Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 214

Erin's POV

I followed a silent maid up the sweeping staircase to the second floor, where she led me to the master bedroom. The room was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the manicured grounds, a massive king-sized bed dominating one wall, and a sitting area with plush armchairs arranged around a small table.

I'd slept here once before. The memory felt like it belonged to someone else's life.

Three maids were already waiting inside, bustling around with an efficiency that spoke of long practice. One was running a bath in the adjoining bathroom, while another was laying out clothes on the bed. The third approached me with a professional smile.

"Luna," she said, dipping her head slightly. "Your bath is almost ready. Would you like assistance?"

"You don't have to do this," I said, discomfort crawling up my spine at being waited on. "I'm perfectly capable of bathing myself."

The maid who had spoken maintained her smile, but one of the others—a younger woman with sharp features—gave me a look of barely concealed disdain.

"You are Alpha Derek's Luna," she said, her tone making it clear she didn't think I deserved the title. "Though you're not fit to be his mate."

I recognized the jealousy in her eyes and remembered about the maid who had been dismissed for trying to seduce Derek. Was she one of those who had hoped to catch his eye, only to find herself supplanted by an Omega she deemed unworthy?

"I'll bathe alone," I said firmly, moving toward the bathroom.

The hot water felt heavenly against my tired muscles, and I allowed myself a few minutes of mindless relaxation.

When I emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a plush robe, I found the bedroom empty of maids but full of clothing options laid out on the bed. Designer labels I could never afford gleamed from expensive fabrics—silks, cashmeres, fine wools. All of them were in my size, all of them perfectly suited to a Luna's wardrobe.

I selected a tailored tweed suit in a soft gray that complemented my coloring without being too ostentatious. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made for me specifically. Which, I realized with a jolt, it probably had been.

The maids returned while I was dressing, and despite my protests, they insisted on styling my hair and applying light makeup. By the time they were finished, the woman who stared back at me from the mirror was almost unrecognizable—elegant, polished, every inch the society lady I'd never been. My usual casual appearance had been transformed into something more sophisticated, more Luna-like.

I hated how good it looked. How right it felt. As if I were meant to wear these clothes, carry myself with this air of quiet confidence.

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When I descended the stairs, Derek was standing in the foyer, phone pressed to his ear. He paused mid-sentence when he saw me, his eyes tracking my movement as I made my way down the last few steps.

"I'm on my way," he said into the phone before ending the call. He slipped the device into his pocket, his gaze never leaving mine. "Let's go."

Without waiting for my response, he turned and headed for the door. I followed reluctantly, unsure what awaited me but certain it wouldn't be pleasant.

Outside, another luxury car idled in the driveway. Derek held the door for me, an unexpected courtesy that set me even more on edge. As we settled into the backseat and the car pulled away from the estate, I found myself acutely aware of his presence beside me—the subtle scent of his cologne, the warmth radiating from his body, the confident set of his shoulders.

My eyes drifted to his chest, where I could just make out the outline of bandages beneath his crisp dress shirt. A pang of something—not quite guilt, not quite satisfaction—shot through me as I remembered stabbing him with the dart. The wound should have healed quickly for a werewolf of his strength, but I'd struck deep, close to his heart. Even for an Alpha, such injuries took time to fully heal.

I turned away, fixing my gaze out the window. No matter what had happened between us, no matter what bonds tied us together, I still hated him for what he'd done. The soul bond changed nothing. He'd forced me into this union, threatened my mother, manipulated me at every turn. I would never forgive him for that.

As the car approached the familiar gates of the Darkwood Estate, Derek broke the silence. "Don't try to be clever in there. Stay away from the Windsor family as much as possible, and try to look happy."

I turned to face him, incredulity washing over me. "Why would I pretend to be happy when you forced me—"

His hand shot out, fingers gripping my chin, cutting off my words. "I don't want to ruin my mood with your nonsense. If you dare to defy me in front of anyone again, you'll see my worst side."

I yanked my face from his grip. "You can't tell me what to do. You've threatened me enough. You forced me to marry you; now you have to deal with the consequences."

A muscle twitched in Derek's jaw, his eyes darkening with anger. Without another word, he exited the car as it came to a stop before the main entrance of the Darkwood Estate. I followed a moment later, steeling myself for whatever was to come.

The grand hall of the estate was buzzing with activity when we entered. I immediately spotted Derek's family gathered in one area, along with members of the Windsor family. They were laughing, talking animatedly, seemingly in good spirits. A celebration of some kind? I wondered if they knew what Derek had done, what he was about to reveal. Their happiness wouldn't last long.

I felt a twinge of vindictive satisfaction at the thought. These people had looked down on me for years because I was an Omega. They'd treated me as less than, unworthy of their attention or respect. Now they would have to acknowledge me as their Luna, forced to show the deference the position demanded, regardless of their personal feelings.

Judy was the first to notice our arrival. Her smile faltered as her eyes fell on me, confusion clouding her features.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice carrying across the suddenly quiet room.

All eyes turned toward us. I felt a momentary urge to flee, to escape the scrutiny, but Derek's hand closed around mine, his grip firm and unyielding.

"I'm not interested in family drama," he murmured, his lips close to my ear. "But since it's inevitable, why not enjoy it? Don't forget to act like I told you."

I stopped struggling against his hold, not because I'd decided to cooperate, but because I recognized the futility of resistance in this moment. Whatever game Derek was playing, I was merely a pawn, moved across the board at his whim.

"Derek, what is the meaning of this?" Judy asked as we approached the group.

Derek pulled me forward, his hand still clasped around mine. "I have an announcement to make," he said, his voice carrying easily through the hushed room. "I was so excited last night that I decided to marry her. Meet my Luna, Mrs. Erin Stone."

The silence that followed was deafening. Judy's face went pale with shock, and Harry Stone surged forward, his expression thunderous.

"Have you lost your mind?" Harry demanded. "What are you talking about, Derek?"

"It's true, Dad," Derek replied with infuriating calm. "I meant to tell all of you last night. But then I had papers to deal with. So..."

He guided me toward a nearby sofa, pulling me down beside him as if we were simply joining a casual gathering rather than dropping a bombshell that had left everyone speechless.

Charlie Windsor and his wife looked equally stunned, their expressions frozen in disbelief.

"How could you do this, Alpha Derek?" Charlie finally managed, his voice tight with barely contained emotion.

Beside him, Mrs. Windsor began to cry softly. "This can't be true," she whispered. "What about my daughter?"

I felt a stab of sympathy for the woman despite myself. Her daughter, Mya, had been Derek's intended mate before I came into the picture. Now she was being publicly humiliated, her daughter cast aside.

"Derek, why would you do this?" Harry asked, his voice heavy with disappointment. "You know you were forbidden to bind with anyone else. How could you choose this Omega?"

I flinched at the contempt in his voice when he said "Omega," but my mind caught on his earlier words. Forbidden to bind with anyone else? What did that mean?

Derek's expression hardened. "Show some respect," he said to his father, his voice dropping to a dangerous register. "She's the Luna of this pack now."