Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 71

Derek's POV

My expression softened slightly. "It's not your fault. It's Bradley, and other matters."

A knock interrupted our conversation. The door opened without waiting for a response, and Bradley walked in confidently. His gaze immediately locked onto Erin, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Brother," Bradley greeted me, his tone deliberately casual.

"Sit down," I responded coldly.

Bradley sank into a leather chair. "Thank you, brother. I thought you would make me wait until the last minute."

"If I made you wait, would you have waited?" I asked.

"Of course," Bradley answered, though his smile didn't reach his eyes.

I glanced at Erin. "I want to speak with him alone. Please leave."

"Of course," she replied, gathering her things.

"Take your breakfast with you," I added, my tone leaving no room for argument.

As she picked up her plate, Bradley suddenly noticed her injured hand. "What happened to your hand?" he asked, reaching out to grab it.

"It's nothing," she said, trying to pull her hand away.

"Let me take care of your hand—" Bradley began, but I cut him off.

"Let go of her hand," I commanded. "She's not a child."

I noticed Erin detecting the dangerous undertone in my voice as she quickly slipped out of the office, clearly relieved to escape the tense atmosphere, though also concerned about what my brother and I might discuss after her departure.

---

The moment Erin closed the door, I immediately felt her scent beginning to fade from the room. My wolf was displeased by this, wanting to call her back, but there were more important matters to handle now.

I walked to the liquor cabinet, took out two whiskey glasses, and poured aged single malt whiskey. Its amber color reminded me of the gold that flashed in Erin's eyes when she was angry. I pushed one glass toward Bradley and picked up the other, letting the alcohol linger in my mouth for a moment before swallowing.

"What do you want?" I asked directly, unwilling to waste time on pleasantries with my brother. "Why did you suddenly appear on my territory this morning?"

Bradley took the glass, looking directly into my eyes—still with that challenging posture he had mastered since we were pups. "Erin. I want to talk to her once, without interruption."

I gripped my glass tightly, restraining the anger that surged within me. Through the Soul Bond, I could sense that Erin was still outside, her presence flickering at the edge of my consciousness like faint starlight.

Since the moment I inexplicably kissed her, this connection had begun to strengthen, making me more sensitive to her emotions. I could even feel the dull pain from the burn on her wrist, though I tried to block it out.

"You lost that right," I replied coldly, my voice sharper than I had intended. "You betrayed her trust and slandered her in front of in front of us, saying that she betrayed you."

Bradley's expression became complicated, and I could see the pain and regret in his eyes. It reminded me of when we were children, when he would wear the same expression after realizing he had made a mistake but didn't know how to fix it.

"I know I made a mistake," he admitted, genuine remorse in his voice. "But brother, I can't leave her. I swear, I've tried, but I can't. The Moon Goddess be my witness, I feel her calling to me with every full moon."

There was a hint of truth in his words, which angered me even more. Erin wasn't his, would never be his. This territorial impulse surprised me—even as Pack Alpha, I rarely felt such intense possessiveness over anything or anyone. But with Erin... everything was different.

I set down my glass, my voice dangerously low. "What would it take for you to leave her alone forever? Name your price."

"I don't want anything, brother," Bradley answered angrily, his eyes flashing with hurt and defiance. "The Darkwood Pack's wealth holds no appeal for me. I only want her. A chance to apologize, a possibility to start again."

"Impossible," I said definitively. "She cannot be yours."

I stared into his eyes, watching him search for meaning in my words. I could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he pieced together the clues, his expression changing from confusion to shock.

"Could it be... because of the Soul Bond?" he asked slowly, his voice filled with disbelief. "You've felt a connection with her, haven't you? Is that why your attitude toward her suddenly changed?"

I remained silent, but for my brother, my silence was answer enough. Twenty years of brotherhood had made him better than anyone at reading me.

Bradley's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I bet Erin has never seen this side of you. She's too innocent to understand the true nature of the Darkwood Pack Alpha. The Alpha who wouldn't hesitate to tear apart enemies during the full moon."

Hearing him mention this, my wolf stirred dangerously. Memories of the full moon—a mixture of blood and responsibility—flashed through my mind. Bradley could never understand the burden of being Pack Alpha. My eyes turned golden, muscles tense, ready to respond to any challenge.

"She is my Soul bond," I finally admitted, the first time I had spoken this fact to anyone. "I will handle this relationship in my own way, without your interference. You no longer need to concern yourself with her."

"Brother," Bradley's expression turned concerned, "she's only 18, just completed her full transformation, and doesn't understand the complexities of the werewolf world. Don't let her become a pawn in your political struggles with the Silverpine Pack. That wouldn't be fair to her."

His words irritated my nerves like needles. I looked directly into his eyes, my voice becoming a dangerous growl. "Are you lecturing me on how to treat my soul bond?"

Bradley immediately realized he had crossed a line, and he calmed himself. "I'm just reminding you."

I couldn't listen anymore and slammed my glass on the table, glass shards and liquor splattering. "Enough! The discussion about the prophecy ends here. Leave my office, and more importantly, stay away from Erin."

Bradley stood up, his posture indicating he didn't want to further challenge my authority.

Nevertheless, as he walked to the door, he turned back once more. "Remember, Derek, even the most powerful Alpha needs someone to remind him what truly matters. Power changes a person, but it shouldn't change how you treat those who really matter."

After he left, I walked to the window, looking at the panoramic view of the city. Bradley's words had cut deeper than I wanted to admit. The ancient prophecy had always been the source of my nightmares—a Pack Alpha must achieve perfect balance between duty and soul bond, or disaster would follow.

I looked at my reflection, the gold had receded from my eyes, leaving tired gray. In a way, Bradley was right—Erin hadn't seen the real me, hadn't seen me during the full moon, hadn't seen how power and responsibility had shaped me. Would she still look at me with that warm gaze if she knew everything I had done to protect the pack?

Outside, I could feel Erin's presence, her scent penetrating my room like light. My wolf craved her proximity, while my human part worried I would eventually push her away, just as I had pushed everyone away.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to face her.

---

Erin's POV

I sat at my desk outside Derek's office, fingers nervously tapping the keyboard, trying to focus on work. Despite the soundproofing, occasionally raised voices came through the door. My werewolf hearing caught fragments of words, making me increasingly anxious.

I felt electricity suddenly surge through my fingertips—a manifestation of my wolf's power during emotional fluctuations. As the full moon approached, my wolf became more sensitive and restless, especially sensing two Alphas fighting over her.

The office door was suddenly thrust open. Bradley strode out, his aura radiating frustration and anger. As he passed my desk, his gaze fell on me, his expression becoming complex and profound.

I instinctively stood up, preparing to face potential conflict, but Bradley just looked at me quietly, then said softly. "I tried, Erin. I really tried to repair our relationship. But it seems the Moon Goddess has other plans."

His gaze fell on my injured wrist. "Who hurt you?"

I instinctively covered the burn. "Just an accident."

Bradley stepped forward but immediately stopped himself, seemingly realizing he was crossing a dangerous line. "I guess you won't tell me the truth now."

His voice lowered to almost inaudible. "Be careful with Derek, Erin. Not every Alpha protects their Soul Bond. Sometimes, responsibility and power change a person."