Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 12

Erin's POV

"Watch where you're going," a deep, familiar voice said, the initial growl softening into something almost pleased.

I looked up, my heart stuttering in my chest as I recognized Bradley Stone. Even after everything he'd done, my traitorous body remembered how it had once responded to him, though now all I felt was revulsion.

He loosened his grip on my wrist but didn't let go completely. "I heard what happened in there. Those pictures of us... quite the show you put on."

I jerked my arm away. "Don't touch me."

Bradley's eyes darted down the hall before returning to me, his lips curving into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Actually, I'm not mad about those photos. It was a nice reminder of what we had."

"What?" I stared at him in confusion. "I didn't—" I began, then stopped myself. Why bother explaining? He wouldn't believe me anyway. "What do you want, Bradley?"

He stepped closer, his voice dropping to an intimate tone that once would have made my heart race. "I've been thinking about us, Erin. Maybe I was too hasty in ending things. It's been six months since I've even spoken to Lily."

He glanced around. "Look, I'm trying to tell you I miss you. Seeing those pictures today made me realize what I threw away."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "I hate you. You betrayed me with my best friend, and then you both lied to my face for months."

He sighed dramatically. "Don't be so dramatic. It was a mistake. And honestly, you should be flattered I'm willing to give you another chance. An Omega wolf dating the Alpha's brother?"

Every word was like a slap, confirming all my worst fears about how he'd really seen me during our relationship.

"Is that why you haven't spoken to Lily in six months? Did you realize she's not good enough for you either?" I asked, finding strength in my anger.

I'd struck a nerve. Bradley's eyes flashed with fury, and he moved faster than I expected, backing me against the wall. His arm pressed against my throat, not hard enough to cut off my air but enough to remind me of my vulnerability.

"Listen carefully," he whispered, his face inches from mine. "If I find out you're seeing another wolf, I'll make sure my brother uses every ounce of his power to make both your lives miserable."

My wolf snarled, bristling against the threat. I fought to keep her under control, but my canines lengthened slightly.

"I'm not yours anymore," I managed to say. "You can't control me."

His lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Can't I? You're a nobody, Erin. I could destroy you with a word."

To my surprise, he backed away slightly, though his eyes remained fixed on mine. "Stay away from my brother," he warned. "I don't believe in this Soul Bond nonsense, and neither does he. You're nothing but an inconvenience to him—a complication in his plans for the Pack."

"Why do you care?" I asked, genuinely curious despite my anger. "You claim you want me back, but you're threatening me in the same breath."

Something flickered in his eyes, an emotion I couldn't quite identify. "Because you're mine," he said simply. "You belong with me, not with anyone else, and certainly not with my brother."

The possessiveness in his voice made my skin crawl. This wasn't love or even attraction—it was ownership, pure and simple.

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me trembling against the wall.

I waited until he disappeared around the corner before letting out a shaky breath. The confrontation had left me drained.

How had I ever thought I loved him? How had I missed the cruelty beneath the charming smile?

My phone buzzed in my pocket—probably Amy or Jack checking if I was okay. I ignored it, pushing myself away from the wall. Right now, I just wanted to go home, to escape the whispers and stares that would follow me through the hallways.

\---

As I approached the auditorium doors on my way to the nearest exit, I could hear the competition continuing inside. Professor was announcing the winner, his voice carrying clearly through the partly open door.

"And the first prize for this year's Innovation Speech Competition, along with the internship at Stone Group, goes to... Lily Winters!"

I froze, the pain of losing something I'd worked so hard for hitting me anew. Not just any internship—the Stone Group internship was the most prestigious opportunity offered all year, practically guaranteeing a successful career path after graduation.

And Lily had stolen it from me.

I started to turn away, not wanting to hear more, when the doors swung open. Students began filing out, their excited chatter filling the hallway. I pressed myself against the wall, hoping to blend into the background, but I was immediately spotted.

"There she is," someone whispered loudly. "The girl who tried to seduce both Stone brothers."

"So pathetic," another voice added.

I kept my head down, trying to ignore them, but then a familiar perfume wafted past, and unmistakably Lily's. I looked up involuntarily to find her standing just feet away, surrounded by a group of admirers, clutching a crystal trophy. Her smile was dazzling as she accepted congratulations.

