Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 141

Erin's POV

Three days later, I woke up in my bed, my body still weak from the high fever that had kept me bedridden. My mother sat beside me, a cool cloth in her hand. I blinked a few times, trying to focus. The room was bright with daylight.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Mom asked, her voice soft with concern.

"I'm okay, Mom," I replied weakly, attempting a smile. My throat felt dry and scratchy.

Mom helped me sit up, supporting my back with pillows. I winced as my muscles protested the movement. "Here, drink this," she said, offering me a cup of herbal medicine. "It will help bring down your fever."

I took small sips, grimacing at the bitter taste. The warm liquid soothed my throat. "You're the best mom in the world," I said, grateful for her care.

I glanced around the room, noticing something was missing. "Where's Aaron?" I asked.

"Alpha called him back to work at Darkwood Estate," Mom explained, taking the empty cup from me. She set it on the nightstand and adjusted my blankets.

I frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No, just preparations for the Alpha announcement," Mom replied, smoothing out a wrinkle in the bedspread.

"Alpha announcement?" I repeated, my brow furrowing in confusion. I pushed myself up straighter in bed, suddenly alert.

Mom nodded. "Alpha announced he's holding his binding ceremony this weekend."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I felt the air leave my lungs. My hands gripped the blanket tightly, knuckles turning white. Despite knowing this was coming, hearing it confirmed made it devastatingly real. I tried to keep my face neutral, but I could feel myself failing.

"Did he..." I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Did he ask about me?"

Mom smoothed my hair away from my forehead. Her hand felt cool against my skin. "He asked Aaron why you weren't coming to work. Aaron told him you had a fever."

I nodded slowly, trying to process this information. My heart was racing, and I focused on my breathing to calm down. "Can I have my phone, please?"

Mom reached for the phone on the nightstand, handing it to me. "I put it on silent so you could rest."

I unlocked my phone to find several missed calls from Amy and Jack, and a single message from Derek: [Come see me when your fever breaks.]

I stared at the message, my finger hovering over it. Part of me wanted to reply, to ask him why he was doing this. Another part wanted to delete it, to delete him from my life completely. In the end, I just locked the phone and tossed it onto the bed. What was the point of anything anymore?

---

Two hours later, I stood under the cold shower, my body shivering from both my lingering fever and the chilly water. The cold helped clear my head, made me feel more alert. I had made up my mind—I would go to the company one last time.

After drying off, I dressed in clean clothes, choosing a simple blouse and jeans. I didn't bother with makeup. Let them see what their Alpha had done to me.

I went to my mother's room. Mom was sitting in her reading chair, a book open in her lap. She looked up as I entered.

"Mom, I need to go to the company," I announced, standing in the doorway. "I have some unfinished work."

Mom looked up, concern evident in her eyes. She closed her book, marking her place with a bookmark. "Are you sure, sweetheart? You're still recovering."

"I'm fine, Mom. I need to do this," I insisted, my voice firm despite my weakness. I needed closure, needed to end this chapter of my life properly.

Mom studied me for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Alright, but take a taxi, don't drive."

I crossed the room and kissed her cheek before leaving, grateful that she hadn't pushed further.

In the taxi, I stared out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by. My reflection in the glass looked pale, tired. I was alone in my pain, unable to share the full extent of it with anyone. I couldn't tell Aaron the truth, fearing he would think his position as enforcer had been bought with his sister's sacrifice. I couldn't tell my mother, whose heart condition made any significant stress dangerous.

As the taxi drove through the pack territory, I noticed decorations being put up for the upcoming binding ceremony. Banners in the pack colors hung from buildings, and workers were setting up lights and flowers along the main streets. My stomach twisted at the sight.

The first time I had met Derek was almost exactly a year ago. I had been a different person then—naive, hopeful, unaware of the pain that awaited me.

I checked my watch. A year gone, and I was still in the same miserable place. Nothing had changed, except maybe I was a little more broken now.

When I arrived at Stone Group, I paid the driver and stepped out, straightening my shoulders despite my exhaustion. I took a deep breath before walking through the main entrance. As I crossed the lobby, I noticed employees watching me, whispering among themselves. I kept my eyes forward, pretending not to notice.

"I thought Alpha liked her," one woman murmured to her colleague, not bothering to lower her voice as I passed. "But I guess she's no different from any other secretary. Secretaries are for sleeping with, not for marrying."

"Yeah, you're right," her colleague replied. "She thought she could become Alpha's mate. But when Mya came back into the company and Alpha's life, she lost."

The words stung, but I kept walking, my head held high. Let them talk. None of it mattered anymore. I headed straight for the CEO's office, each step bringing me closer to the end.

My heart pounded against my ribs as I approached Derek's door. I paused, taking a moment to gather myself before knocking. I heard Derek's deep voice call "Come in." For a moment, my legs refused to move, but I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. To my relief, there was no other woman in the office.

Derek looked up from his desk, his expression changing to a frown when he saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"As your secretary, am I not allowed to come?" I replied coolly, standing just inside the doorway. I kept my back straight, my face expressionless.

Derek studied me, his eyes taking in my pale complexion and the lingering signs of my illness. I could see concern in his eyes, but I refused to be moved by it. "You still look sick to me. You should go home and rest."

I avoided his gaze, focusing on a point just over his shoulder. The wall behind him was lined with awards and certificates. "Then when should I come to see you? After your binding ceremony?"

Derek's expression remained unreadable. "I see you've heard about that."

"Yes," I confirmed, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. My hands were cold, and I resisted the urge to rub them together for warmth.

Derek raised his hand, as if to touch my forehead to check my temperature, but I stepped back, avoiding his touch. I couldn't bear to feel his skin against mine, not now.

"I came here to let you know that starting tomorrow, I will end my work here," I announced, my voice clear and determined. "If you want to threaten me because of my brother's position, you can do that. But either way, I won't be coming back here."

Derek stared at me in disbelief. "Why?"

I let out a cold laugh, slowly walking toward him. My movements were deliberate, my eyes locked with his. "Love doesn't allow sharing," I replied calmly. "I won't be the third person between you and Mya."