Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 183

Erin's POV

I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. The reference to my past relationship with Bradley, Derek's brother, caught me off guard.

Before I could formulate a response, Alexander intervened with sarcastic smoothness. "That's fine," he said, his tone light but with an edge that could cut glass. "After our wedding, you can still call him that."

Surprise flickered across my face before understanding dawned. A small, vindictive smile curved my lips as I turned to Derek, my voice dripping with mock sweetness. "If Alpha Derek likes it, I can keep the title." I paused deliberately, watching his expression. "Right, brother-in-law?"

The dining room fell silent, the tension so thick it felt suffocating. Derek's expression changed, a muscle twitching in his jaw as he deliberately placed his utensils down on his barely touched plate. The sound seemed unnaturally loud in the silence.

"I recall," Derek said, his voice cold and controlled, "that you're no longer with my brother Bradley. And since you're not married yet, so..."

His words trailed off, the implication clear: I had no right to claim any familial connection to him. The dismissal stung more than I wanted to admit, even to myself.

I laughed, a sharp sound that seemed to shock the elders present. Mrs. Windsor flinched slightly, and even Harry Stone looked taken aback by my boldness. "It seems Alpha Derek doesn't like me calling him that," I observed, my tone deliberately provocative.

Alexander patted my hand reassuringly, the gesture intimate and possessive. His palm was warm against my skin, and I noticed Derek's eyes flick to our joined hands, something dark and unreadable flashing in his gaze.

"It's okay, Erin," Alexander said, his voice gentle but carrying easily across the table. "Soon, he'll marry Mya, and you'll be my mate. Then, he truly will be your brother-in-law."

Alexander and I shared a look that bordered on laughter, a private joke at Derek's expense. I noticed Derek's executives shifting uncomfortably in their seats, casting anxious glances at their Alpha, clearly concerned about his reaction. Delta Mark's hand had moved closer to his knife, as if anticipating trouble, while Beta Tom's expression had grown increasingly stony.

Alexander turned his attention to Harry Stone. "Where is your other son, Mr. Harry Stone?" he asked with seemingly innocent curiosity.

Harry cleared his throat, visibly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. "Bradley is a bit busy," he said vaguely. "He'll soon join the company management."

Alexander nodded, turning back to me as if sharing a confidence. "I just missed meeting your ex-boyfriend."

I shrugged dismissively, surprising myself with how little the mention of Bradley affected me now. Now, I felt only a distant sort of contempt. "So what?" I replied. "You can look at my brother-in-law. He and his brother are exactly the same."

I watched Derek's expression carefully, looking for any sign that my words had penetrated his carefully constructed facade.

Judy's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "You're lucky my son is showing restraint today," she said, her tone carrying a warning. Her eyes, so like Derek's, were cold with disapproval.

I met the older woman's gaze unflinchingly. "And your son is lucky I stay quiet daily," I countered, "not saying things that would harm him."

Mya and her parents tensed visibly, exchanging concerned glances. I wondered if they feared I might reveal the soul bond between me and Derek—the sacred connection he had rejected in favor of a political alliance with Mya. The knowledge was a weapon I had never used, partly out of pride, partly out of fear of the consequences.

Harry turned to Aaron, my brother who had remained silent throughout the exchange, his expression growing increasingly uncomfortable. "Tell your sister to shut up—" he began, his voice tight with anger.

"Father." Derek's single word halted him mid-sentence. The Alpha's voice wasn't raised, but it carried unmistakable authority. His look clearly warned his father not to interfere, and Harry subsided, though his expression remained thunderous.

Alexander observed the family drama silently, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his mouth as he continued eating with apparent enjoyment. I couldn't help but wonder if he had anticipated this outcome all along, if he was somehow orchestrating events to his advantage.

Without warning, Derek stood abruptly. "I'm done," he announced, his voice flat.

I noticed that his plate was still mostly full, the food barely touched. A memory flashed through my mind—times when I myself couldn't eat because of Derek, the soul bond making it impossible to swallow food when distressed by him. The connection between us, though denied, still manifested in physical ways I couldn't control. Had he experienced the same thing tonight?

The thought gave me a perverse satisfaction, even as I acknowledged the hollowness of such a victory. If he suffered as I did, it changed nothing between us.

After Derek left, his executives exchanged glances before quickly finishing their meals and following their Alpha. The dinner effectively over, Alexander and I also rose to depart from the Darkwood Estate.

Outside in the cool night air, I took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders as we stepped beyond the boundaries of Derek's territory. The stars were bright overhead, the moon a silver crescent casting just enough light to illuminate the immaculate grounds of the estate.

Alexander watched me closely, his expression unreadable in the dim light. "Do you feel unwell?" he asked, his tone revealing genuine concern.

I knew that leaving pack territory affected my inner wolf, creating a sense of displacement and unease that was difficult to ignore. It was a subtle feeling—a tightness in my chest, an inexplicable longing to turn back, a heightened awareness of my own vulnerability. The primal part of me longed for the security of pack lands, even as my human side rejected the idea.

"No, I'm fine," I responded firmly, squaring my shoulders. I would not be ruled by instinct.

During the ride home, I remained silent, lost in my thoughts. The car's interior was dark except for the occasional flash of passing streetlights that illuminated Alexander's profile. The soft purr of the engine and the smooth motion of the vehicle were almost hypnotic, lulling me into a reflective state.

Finally, Alexander broke the quiet. "Do you have any objections to our binding ceremony in two weeks?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the road. His hands rested casually on the steering wheel, but I noticed the tension in his fingers, belying his apparent nonchalance.

I glanced at him, studying his expression. In the intermittent light, his features seemed sharper, more predatory. "Does it matter?" I replied, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "You've already decided and announced it."