Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 189

Erin's POV

The club was pulsing with energy when I arrived. Colorful smoke drifted through the air, and the music was so loud I could feel it vibrating in my chest. This was definitely not my scene, but I pushed through the crowd, searching for Ryan.

I found him at the bar, nursing a drink and scanning the room. He spotted me and waved, his face lighting up.

"Erin! You made it!" he shouted over the music, giving me a quick hug.

"You called me to a club to meet your girlfriend?" I complained, gesturing around us. "You could have chosen a quieter place."

Ryan grinned apologetically. "Sorry, my girlfriend likes it lively."

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "So where is this famous girlfriend of yours?"

Ryan pointed across the room. "There she is. The beautiful woman in the red dress."

I followed his gaze, expecting to see some random pretty girl. Instead, I found myself staring at a familiar face—one I had seen at Stone Group. The woman turned, and I recognized Cassandra Morgan, the witch who had been collaborating with Derek's company on clothing designs. The same witch who had seemed so close to Derek.

"That's her?" I whispered, shock coursing through me.

Ryan looked at me quizzically. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, trying to compose myself. "Nothing."

Cassandra approached us, her eyes fixed on me with recognition and amusement. She reached out and took my hand, her touch surprisingly warm for a witch.

"I'm not mistaken. It's you, little wolf," she said to me, then turned to Ryan. "Your friend is a sweet girl."

Ryan laughed. "Seriously? Sweet girl? You should see her during training. She enjoys beating me up."

I barely heard him, my mind racing with questions. How did Cassandra end up with Ryan? What did this mean? Was she spying for Derek? The coincidence seemed too great to ignore.

"Let's find somewhere to sit," Cassandra suggested, still holding my hand.

As we moved through the crowd, I noticed her long, sharp nails—a reminder of her witch powers. I had heard witches could be dangerous, especially when they felt threatened.

"Ryan, darling, would you get a drink for Erin?" Cassandra asked when we found a quiet corner.

"Sure," Ryan nodded. "What would you like, Erin?"

"I don't drink alcohol," I replied automatically.

"Get her a soft drink then," Cassandra said, smiling at Ryan.

As Ryan headed to the bar, Cassandra turned her full attention to me. Her deep brown eyes, which I now noticed had an unusual purple tint when catching the light, seemed to see right through me, making me uncomfortable.

"How are you Ryan's girlfriend?" I asked bluntly, my protective instincts for my friend overriding politeness. "What do you want with him?"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "Why? Am I too old for him? He's only three years younger than me."

"That's not what I meant," I clarified. "Do you really love him?"

Cassandra studied my face, her smile freezing when her eyes reached my forehead. "What's wrong?" I asked, suddenly concerned.

"Your forehead," she murmured.

"My forehead? What about it?" I asked, confused.

"The lines have changed..." Cassandra said cryptically.

I frowned, raising my hand to touch my forehead. "What lines? Do you mean wrinkles? I'm only nineteen."

Cassandra's demeanor changed subtly. She looked away from me, her posture more guarded. "I thought you were still the girl I saw a year ago. But I was wrong. I shouldn't have met with you again."

"What does that mean?" I demanded, shocked by the sudden change.

"I love Ryan," Cassandra said, shifting the conversation. "I cherish him greatly. But you know, his father..."

"I know," I nodded. "He doesn't like witches. Ryan told me."

"No," Cassandra corrected me. "His father doesn't hate witches. He just hates me." She paused, looking directly into my eyes. "Do you want to know why?"

I nodded, curiosity getting the better of me.

"I am the first witch of this pack," Cassandra revealed. "Like an enforcer, I assist the Alpha in pack matters."

This information stunned me. I had no idea such a position existed in the pack, and Derek had never mentioned it.

"Yes," Cassandra continued, noting my surprise. "That's why I'm important to this pack. Do you understand?"

I was still processing this revelation. Ryan's girlfriend was one of the most powerful witches in the Darkwood Pack. "Does Ryan know this?" I asked.

Cassandra noticed me rubbing my forehead and commented strangely, "Even if you peel off your skin, you cannot remove those lines."

I froze, my hand still on my forehead. "What are you talking about?"

Cassandra's eyes fixed on my forehead as she spoke. "Your fate has changed." She leaned forward. "Let me see your eyes." Before I could respond, she added a cryptic warning: "Think thrice before using the weapon in your hands. It can destroy your life in a moment and change the destiny of the one you love."

---

Her words sent a chill down my spine. What weapon? What destiny? Before I could ask, Ryan returned with my drink.

"Here's your watermelon juice," he said cheerfully, oblivious to the tension between us.

Cassandra reached out and patted the spot beside her. "Sit next to me, darling."

As Ryan complied, I watched their interaction closely. Cassandra was clearly the dominant one in their relationship, but her eyes softened when she looked at him. Perhaps she did care for him after all.

"I told Cassandra about your binding ceremony with Alexander," Ryan mentioned casually.

Cassandra's expression darkened. "That man is insane. Binding with him is like committing suicide every day."

Her words angered me. "Maybe you don't like Alexander because I know you're on Derek's side. If you could avoid speaking ill of my fiancé, I would appreciate it."

"Looks like someone's already defending her man before they're even married," a deep voice commented from behind me.

I turned to find Derek standing there, his expression unreadable. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met.

Ryan jumped to his feet and bowed slightly. "Alpha! You're here!"

Cassandra smiled at Ryan and explained, "I invited Derek here to introduce him to you."

"I think I should leave now," I said, starting to rise from my seat.

Cassandra's hand shot out, gripping my wrist. "Stay," she said, her voice somewhere between a request and a command.

Ryan shook his head slightly at me, silently pleading for me to remain. Derek gestured for Ryan to stand, and they moved to the couch opposite us. I watched them, confusion growing. 'Do they know each other?' I wondered silently.

"What are you thinking?" Cassandra whispered close to my ear.

"I want to leave," I replied quietly. "Don't you think I should keep my distance from Derek?"

She smiled enigmatically. "Don't be so serious. Especially when Derek is so handsome. You should enjoy spending time with him."

Her words shocked me. "I thought you said you loved Ryan? How can you express admiration for another man like that?"

"Ryan is my boyfriend," Cassandra explained calmly. "Derek is my former crush."

"Former crush?" I repeated, disbelieving.

"Yes," she admitted. "I was infatuated with him once, but I realized we weren't in the same league."

"Seems like everyone is infatuated with him," I muttered under my breath.

Cassandra leaned closer. "Jealous?" she whispered.

"No," I denied immediately.

"I'm just curious," I added after a moment. "How did you get over your... infatuation?"

"Because something happened," Cassandra replied, her voice suddenly intense.

"What happened?" I pressed.

Cassandra glanced at Derek, then lowered her voice even further. "He went through a dark past. He lost his heart and himself."

I found myself staring at Derek, more confused than ever about who he really was. "What happened to him in the past?"

"That's not something you should know," Cassandra said, then contradicted herself. "But I'll tell you anyway." She paused significantly. "Derek used to be completely different from who he is now."