Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 218

Erin's POV

A member of the Silverpine Pack stepped forward, his voice firm despite the tension in the room. "You must accept punishment, Alpha Derek. You must relinquish your position as Pack Alpha—"

The door to the gathering room swung open with a bang, cutting off the speaker mid-sentence. All heads turned toward the entrance, where a tall, broad-shouldered man stood, his presence immediately commanding attention. My heart lurched painfully in my chest as I recognized my brother, Aaron.

His eyes swept the room, taking in the tense standoff, before landing on me. For a brief moment, something flickered in his expression—surprise, perhaps, or concern—before his features smoothed into the professional mask I'd grown accustomed to seeing since he'd become an enforcer for the Darkwood Pack.

"Aaron," I said, his name barely audible even to my own ears. I felt nothing—no relief, no joy, not even anger. Just a hollow emptiness as I tried to process everything I'd just learned.

"Erin, what are you doing here?" Aaron asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Before I could respond, Derek's voice cut through the tension. "Come here, Aaron. Don't waste your time on your disloyal Luna."

Aaron's eyes widened. "L-Luna?" he stammered, looking from me to Derek and back again.

To my shock, Aaron then bowed deeply to Derek, his posture one of complete submission. "Alpha, I've done as you ordered."

Derek nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I fulfilled my promise to you before you even completed your mission."

Alexander turned to Aaron, his eyes narrowing. "What is the meaning of this? Your mother is in danger because of this man, and you're bowing to him?"

Beta Tom stepped forward, his voice steady. "Aaron's mother is safe. She is no longer in danger. Her surgery was successful."

My brother moved further into the room, carrying something under his arm that looked like a rolled-up white poster. Without a word, he unfolded it on a nearby table, revealing what appeared to be a map.

Charlie gasped audibly, and several members of the Silverpine Pack moved forward for a closer look, their expressions ranging from shock to dismay.

"This is the map of the Silverpine Pack," Alexander said, his voice tight with controlled fury.

Derek laughed, the sound devoid of any real humor. "You don't even know that it's not just a map, but the contract of your pack."

Alexander lunged toward Derek, only to be intercepted by several pack members who held him back. His eyes burned with hatred as he struggled against their restraining hands.

My brother cleared his throat. "Every official responsible for different parts of the Silverpine Pack has signed on the map in their area," he explained, his voice cool and professional. "They don't want to have conflict with Alpha Derek."

Alexander's face contorted with rage. "How dare they betray me? I am their Alpha!"

"Are you, though?" Derek countered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Your officials don't think so. They recognized your leadership issues." His lips curved into a cruel smile. "This is why your grandfather exiled me from your territory—not because I killed someone, but because he knew I would destroy you if given the chance."

Alexander shook his head vehemently. "No. I can't accept this. This contract still needs my signature—the signature of the current Alpha."

Derek's smile widened. "Do you think I'm a fool who just does whatever comes to mind without any plan, like you?" He turned to Delta Mark. "Bring them in."

Mark nodded and left the room, returning moments later with a man in a black coat. With a jolt, I recognized him as the man I'd seen with Alexander and the pregnant woman at the airport.

Alexander's face paled. "What is my lawyer doing with you?" he demanded, his voice rising in pitch. He turned to the man in the black coat. "You bastard! How could you betray me?"

Derek moved with lightning speed, blocking Alexander's path to the lawyer and grabbing him by the throat. Alexander struck back, his fist connecting with Derek's jaw.

"You're so afraid of your soul bond being with someone else that you broke every rule to bind with her," Alexander snarled, his eyes flashing gold.

I stared at the two men, the truth finally dawning on me. Alexander hadn't wanted me because he cared about me. He'd wanted me because I was Derek's soul mate, and taking me away would have been the ultimate revenge against the man who had killed his own soul mate. I had been nothing but a pawn in their game, a toy to be fought over for reasons that had nothing to do with me as a person.

And Derek... Derek had forced me into the binding, but was that worse than killing someone? The very thought made me feel sick.

Several pack members pulled the two Alphas apart. Derek's eyes were glowing gold, his fangs partially extended as he snarled at Alexander. "Dare to touch what's mine, and I'll cut you down in front of your pack members right now." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Have you forgotten how I killed your soul mate right in front of your eyes? If it weren't for my pack members, I would have killed you the day you escaped from the mental hospital. Mental patients like you should stay locked up forever."

The room fell silent. I felt a cold wave of shock wash over me.

The lawyer stepped forward, offering a folder to Alexander. "Alpha Derek is my Alpha," he said quietly. "My duty is to obey him, not anyone else."

With shaking hands, Alexander opened the folder. His face drained of color as he read the contents. "Impossible!" he exclaimed. "How could I sign these papers? I don't remember signing them. How could I have agreed to this?"

Charlie Windsor moved to read over Alexander's shoulder, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"Mya Windsor is free to bind with whoever she wants," Derek explained, his voice now calm and controlled, "but I have the obligation to be responsible for her safety. I will protect her forever." He paused, his eyes locked on Alexander. "Additionally, I will not take over half of the Silverpine Pack's territory."