Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 137

Erin's POV

I shrank back from the harshness in his tone, the realization dawning that he had only ever seen me as a tool to satisfy his desires. Nothing more, nothing less.

The strength drained from my body. I wanted to leave this heartbreaking place, to go somewhere—anywhere—and let out the scream building inside me. How cruel fate had been to tie me to this man.

"Stop crying," Derek said, his voice devoid of compassion.

"I'm not crying for you," I replied, wiping at my tears. "I'm laughing at my own fate."

Derek's eyes narrowed. "You're too fragile to understand the world of pack politics. This world is about power and authority. How can you survive if you're this weak?"

"You—you're right," I admitted, looking up at him through tear-filled eyes. "I am weak. Your brother said the same thing."

I remembered the day I caught Bradley cheating, how devastated I'd been, how I'd wanted to run to someone with my complaints. I never imagined Derek would be even more heartless.

"You played me," I mumbled, tears streaming down my face.

Derek frowned. "Calm down. What are you crying about?"

I shook my head, wiping away tears with trembling hands. "I can't let you marry her. I can't let you get engaged to her."

I moved toward him, grasping his hands in mine, my words tumbling out in a desperate, incoherent plea. "Please cancel the engagement. Don't do anything with her. You're my soul mate... we're happy together, aren't we? Just cancel the engagement and be with me."

I was terrified of losing him, of watching him pledge himself to another woman. Despite everything he'd said, he was still my world, my everything.

Derek glared at me as he removed my hands from his. "No one in this world can stop it. I will announce the engagement soon. If everything goes according to plan, my pack will become the largest, surpassing the Silverpine Pack."

I shook my head frantically. "Don't leave me. I can't be without you, mate."

Derek raised his hand to wipe away my tears, the gesture at odds with his cold words. "I won't abandon you. Don't worry. Everything between us will remain the same."

His touch felt like ice against my skin, and his words sent a shock through my system. What was he suggesting? That he would marry another woman but keep me on the side? The thought made me physically ill.

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "Why is she so important to you that you can't have anyone but her as your mate?"

Derek lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply before answering with unnerving calmness. "Her father, Charlie Windsor, proposed the marriage a long time ago. Once I marry his daughter, he will give me half of his territory."

That was not fair to me. I felt a fresh wave of pain.

"No," Derek continued, as if reading my thoughts. "It's not just because of her pack. She's not only a good woman, but she also has the ability to lead my pack. She will be the most suitable Luna for my pack. After marrying me, she will gain respect that she couldn't find elsewhere."

My heart went numb as Derek praised another woman right in front of me. Each word was another wound, another confirmation that I meant nothing to him beyond the inconvenient soul bond.

I looked directly into his eyes, gathering what little courage I had left. "Alpha Derek, I love you. Did you ever feel, even once, that you loved me? Even after spending nights with me?"

Derek's answer was immediate and devastating: "No."

The tears in my eyes dried up as I stared at him, my face pale, searching his expression for any sign of regret or guilt. There was none.

"Erin, you can't expect more from me," Derek explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "There is no such thing as love in my world. That emotion makes me cringe. I am a man only interested in leading my pack and gaining power in the business world. I don't want the soul bond to be an obstacle for me and my pack."

I laughed softly, noticing the birthday cake on the table. My chest tightened painfully. "I—I thought we could celebrate with the cake—"

The shrill ring of a phone interrupted me. Derek frowned as he answered it, his expression immediately shifting to concern. "What happened?" A pause. "Where is she?"

I knew instantly he was talking about Mya. She was the one who worried him, the one who truly mattered. *I'm just his plaything,* I thought bitterly.

"I'm coming," Derek said before hanging up. He looked at me. "I need to return to Darkwood Estate." Without another word, he turned and left.

I stood alone on the balcony, the reality of the situation crashing down on me. The beautiful floral decorations now seemed like garbage in my eyes. I stared at the birthday cake, remembering how I had celebrated Derek's birthday, how I had put so much thought and effort into making it special for him. And on my birthday, he had broken my heart.

With a cry of anguish, I threw the cake to the floor. I pushed everything off the table—plates, glasses, decorations—watching them shatter on the ground. The sound of breaking glass matched the breaking of my heart.

Several waiters rushed to the balcony, drawn by the noise. They found me crying, tearing down the decorations, destroying everything in sight.

"Miss, are you alright?" one of them asked cautiously.

"Miss, where is your boyfriend?" another inquired, looking around in confusion.

"Boyfriend?" I repeated numbly. I looked at the concerned waiter through tear-filled eyes. "He is my mate. Do you know what he told me? He said he wants to marry someone else. He doesn't care if I love him or not."

I stumbled out of the restaurant, my body shaking uncontrollably. The cool night air hit my tear-stained face, but I barely felt it.

The restaurant manager approached me outside. "Miss, I'm the manager of this restaurant. The gentleman who came with you instructed me to ensure your safety. We've arranged a car for you."

I laughed hysterically. "He's the one who hurt me the most, and he's concerned about my safety?"

"Miss, he paid for it. We must ensure your safety," the manager insisted, gesturing toward a waiting car.

I shook my head and started walking in the opposite direction. The manager signaled to a security guard, who moved to intercept me.

"No, I don't need your help or the help of that cruel man," I told the guard. "I just want to be alone."

When the guard grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me toward the car, a sleek black vehicle pulled up beside us. The driver's door opened, and a man stepped out, glaring at the security guard.

"Let her go," he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.