Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 170

Derek's POV

I watched Erin in front of me, her words slicing through the quiet of the empty lounge.

"You are indeed a powerful man, Derek Stone. But I can't ignore how shameless you are."

Her golden dress caught the light, making her seem to glow. The memory sent a jolt of possessiveness through me that my wolf immediately seized upon.

The image of Erin beside Alexander Windsor, accepting his declaration of their engagement, burned in my mind like acid. My wolf paced restlessly inside me, demanding I claim what was rightfully mine. My fingers flexed unconsciously, fighting the urge to reach for her.

"Is that why you've agreed to be with Windsor?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice level despite the rage threatening to consume me. "To show me how shameless I am?"

I watched her lift her chin in that stubborn way that both infuriated and captivated me. The party sounds were muffled here, creating an intimate bubble around us that only heightened my awareness of her.

"Not everything I do revolves around you, Alpha," she replied, the formal title dripping with sarcasm.

"Then explain to me why you're suddenly engaged to my enemy," I demanded, fists clenching at my sides. "Is it because of what happened between us a year ago?"

"There's nothing to explain," she answered coldly. "Alexander and I like each other. It's as simple as that."

Lies. All lies. I could smell her deceit—the subtle changes in her scent that betrayed her true feelings. I stepped closer, forcing her back against the wall, needing to reclaim some control over this situation that was rapidly spinning beyond my grasp.

"So you truly have no mate?" I asked softly, already knowing the answer but needing to hear her admit the lie.

She swallowed before answering, "Yes, I don't have a mate. So what?"

Without thinking, my hand shot out, gripping her arm with more force than I intended. Her wince immediately made me loosen my grip, a flash of regret cutting through my anger.

"Your lies haven't improved, little wolf," I said, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

Her laugh was hollow, empty. "I'm used to you hurting me, Derek. It's what you do best. You only care about what you want. Everyone else must bend to your will, mustn't they, soul bond?"

The term sent a jolt of pleasure through me despite her mocking tone. She'd acknowledged our connection, even if only to throw it in my face.

But I hated this weakness—this inability to control my reactions to her. A year of separation should have dulled the bond's intensity, yet here I was, still captivated by her every word and movement.

I studied her face, noting the changes a year had brought. She'd grown more beautiful, yes, but also more guarded, more calculating.

"Why are you so stubborn, Erin?" I asked, my voice gentler than before. "A year ago, you rejected me, and now you're trying to get close to me again?"

I saw the flash of triumph in her eyes as she replied, "Isn't that the same question I asked you a year ago? The tables have turned, haven't they? How does it feel, Derek?"

The realization hit me with sudden clarity. "You want to destroy me," I said softly. "Don't you?"

Her silence confirmed what I already knew. Erin Blackwood, my soul bond, wanted to tear me apart. And Alexander Windsor was her chosen weapon.

"You've changed so much," I murmured, allowing my gaze to sweep over her. "You've become more beautiful, more independent... more mature."

Almost of its own volition, my hand moved from her arm to her bare shoulder, fingers tracing her soft skin. I felt her shiver at my touch, saw her eyes close briefly, sensed the quickening of her pulse.

I leaned closer, drawn by her scent, her warmth, the bond pulling us inexorably together. My lips near her ear, I whispered the truth we both knew: "Alexander isn't right for you."

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Erin's POV

The spell broke. I pushed against his chest, creating distance between us. My palm burned where it made contact with his solid warmth, and I hated my body's traitorous response.

"And who is?" I challenged, my voice harsher than intended. "You?"

"Stay away from him," Derek commanded, his tone brooking no argument. The Alpha voice that could make wolves submit, that could command entire packs—but not me. Never again.

I glared at him, feeling heat rising to my cheeks. "You need to stay away from me."

Derek's laugh was cold as he closed the gap I'd created, caging me between his body and the wall. The grace of his movements sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. He bent down, his face inches from mine, close enough that I could feel his breath on my lips.

"Is that a threat, little wolf?" he asked.

"Derek Stone, if you come any closer, I won't be gentle with you," I warned, my heart hammering against my ribs. I pressed my hands flat against the wall behind me, resisting the urge to reach for him.

"Is that so?" he asked with a smirk, clearly unimpressed. His eyes dropped to my lips for a fraction of a second. "Need I remind you who I am, Erin? I'm Derek Stone. You have one month to cancel your wedding with Alexander."

The audacity! I couldn't help but laugh bitterly, the sound catching slightly in my throat. "And why would I do that? So I can continue being your mistress?"

"I left you alone to live peacefully," he countered, his jaw tightening with frustration. "Why are you getting in my way?"

"Can't I have a husband like other women?" I demanded, hating the thread of genuine hurt that wove through my anger.

Derek's answer was immediate and final: "No."

That single word, spoken with such absolute certainty, ignited a rage inside me that burned away the lingering desire. I shoved him with all my strength, surprising him enough that he took a step back. My hands trembled, not with fear but with fury.

"Listen carefully, Derek Stone," I hissed, closing the distance between us on my own terms. "If you try to ruin my wedding or hurt Alexander in any way, I'll reveal the truth I've hidden for two years—that I'm your soul bond. The truth you've been so desperate to hide."

I watched his eyes widen slightly, the only indication that my threat had landed. A small, vindictive part of me rejoiced in finding a crack in his perfect control.

"I hate you," I reminded myself aloud. "And I'm warning you to stay away from my fiancé."

"Your fiancé?" Derek spat the word. The golden flecks in his irises seemed to glow brighter, his wolf close to the surface. "Say that again. I dare you."