Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 238

Erin's POV

The vulnerability in his question caught me off guard. This powerful Alpha—former Alpha—was asking if I had been disgusted by him. I remembered that night, how angry and confused I had been, believing the worst about him because of Alexander's lies.

I rose on my tiptoes and pressed a light kiss to his lips. "I swear on my life, I never found them repulsive," I whispered against his mouth. "I was just angry because I listened to that man and misunderstood you—"

Derek cut me off, claiming my lips in a kiss that stole my breath. This wasn't the controlled, measured kiss of our previous encounters. This was raw and desperate, his wolf nature clearly fighting for dominance.

When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged. "I just want to forget the image of him kissing you," he growled, his eyes glowing gold in the twilight. "You don't know how much I wanted to tear that man's throat out."

His possessiveness should have frightened me, but instead, it ignited something primal within me. "How can I erase that memory from your mind?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "What if I killed him in front of you? Would that work?"

A wicked smile spread across Derek's face, his wolf gleaming in his eyes. "I think it might," he said, his tone making it clear he appreciated my fierce loyalty, even if he didn't expect me to act on it.

The days that followed settled into a peaceful rhythm I had never experienced before. For once, Derek wasn't constantly pulled away by pack responsibilities. He was present, attentive, and I discovered sides of him I had never seen—like his dry sense of humor and his surprising patience.

I loved our life at the villa, but I couldn't help feeling I needed to become stronger, more worthy of standing beside him. Derek had sacrificed everything for me; I wanted to be capable of protecting him too, not just some weak Omega who needed constant safeguarding.

One afternoon, after we had finished lunch, I approached him with the request that had been on my mind. "I want you to teach me how to fight," I said firmly.

Derek looked up from his book, his eyebrows rising. "You should be resting and taking Cassandra's medicine. It will help neutralize the poison and strengthen your wolf."

"I've been taking it," I assured him, gesturing to the bottles Tom had delivered along with my belongings. "But I don't want to be weak. I want to be a strong mate for you, not just some Omega who needs protection all the time."

Something shifted in Derek's expression—pride, perhaps, or respect. "You're already stronger than you know," he said quietly.

"Please," I persisted. "I want to learn."

After a moment's consideration, Derek nodded. "Alright. We'll start with the basics."

---

Behind the villa, there was a clearing that served as a perfect training ground. Derek brought out special training javelins—shorter and blunter than real weapons, but weighted to feel authentic.

"The key is to focus on your target," Derek instructed, demonstrating a throw that hit the center of a tree trunk with precision. "Your wolf enhances your abilities, even as an Omega. You just need to learn to channel that strength."

I tried to mimic his stance, but my first attempt fell embarrassingly short of the target. The second veered wildly to the left. By the fifth throw, frustration was building within me.

"I can't do it," I muttered, lowering the javelin. "Maybe Omegas just aren't meant for fighting."

Derek moved behind me, his chest pressed against my back as he adjusted my grip on the weapon. The closeness of him was distracting, his scent enveloping me, his warmth seeping into my skin. His hands slid down to my hips, positioning my stance, then traveled along my arms to correct my aim.

I felt his breath against my ear as he spoke. "Focus on your target, not the weapon. Imagine it's an enemy threatening your family, your life depends on subduing it."

His hand not-so-accidentally moved toward my thigh beneath the hem of his shirt that I was still wearing, despite Tom having delivered my belongings yesterday. I shivered at the touch but tried to concentrate on his instructions.

"Derek," I chided, moving his hand away. "Can't you see I'm trying to train seriously? Don't distract me."

A smirk played on his lips, but he stepped back, giving me space. I took a deep breath, focusing on the tree as Derek had instructed. I visualized it as a threat, channeled my frustration, and threw.

The javelin struck near the center of the trunk with a satisfying thud.

"I did it!" I exclaimed, spinning around to face Derek with excitement.

His expression was one of pride mixed with something darker, more primal. "See? You did it," he said, ruffling my hair affectionately.

Elated by my success, I threw my arms around him and planted a quick kiss on the corner of his mouth. As I pulled back, my gaze inadvertently dropped to his torso, where his T-shirt clung to his perfect abs, damp with sweat from our training session.

Derek caught my appreciative glance and his eyes darkened. "I don't think I'm in the mood to continue training today," he said, his voice dropping to a husky register that made my skin tingle.

"Why not?" I asked innocently, though my racing heart betrayed my awareness of the shift in atmosphere.

Derek backed me against the nearest tree, his body caging mine as he leaned close. "I think I should take things slowly," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. "Keep my wolf under control."

My breath hitched. "About what?"

His eyes gleamed with mischief and desire. "Let me taste you, little wolf," he whispered, the words sending a shiver down my spine.

Before I could respond, Derek had scooped me into his arms and was carrying me back toward the villa. My heart hammered against my ribs as he kicked open the bedroom door and gently laid me on the bed.

His lips found mine in a searing kiss, his hands sliding up my bare legs and beneath the hem of his shirt that I wore. Each touch sent sparks of pleasure through me, the soul bond between us amplifying every sensation.

"I want to kiss every inch of you," Derek breathed against my skin as his lips traced a path down my neck. "To prove how much I love you."

His mouth continued its journey, pressing hot kisses along my collarbone while his hand slipped higher up my thigh, fingers tracing the edge of my underwear. His eyes glowed gold now, his wolf clearly close to the surface.

A small hiss of hesitation escaped me, and I grabbed his wrist, suddenly uncertain. Derek immediately froze, misreading my reaction.

"If you don't want this, I won't force you," he said, his voice strained but determined. "Do you want this?"

I placed my fingers on his lips, my eyes meeting his. In that moment, all my doubts and fears seemed insignificant compared to the love I felt for this man. "I want to please you, Derek," I whispered.

A low chuckle rumbled from his chest as he captured my hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. "And how do you plan to do that, Erin?" he asked, his voice thick with desire.

In answer, I pushed against his chest, urging him to sit up. As he complied, I moved my hand tentatively toward the waistband of his pants, my face flushing with a mixture of embarrassment and determination.

Derek caught my wrist, his eyes now fully transformed into those of his wolf—golden and intense. He sat up, bringing his face close to mine. "Are you sure, little Omega?" he asked, his voice dropping to that husky, wolf-like growl that sent shivers down my spine.