Our eyes met, and her smile deepened, triumph and malice gleaming in her eyes.

"Erin," she said loudly, making sure everyone could hear. "I'm so sorry about what happened with your... presentation. Perhaps you should have spent more time on your research rather than chasing after men who are out of your league."

Her friends tittered, exchanging knowing glances.

"You stole my project," I said, the words bursting out before I could stop them. "That was months of my research, my analysis. You stole it!"

A hush fell over the group. Lily's expression hardened for a split second before morphing into practiced concern.

"Oh, Erin," she sighed dramatically. "I know it must be difficult to see someone succeed where you failed, but these accusations are just sad. First, you claim to be the Alpha's Soul Bond, and now you're saying I stole your work? When will the lies end?"

One of her friends stepped forward, her expression contemptuous. "Look who's talking. The gold-digger who tried to trap Bradley, and when that didn't work, went after his brother. You're nothing but a desperate omega looking for a way to climb the Pack hierarchy."

"That's not true," I protested, but my voice was drowned out by their laughter.

"Everyone knows you made up that Soul Bond claim," another girl added. "As if the Alpha would ever choose someone like you."

Lily stepped closer, lowering her voice to a stage whisper. "The sad thing is, Bradley was only with you because he felt sorry for you. He told me everything—how clingy you were, how you'd do anything to keep him interested. It was embarrassing, really."

Each word was precisely calculated to cause maximum pain. Lily knew all my insecurities, all my fears—I'd confided in her for years, never suspecting she'd use that knowledge against me.

"You'll regret this," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper. "What you did today—stealing my project, sabotaging my presentation—you'll pay for it eventually."

Lily's smile never faltered. "Is that a threat, Erin? Because threatening a Beta wolf when you're nothing but an Omega is a serious Pack offense. I'd be careful if I were you."

With that parting shot, she turned and walked away, her friends trailing behind her, still laughing and whispering.

I couldn't take anymore. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the continued whispers and stares, heading for the nearest exit. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if my body was being weighed down by the accumulating shame and anger.

\---

Outside, the cool air hit my flushed skin like a slap. I gulped it down, trying to clear my head, but the rage and humiliation continued to build, a pressure inside my chest that threatened to explode.

My wolf was no longer content to stay hidden. She clawed at my insides, demanding release, demanding retribution. I could feel my control slipping as my vision sharpened, colors becoming more vivid, scents more intense.

"Calm down," I whispered to myself, ducking into a deserted corner of the campus. "Don't shift. Not here. Not now."

But my wolf wasn't listening. She was tired of being pushed down, tired of being the victim.

My nails lengthened into claws, sharp enough to leave gouges in the brick wall I was leaning against. My canines extended, pressing uncomfortably against my lower lip. I could feel the beginnings of the shift rippling under my skin, the painful precursor to full transformation.

"No," I gasped, pressing my forehead against the cool brick. "Stop. Please stop."

I forced myself to take deep breaths, trying to find something to anchor myself. I focused on Mom's face, on how devastated she would be if I were exiled from the Pack. I thought of Aaron, working so hard to rebuild his reputation after I'd cost him his position.

Slowly, painfully, I regained control. The claws retracted, my teeth returned to normal, though my vision remained unnaturally sharp—a sign that my wolf was still close to the surface.

I pushed myself away from the wall, still trembling from the effort of containing the shift. I needed to get home before my control slipped again.

Avoiding the main paths where I might encounter other students, I headed for a seldom-used side exit that would let me leave campus without being seen.

The hallway was dimly lit and empty, perfect for my escape. I moved quickly, my footsteps echoing on the polished floor. Almost there. Just around this corner and I'd reach the door.

I turned the corner at full speed, not watching where I was going, and slammed hard into someone again. Strong hands gripped my shoulders to steady me, and a familiar scent engulfed me—cedar, leather, and something uniquely male that made my wolf instantly surge forward again.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking—" The words died in my throat as I looked up into steel-gray eyes that had haunted my dreams for six months.

Derek Stone.

He held me at arm's length, his expression unreadable as he looked down at me. His fingers tightened slightly on my shoulders before he abruptly released me and stepped back.

"It seems your performance today left much to be desired, Miss Blackwood," he said, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine despite the coldness of his words.