Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 213

Erin's POV

I watched Alexander's retreating figure until he disappeared around the corner of the hospital corridor. The weight of everything—my mother's surgery, the confrontation with Derek, the binding contract I'd been forced to sign—crashed down on me all at once. My shoulders slumped as exhaustion seeped into every cell of my body.

My wolf whined inside me, confused and yearning. She wanted to be near our soul mate despite everything he'd done. The primal part of me recognized Derek as mine, craved his presence, his touch, his claim. But the rational part recoiled at the thought.

I leaned against the wall, my face pale and drawn. How had my life spiraled so completely out of control? Just days ago, I'd been planning my binding ceremony with Alexander, believing I'd found a way to escape Derek's influence forever. Now I was legally bound to the very man I'd been desperate to avoid.

Movement caught my attention. Derek was walking purposefully toward my mother's room, his stride confident and unhurried. I immediately pushed away from the wall, intending to intercept him, but Beta Tom stepped into my path.

"You think Alpha would be so petty as to harm your mother?" Tom asked, his voice surprisingly gentle despite the challenge in his words.

"Then what was he doing?" I demanded, trying to step around him.

Tom blocked my movement effortlessly. "He's here to see her."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Why would he want to see her?"

"You've made a mess of things, Luna," Tom replied, using that title that still felt foreign and wrong when directed at me.

Luna. The term for the Pack Alpha's mate. The highest-ranking female in the pack. A title I'd once dreamed of, now turned into a symbol of my captivity.

I followed Derek into my mother's room, watching with wary eyes as he stood at the foot of her bed. His expression was unreadable as he gazed at her still form, but something in his posture suggested tension—anger, even.

"Why are you looking at her like that?" I asked, moving to stand protectively closer to my mother. "What has she done for you to be so angry?"

Derek's eyes flicked to me, then back to my mother. He didn't answer my question. Instead, he said, "Come to my estate tomorrow morning."

The abrupt command caught me off guard. "What?"

"Do you need me to repeat myself?" His voice was calm, controlled, with that undertone of authority that made even the simplest request sound like an irrefutable order.

"I remember that you are my mate who has already signed marriage papers, Erin Black—" he paused deliberately, "Erin Stone."

My heart skipped a beat at the sound of that name. Erin Stone. The legal reality of our binding hit me anew, and I felt momentarily dizzy.

"I won't come," I said, lifting my chin defiantly. "I'm staying here with my mother."

Derek's lips curved into a cold smile. "Your mother has my enforcers keeping her company. They're here on my orders." His eyes hardened. "Don't make me change those orders."

The threat hung in the air between us, and I felt my hands curl into fists at my sides.

"You can't keep ordering me around like this," I said, my voice tight with frustration.

In two quick strides, Derek was in front of me. He caught my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine with surprising gentleness despite the steel in his eyes. He pulled me closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "I really enjoy the hatred in your eyes, Erin. Why don't you want to come? Are you afraid to see me during the day?" His voice dropped even lower. "What will you do when you have to be with me at night?"

---

The next morning, I sat beside my mother's bed, holding her limp hand in mine. She looked peaceful, the steady rise and fall of her chest the only movement in the hospital room. The doctor had assured me that the surgery had been successful, but she would remain sedated for at least another day or two.

"Ms. Blackwood," a deep voice spoke from the doorway. One of Derek's enforcers stood there, his posture rigid and formal. "There's a driver waiting for you downstairs."

I closed my eyes briefly, swallowing the protest that rose to my lips. I'd known this moment was coming, but I'd hoped for a reprieve, a little more time before I had to face Derek again.

"The Alpha has arranged for two professional nurses to stay with your mother," the enforcer continued, his tone softening slightly. "They'll be here around the clock, monitoring her condition."

The knowledge that my mother would be well cared for was small comfort as I gathered my things. I was exhausted, having barely slept the night before, my mind racing with fears and uncertainties. Dark circles shadowed my eyes, and my movements were slow, deliberate.

Outside the hospital, a sleek black car waited, its engine purring softly. The driver opened the door for me without a word, and I slid into the plush leather seat, my expression grim. As we pulled away from the hospital, I stared out the window, watching the familiar landmarks of the city blur past. My thoughts were as clouded as the overcast sky above, heavy with the weight of my new reality.

The drive to Derek's private estate took us through progressively more exclusive neighborhoods until we turned onto a private road lined with ancient trees. The house itself was a modern architectural marvel—all clean lines, expansive glass, and natural stone, nestled among carefully landscaped gardens.

It was beautiful, and I hated it on principle.

The driver opened my door, and I stepped out, clutching my small purse like a shield. The massive front door swung open before I could even approach it, revealing a spacious, sunlit interior. I stepped inside hesitantly, my eyes adjusting to the brightness.

Derek was seated on a sofa in the living room, his posture relaxed yet commanding. An older woman—Martha, I recalled vaguely from my previous visit—was standing before him, her head bowed slightly as she listened to whatever instructions he was giving her. At my entrance, Derek looked up, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Look who's here," he said, his deep voice carrying across the room.

Martha turned, her eyes widening in shock as she took me in. I must have been quite a sight—tired, disheveled, wearing the same clothes I'd had on at the hospital.

"Why are you so surprised?" I asked her directly, a note of bitterness creeping into my voice. "I thought your Alpha would have told all of you by now."

Martha's gaze flickered between Derek and me, confusion evident in her expression. She clearly hadn't expected to see me here, which meant... what? That Derek hadn't announced our marriage to his household staff? That he was keeping it secret?

"Do I need to explain myself to you?" Derek asked Martha, his voice deceptively soft.

The older woman immediately straightened, her expression smoothing into neutral deference. "No, Alpha."

"Now call the maids. Tell them to prepare her." Derek's gaze never left my face as he issued the command.

"Prepare me?" I echoed. "For what?"

Derek's eyebrows rose slightly. "I didn't know you suffered from memory loss. You are the Luna of this pack now. Do you want to meet your in-laws looking like this?"

My eyebrows shot up at the mention of "in-laws." What new game was he playing now?

Martha was already moving toward the door, but Derek called after her, "Don't try to secretly inform my mother like some spy. You're my maid, not hers."

The sharp reminder seemed to make Martha flinch slightly before she nodded and disappeared through a doorway. Derek returned his attention to me, his expression unreadable.

"Go upstairs. The maids will take care of you."