Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 168

Erin's POV

The growl erupted from Derek's throat without warning—low, primal, and undeniably threatening. It reverberated through the hall, causing everyone to freeze in place. I felt my skin prickle with goosebumps as the sound washed over me. It was unmistakable, the territorial warning of an Alpha wolf whose domain had been challenged.

Throughout the room, heads lowered instinctively. Even those from Alexander's pack seemed to feel their knees weaken as the ancient instinct to submit took hold. Pack members who had been chatting animatedly seconds before now stood in rigid silence, eyes downcast, not daring to look at their Alpha.

I watched as Derek shook off Mya's hand from his arm as if it were nothing more than an irritating insect. His eyes, now blazing a brilliant gold, locked onto Alexander Windsor beside me. The transformation was subtle but unmistakable—his features sharpened, his posture changed, becoming more predatory as he stalked toward us.

When Derek spoke, his voice carried a dangerous edge. "Not. Another. Word."

Each syllable was a warning, weighted with power. The message was clear to everyone present: speak again at your peril. Even I felt the instinctive pull to lower my gaze, though I fought against it.

Alexander's lips curved into a sardonic smile beside me, seemingly unaffected by Derek's display of dominance. Unlike the others, he didn't lower his gaze or show any sign of submission. Instead, he stood taller, his arm still possessively around my waist.

"What's this?" Alexander's voice was deliberately light, mocking. "A growl from the mighty Alpha Derek Stone? What could possibly have triggered such a... primitive response? Is there some problem, Alpha?"

The tension in the room thickened to an almost unbearable degree. I could feel it pressing against my chest, making it difficult to breathe. Several pack members shifted nervously, sensing the building confrontation between the two powerful Alphas.

Derek's control was slipping fast. His hands had curled into tight fists, veins prominent along his forearms as he fought to maintain some semblance of restraint.

"I allowed you to remain in my territory solely for this gathering," Derek said, his voice low and dangerous. "Not a single stone moves here without my permission, and yet you believe you can hunt for a mate within my pack?"

Alexander's smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth that seemed almost too sharp in the light. "Hunt for a mate? Is that what you think I'm doing?"

He pulled me closer, and I had to suppress a shiver. "I simply have taken an interest in this woman, and I will have her regardless. There is no law forbidding me from finding a girlfriend here." His gaze hardened slightly. "Unless, of course, this little Omega objects to becoming my girlfriend."

The silence following Alexander's statement was deafening. All eyes darted between the two Alphas, waiting for the inevitable explosion. I felt the weight of dozens of stares, some curious, some fearful.

---

"Erin..." Derek's voice was cold as ice when he finally spoke my name.

My heart hammered in my chest. I felt caught between two apex predators, but I wouldn't show fear. Instead, I lifted my chin defiantly, letting all the anger I'd nursed for a year flash in my eyes.

"You have no right to speak to my boyfriend like that," I said, infusing my voice with as much conviction as I could muster. "I like him, and he likes me."

"We are soul bonded," he said through gritted teeth, his voice so low that only those closest could hear. Then louder, "What did you just say? You like him? Are you joking?"

My mind raced. You think I can't find someone, huh? You think that you're so high and mighty, so above everyone else that no one could possibly compare?

"I'm not joking," I replied evenly, meeting his gaze. "We do like each other. Is there a problem with that?"

My brother Aaron stepped forward then, his face a mask of disbelief as he grabbed my hand. "Erin, what's wrong with you? Do you even hear what you're saying?"

I could see the confusion and disappointment in my brother's eyes. Aaron couldn't comprehend how I could be involved with Alexander Windsor, much less declare it so publicly.

"Brother, I won't listen to you today," I said, my voice softening slightly. "You should accept Alexander and me being together."

Alexander's hand shot out, forcefully removing Aaron's grip from my arm. "Don't touch her," he said coldly. "Just because you're her brother doesn't mean you get to decide everything for her. She's not a child anymore."

I stared at Alexander, shocked by his aggressive action toward my brother. A flash of unease ran through me at the disrespect shown to Aaron. The pack enforcers tensed, their hands hovering near weapons concealed beneath their jackets.

Derek's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Touch my enforcer again and I'll kill you right here."

I noticed Harry and the other high-ranking pack members looking alarmed at Derek's lack of self-control, so unusual for their typically calculating Alpha.

Alexander scoffed. "Then tell your enforcer not to interfere with my woman."

Derek's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Your woman?"

"Yes, my woman," Alexander confirmed with a smirk. "I didn't come here to fight, or I wouldn't have left my officials in my pack. You want to marry my sister; I've agreed to that." His voice hardened. "But if you interfere with me and my girlfriend, I'll have the entire Windsor family exiled from my pack. Then we'll see how you plan a happy wedding without access to my pack's territory."

The members of the Silverpine Pack lowered their heads even further. Charlie and his family stood frozen, unable to contradict their Alpha. I felt a twist of satisfaction seeing Derek cornered, even as I questioned the wisdom of being caught in this power play.

Mya stepped forward, her face pale but determined. "Brother, you're just interested in her. Don't blow this out of proportion. Derek is only concerned because she's his enforcer's sister."

Alexander turned to me, his expression mocking. "Your Alpha is concerned about you. What do you think about that?"

I met Alexander's gaze briefly before looking at Derek, hardening my eyes to hide any trace of the emotions still warring inside me. "He's my Pack Alpha. What can I say? I appreciate his concern. But I believe he should focus on his personal life and his fiancée, not on others. I don't have a soul bond, and I'm willing to love you."

I saw Derek go rigid at my words, the fierce expression on his face faltering for just a moment. The lie about not having a soul bond burned my tongue, but the brief flash of something—was it pain?—in his eyes made it worth it. Alexander looked impressed, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

"I don't care about Charlie Windsor's daughter's wedding," Alexander announced, addressing the entire room. "I came here to make my own announcement." He paused for dramatic effect, his grip on my waist tightening uncomfortably. "I, Alexander Windsor, will give you a Luna in one month. She, Erin Blackwood, will become the Luna of the Silverpine Pack. She is an Omega and a wolf without a soul bond. I trust none of you have any problem with this. If you do, you know your Alpha can solve any problem with a simple move of his hand."