Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 199

Erin's POV

I felt Derek's words—"I love you, Erin"—hanging in the air between us, heavy and impossible to ignore. My heart pounded traitorously in my chest, betraying the resolve I'd built over months of pain. How many times had I dreamed of hearing those words from him? And now that he'd finally said them, I couldn't trust a single syllable.

Derek moved closer, taking my hand and placing it against his chest. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, I could feel the strong, steady beat of his heart. The warmth of his skin radiated through the material, sending an unwelcome surge of heat through my body.

"Feel that?" he whispered, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "I have a heart too, Erin. I'm not just the cold Alpha everyone thinks I am. I have feelings I can't control, responsibilities I can't ignore. Please don't hurt me anymore by running to him."

My breathing quickened as he moved even closer, our bodies nearly touching. For a moment, I felt lost, adrift in confusion. This was what I had wanted for so long—Derek, admitting he cared for me, looking at me like I was his world.

"I know I've hurt you," he continued, his fingers gently tilting my chin up so I had to meet his gaze. "And I'm asking you to forgive me. I promise I'll never hurt you again."

He leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead that sent tingles down my spine. His scent—leather, cedar, and that wild undertone—enveloped me, making my inner wolf stir with recognition. "You can have all of me, Erin. I'm completely yours. I won't choose between you and being the Pack Alpha ever again."

I almost melted into him then. The pull was so strong, the desire to believe him so overwhelming that I felt myself swaying forward. But then those last words registered—"Pack Alpha"—and reality came crashing back. This wasn't about me. This was about position and power. About winning.

Just as I was about to pull away, my phone rang in my pocket, its shrill tone shattering the moment. Derek's expression hardened, and he reached for my wrist, his grip firm and possessive.

"Don't answer that," he commanded, his Alpha tone slipping back into place.

I shook my head, pushing against his chest to create distance between us. The brief contact with his muscular torso sent another wave of unwanted heat through me. "Don't tell me what to do," I snapped, fumbling for my phone.

When I saw the caller ID, something inside me hardened. Alexander.

"A-Alexander," I answered, my voice shakier than I would have liked.

"Where are you?" His voice came through clear and concerned. "I'm at your house. Your mom says you haven't come home yet. Where are you?"

I looked up at Derek, whose jaw had tightened at the sound of Alexander's name. I could see the muscles in his neck straining with tension, his hands curled into fists at his sides. Anger suddenly flooded through me. How close I had come to being manipulated again. How close I'd been to throwing away my self-respect.

"Someone almost tricked me with lies again," I said, still looking directly at Derek, "but thank you for pulling me back to reality. Wait for me, I'm coming home right now."

I hung up before Alexander could respond and glared at Derek, tears welling in my eyes. Without another word, I rushed past him, throwing open the balcony door that he must have unlocked while I was distracted by his confession. I raced down the stairs, desperate to get away from him and the treacherous feelings he stirred in me.

---

"Erin, wait!" Derek called after me as I burst out of the front door and into the cool forest air. "Don't go to him!"

I kept walking, my pace quickening with every step. The forest path was dimly lit by moonlight filtering through the trees, but I didn't care if I stumbled. I just needed to get away.

"Leave me alone, Derek," I shouted over my shoulder. "I don't want to hear any more of your lies."

"I wasn't lying, Erin," he insisted, catching up to me easily with his Alpha speed.

"I don't care if you love me or not anymore," I said, my voice breaking despite my efforts to keep it steady. "Even if you get down on your knees and beg and tell me you love me, I will never love you again. You don't deserve it, Derek."

His eyes flashed with pain, then anger. He stepped closer, and I had to force myself not to back away. His scent surrounded me again, making it hard to think clearly. "So you've decided to bind with Alexander instead?" His voice was low, almost a growl.

"Yes," I confirmed, lifting my chin defiantly. "I don't believe your lies anymore. I'm not the same naive Erin you used to manipulate. I've changed."

Derek clenched his jaw and nodded slowly. His eyes traveled over my face, lingering on my lips for a moment before meeting my gaze again. "I've shown you my true heart, but you don't trust me."

"I will never trust you," I replied, the words like poison on my tongue.

Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked away.

I walked for what felt like hours along the dark road, unfamiliar with this part of the territory. My anger fueled each step, but as the adrenaline began to fade, frustration set in. The memory of Derek's touch, the warmth of his breath on my face, kept replaying in my mind.

"I can't believe an Alpha could be so shameless," I muttered to myself, wrapping my arms around my body for warmth. "How can he keep playing with my heart like this? How can he? How CAN he???"

The soft purr of an engine approached from behind, and headlights illuminated the road ahead of me. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The sleek black Jaguar pulled up beside me, and Derek rolled down the window. Even in the dim light, I could see the determination in his eyes.

"What are you following me for?" I demanded, not breaking my stride.

"Get in the car, Erin," he ordered, his voice back to its typical commanding tone. "This area isn't safe at night. I'll take you home."

"I don't need you to take me anywhere."

Before I could take another step, Derek was out of the car and beside me, moving so fast I barely saw him. He lifted me effortlessly, his hands strong and sure on my waist. He deposited me into the passenger seat, closing and locking the door before I could react.

"What are you doing?" I gasped as he slid back into the driver's seat. The confined space of the car filled with his scent, making it harder to breathe, to think.