Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 205

Erin's POV

I was unable to believe the hatred in Tom's eyes. Before I could respond, Alexander wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me protectively against his side.

"Alpha Derek, you're so weak you let your Beta speak for you?" Alexander's voice dripped with mockery. "Does the mighty Darkwood Alpha need protection from his underlings now?"

Derek's hands were clenched into tight fists, knuckles white with strain. I'd never seen him this close to losing control.

When Derek finally spoke, his voice was unnaturally calm. "I've given you many chances to return to me, Erin." His eyes locked onto mine, and a chill ran down my spine. "Yet you continue to speak for my enemies."

He took a step toward me. Tom tried to hold him back, but Derek shrugged him off with frightening ease.

"I thought you were different, Erin Blackwood." His voice dropped as he reached out, gripping my chin between his thumb and forefinger. His touch was firm, controlling. "But I was wrong."

I refused to lower my gaze, meeting his golden eyes directly despite the tears threatening to spill. My jaw clenched under his grip, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.

"You... will not become Luna to any pack."

The words hit me hard. Despite everything he'd done, some foolish part of me had never believed he would go this far - to deny me even the chance at a future with someone else.

Derek's attention shifted to Alexander, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "And you," he said, "won't be able to protect her when the time comes."

Alexander suddenly pushed me to the side, positioning himself between Derek and me. "If you have something to say to me, say it directly. Don't use this opportunity to humiliate her."

Derek laughed, the sound chilling and empty. "Do I need a psychopath like you to tell me how to speak to my soul bond? How amusing." His eyes narrowed. "Tell me, Alexander, have the doctors adjusted your medication yet? I heard after your soul mate's death, you needed quite the pharmaceutical cocktail to function."

I gasped, stepping forward before I could stop myself. "How dare you speak of killing his soul mate with no guilt?" My hands shook with rage. "You destroyed his life and you stand here mocking him?"

Derek turned his cold gaze on me, his smile never reaching his eyes. "Guilt and Alpha Derek will never be associated, Erin Blackwood. I'll send your beloved fiancé back to the psychiatric hospital, just like I did years ago after I killed his mate."

"What?" I whispered, the revelation stunning me.

Alexander's face had gone pale, but his eyes burned with fury. He lunged forward, grabbing Derek's collar. "Don't think I'll let you keep running your mouth and putting your hands on her."

Derek looked down at Alexander's hand on his collar with disgust, then casually brushed it away. "Playing the good guy in front of her?" he sneered. "Your acting skills need work."

When Alexander moved to strike Derek, his own pack officials restrained him. "Alpha, this isn't our territory," one of them warned. "Control yourself."

Derek's laughter echoed around us. "A clown king and his subjects," he mocked, before turning his attention back to me.

I couldn't hide my anger anymore. The disgust I felt seeing this side of him—this cruel, remorseless monster—overwhelmed any lingering feelings I might have had. "How can you be so heartless?" I demanded, my voice rising. "How can you kill someone's soul mate and then mock their pain?"

"Don't blame me for your poor choices, Erin," Derek replied, his voice hardening. "Two days. That's all it will take before you come crawling back to me."

"Never," I spat, my voice shaking with rage. I took a step closer to him, looking him directly in the eyes. "I will never come back to you. You don't deserve love. You'll be punished for torturing others."

Tom stepped forward, trying to silence me. "Erin, that's enough—"

"Let her speak," Derek interrupted, his eyes never leaving mine. "Let her get it all out now."

He straightened his suit jacket with deliberate slowness. "Tom, Mark, let's go. We've wasted enough time here."

Without another word, Derek turned and walked toward the stairs, his pack members following behind him. As he disappeared from view, I felt the tension drain from my body, leaving me trembling.

---

"Alexander," I said, turning to him with concern. "Your head... we need to get you to a hospital."

He smiled weakly, wincing as he touched the wound on his forehead. "It's nothing serious."

"Don't be ridiculous," I insisted, examining the gash. Blood was still flowing from it, staining his collar. "You need stitches. We're going to the hospital right now."

Alexander looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read. "You chose me over him," he said softly. "Even after everything he said, you stayed by my side."

I shook my head. "There's nothing to choose. You've been honest with me from the start. I'm sorry I didn't know about... everything." I hesitated. "I understand if there are things you didn't want to tell me. Everyone has their own privacy."

I touched his arm gently. "You have such a good temper, Alexander. How could you tolerate Derek without fighting back? He could have killed you."

Alexander's eyes darkened. "I was afraid he would hurt you," he said simply. "Like he hurt my soul bond."

The drive to the hospital was quiet. Alexander's pack members spoke in hushed tones about Derek's behavior, how he seemed determined to harm Alexander. I sat next to Alexander, occasionally glancing at his bandaged head, guilt weighing heavily on me.

"I can't believe what Derek did today," I said softly as we waited for the doctor. "It's like he was a completely different person."

Alexander leaned back in the hospital chair, his eyes tired. "That's the real Derek Stone," he said. "The man I've known for years."

"Tell me what happened," I urged gently. "If you're comfortable sharing."

He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "My father, Charlie Windsor, wanted to give half of the Silverpine Pack to Derek when he married Mya. I opposed it." His jaw tightened. "Derek conspired with my father to put me in a psychiatric hospital. They tortured me there for a year, trying to break me so Derek could take over the entire pack."