Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 241

Erin's POV

It was past eleven when I realized Derek hadn't returned home yet. Sitting on the edge of our bed in the forest villa, I fidgeted with the hem of my nightgown, an uneasy feeling settling in my stomach. Derek had never been this late since we'd moved here nearly a month ago.

The villa was nestled deep in the woods, far from the Darkwood Estate and the politics that had nearly torn us apart. In a few days, we would need to return for Bradley's succession ceremony, but for now, this secluded place had been our sanctuary.

Something felt off tonight. I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was bothering me, but my wolf was restless, pacing inside my mind. I'd spent the past month trying to convince Derek to complete our soul bond, worried that he would lose his standing in the pack if we didn't. Derek, however, seemed to think I was merely interested in physical intimacy, and he was concerned about hurting me by bonding too soon.

After another fifteen minutes of waiting, I made up my mind. I would go look for him. Slipping on a light jacket over my short nightgown, I stepped outside into the cool night air. The forest was alive with sounds—crickets chirping, leaves rustling in the gentle breeze, and somewhere in the distance, an owl hooting.

My enhanced senses guided me deeper into the woods. I could smell Derek's scent and followed it through the trees. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled silver patterns on the forest floor.

A rustle to my left caught my attention. My reflexes, honed by weeks of training with Derek, kicked in immediately. I ducked, narrowly avoiding a small stone that had been thrown in my direction. Without hesitation, I grabbed a stone of my own and whirled around, ready to throw it at my attacker.

"Derek!" I screamed in horror when I realized who my target was.

Derek caught the stone effortlessly in his hand, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Not bad. Perfect reaction, huh?"

My heart hammered in my chest, adrenaline still coursing through my veins. "How dare you scare me like that? I'm going to teach you a lesson today."

"Let's see who teaches whom," Derek challenged, his stance shifting as he prepared for my attack.

I lunged forward, employing the techniques Derek had taught me over the past weeks. My movements were graceful and precise, evidence of his excellent training. I feinted to the left, then spun to the right, attempting to catch him off guard.

Derek, however, was always one step ahead. He anticipated my moves, dodging or blocking each attack with fluid ease. But there was pride in his eyes as he watched me execute the techniques perfectly.

Finally, he caught me by the waist, pulling my back against his chest. "How am I supposed to focus on fighting when you're moving like that in this short skirt, baby?" he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

My cheeks flushed as I pushed away from him, turning to face him. "I was worried something had happened to you, so I came looking. Where were you?"

"Just walking around," Derek replied, his golden eyes reflecting the moonlight.

I studied his face, trying to decipher his mood. "Are you nervous about the succession ceremony?"

"Of course not."

"But I am," I admitted, stepping closer to him. "Derek, please complete the bond with me. It will prove I'm your soul mate."

Derek's expression turned serious. "And what about you?"

"I truly believe you need someone who loves you more than anything..." I said, my voice trailing off. "If something happens to me, you can find a better mate."

In an instant, Derek's hand was at the nape of my neck, his eyes blazing with anger. "I don't want to hear you talk like that, Erin. How can you speak so casually about your own death? Even death cannot separate us."

I smiled at him, loving the way he expressed his affection—through fierce protection rather than flowery words.

I stood on my tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before stepping back. Without breaking eye contact, I reached for the hem of my nightgown and pulled it over my head, revealing that I wore nothing underneath.

Derek's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, his eyes roaming over my bare form with undisguised hunger.

I began to run, feeling the night air caress my naked skin. As I moved, I felt the transformation begin—my bones shifting, my form changing. Within moments, I had transformed into my wolf form, my brown fur gleaming in the moonlight. I stopped and looked back at Derek, my amber eyes glowing with invitation.

A low growl rumbled from Derek's chest as his eyes shifted to wolf gold. In a fluid motion, he stripped off his clothes and transformed into a massive black wolf, his powerful form nearly twice the size of mine.

The black wolf approached me cautiously, circling, sniffing my scent. This was the first time our wolf forms had truly met. He nuzzled against my neck, then playfully pounced, pinning me beneath him. His tongue lolled out as he licked my muzzle affectionately.

My wolf heart swelled with joy. Before meeting Derek, my transformations had always been born of sorrow and pain, solitary runs through the forest to escape my troubles. Now, I had a mate, someone who had been ordained by fate to be with me. Despite all the obstacles and heartache, we had found our way to each other and would be together forever.

Breaking free from beneath him, I darted through the trees, knowing Derek would follow. Together, we raced through the moonlit forest, reveling in our freedom and the bond we shared. The lake ahead reflected the silver moonlight, creating a magical backdrop for our run.

In that moment, with the wind in my fur and my mate by my side, I knew what true happiness felt like.