Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 200

Erin's POV

He didn't answer, just started driving at a speed that made my stomach lurch. I gripped the edge of the seat, trying to focus on anything but the man beside me. I checked my phone and saw a message from Alexander: [Come back soon. I'm waiting for you.]

I didn't respond, too angry at both men—Derek for his disrespect of my choices, and Alexander for his possessive tone. But my anger toward Derek burned hotter. Once again, he was making decisions for me, treating me like I couldn't decide for myself. The hatred I'd been nurturing for months grew stronger, even as my traitorous body remained acutely aware of his presence—the steady rise and fall of his chest, the strong hands gripping the steering wheel, the occasional glance he threw my way.

When we pulled up to my house, I could see Alexander standing on the sidewalk, phone in hand. He looked up as Derek's car approached, his expression unreadable in the darkness.

Derek stopped the car and unlocked the doors. Before I could get out, he turned to me, his face half-shadowed. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from my face, his fingertips grazing my cheek. My breath caught in my throat at the unexpected gentleness.

"You think my feelings for you are fake, and I accept that," he said, his voice low and intense. "But tell Alexander that if he wanders freely in Darkwood Pack territory, I can kill him too. And don't let him touch you, because I'm trying very hard to control my wolf right now, and I'm not sure what will happen to others if you push me beyond my tolerance."

I stared at him, shocked by the barely veiled threat. The contrast between his gentle touch and harsh words left me reeling. "Save your warnings for yourself," I challenged, my voice stronger than I felt. "In a few days, I'll be free from your control forever."

I got out of the car, slamming the door behind me. Alexander spotted me and ended his call, his eyes moving from me to Derek's car.

"Why were you with him?" he demanded immediately. "Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?"

I watched Derek's car drive away before turning my attention back to Alexander. His eyes were narrowed with suspicion, his posture tense. He didn't reach for me, and I was glad. I wasn't sure I could handle being touched by anyone right now, not with my skin still tingling from Derek's contact.

"Let's go somewhere else," I said, not wanting to have this conversation where my mother might overhear. "The park across the street."

Alexander followed me, his displeasure evident in his silence. Once we reached the small neighborhood park, he stopped. "What is it? Do you have something to tell me?"

I turned to face him, crossing my arms. "I want answers, Alexander. Real answers. If you don't give them to me, there won't be a binding ceremony."

He laughed, a short, sharp sound. "The binding ceremony can't be canceled. You know that."

"Tell me," I insisted, ignoring his dismissal. "Why was Derek Stone banished from your pack?"

Alexander's expression hardened. "He's changed you, Erin."

"No, he hasn't," I replied firmly, though I wondered if that was true. My body still hummed from Derek's touch, and I hated myself for it. "I've changed myself. Now answer my question."

He sighed deeply. "I hate that man more than anyone else in the world."

I threw up my hands in frustration. "That's the same answer he gives about you! Why can't either of you just answer a simple question?"

"Because—" Alexander began, but I was too angry to let him finish.

"No!" I shouted. "I'm tired of half-truths and manipulation! Just tell me why you hate him so much!"

Alexander's face transformed, growing fierce as his eyes shifted to wolf form—golden with vertical pupils. "He was banished from my pack because he killed the future Luna of the Silverpine Pack," he growled. "I hate him and want to destroy him because he took my soul bond from me."

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I stumbled backward, my eyes wide with shock. "What? That's not possible."

I couldn't believe it. Derek was ambitious, power-hungry even, but to kill someone's soul mate? That level of cruelty seemed beyond even him. The man who had just held me, whose touch had set my skin on fire—how could he have done something so monstrous?

"You think I would lie about my dead soul mate?" Alexander advanced on me, gripping my arm tightly. His eyes still glowed with wolf fury. "Erin, you're so naive. You'd better stay away from our past."

My heart felt like it was breaking all over again. The more I learned about Derek, the more pieces of my heart shattered. What he had done to Alexander was far worse than breaking my heart. And yet, there was still a part of me—a traitorous, weak part—that remembered the feel of his lips on my forehead, the warmth of his hand on mine.

"Why would he do that?" I whispered, more to myself than to Alexander.

Alexander released my arm, his expression bitter. "I can't believe he's got you wavering again."

I realized I was crying, though I wasn't sure if the tears were for Derek's terrible crime or for Alexander's pain, or maybe for myself—for still feeling something for a man who could commit such an act. "Your only wish is to destroy him, isn't it?"

"Yes," Alexander murmured, looking away.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "So you don't actually have no soul bond—your soul bond is dead."

Alexander nodded, taking a deep breath to control his anger. His eyes slowly returned to their human form. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost control like that."

"So you really want to bind with me because I'm his soul mate?" I asked quietly. "You want to get revenge by taking his soul bond?"

"No," Alexander replied, surprising me. He stepped closer, his expression softening. "When I first saw you... I was drawn to you. You're different. I really like you, Erin. I won't say I love you because I can't lie like Derek Stone does."

I frowned. "How do you know Derek told me he loved me?"

Alexander gave a slight, knowing smile. "That's what he took you away to say today, isn't it? That's why you said you wouldn't bind with me."

I looked down, shame washing over me. I was embarrassed by how easily Derek had almost swayed me, by how my body had responded to him even after everything. "I said that because I know nothing about you."

Alexander took my hand, and we began walking together through the park. His touch was warm, but it didn't send electricity through me the way Derek's had. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. "What do you want to know about me?" he asked.

"Everything," I replied. "I want to know everything."