver light. I leaned against the railing and looked up at it, feeling a strange connection to its ancient presence. My fingers gripped the cold metal as I took a deep breath of the night air.

"Moon Goddess," I whispered, "why couldn't you give me more time? Why couldn't I see the downfall of the person I hate the most? When will you give me the power to completely destroy him?"