Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 233

Derek's POV

I watched Erin sleeping, her chest rising and falling beneath the covers. Her brown hair spread across the pillow, lips slightly parted. Even now, with everything at stake, my body responded to her nearness. I wanted to slide back into bed and pull her against me, feel her skin against mine. Instead, I stayed rooted in place, the memory of those black veins spreading across her neck when I'd tried to mark her still fresh in my mind.

I needed answers.

Moving quietly to the far corner of the room, I pulled out my phone and dialed Cassandra.

"I need you at the estate. Now," I said when she answered, keeping my voice low to avoid waking Erin.

An hour later, Cassandra arrived, her purple eyes scanning the room before settling on Erin's sleeping form.

"Check everything quickly," I said, positioning myself between them. "I don't want her waking up to find out about any of this."

Cassandra nodded and moved to Erin's side. She carefully drew blood from Erin's arm, causing her to frown in her sleep but not wake. I felt my muscles relax slightly when Erin settled back into peaceful slumber.

Taking the sample, Cassandra mixed it with a purple liquid in a small vial. We both watched as the mixture swirled, then turned completely clear.

"Alpha," she said, her voice tight, "when you called and described the symptoms, I brought testing reagents for poisons that might have been injected into her system." She held up the now-transparent vial. "The result is right before your eyes. The reagent reacted."

Heat surged through my body, my vision sharpening as my wolf rose to the surface. My teeth elongated into fangs without conscious thought.

"He dared to poison my woman?" I growled, digging my nails into my palms until I felt warm blood between my fingers.

I wanted to find Alexander immediately. I wanted to tear him apart slowly, make him suffer for what he'd done to Erin. My wolf paced inside me, demanding blood.

"Calm yourself, Alpha," Cassandra said firmly. "Don't let anger cloud your judgment."

I looked at Erin, peaceful and unaware. The sight of her cooled my rage enough to think clearly.

"Find a way to cure her," I ordered Cassandra. "If anything happens to her, I will kill that man with my own hands."

Cassandra's expression turned solemn. "There is no cure, I'm afraid. I believe she's strong enough to withstand your marking, but you would be risking her life to do so. She can live without being marked. But marking her might end her life."

My wolf howled in protest at her words, but my decision was immediate and final.

"I will never mark her," I said, ignoring the physical pain this decision caused me. "She will not die. I won't let her die."

"But Alpha," Cassandra reminded me, "the notification from the Pack Elders. This is serious. If you don't mark her, they will strip you of your position."

I straightened, feeling the weight of leadership I'd carried for years. My pack, my responsibility, my birthright—all of it would be gone. And yet, looking at Erin's sleeping form, I knew there was no real choice.

"I'll handle everything tonight. Tomorrow isn't a concern."

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Erin's POV

I opened my eyes the moment the door closed. My heart hammered against my ribs as I pressed my fingers to my neck where Derek had tried to mark me earlier. There was nothing to feel—no bump, no mark—yet the poison was there, running through my veins.

Alexander had poisoned me? When? How had I not felt anything?

My mind raced back to the night of the party when he'd driven me home. I'd fallen asleep in his car without meaning to. The next morning, I'd felt a slight soreness at the back of my neck but had dismissed it.

Now it made terrible sense.

My teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached. Alexander, you calculating bastard. You knew I would eventually return to Derek; that's why you poisoned me, so he could never mark me. My fists tightened in the sheets as rage built inside me. You hurt my mother; you hurt me, Mya, Charlie, and who knows how many girls. I will make you pay for everyone.

I noticed Derek hadn't returned to our bedroom all night. I needed to talk to him in the morning. We had to figure this out together.

After showering the next morning, I tried calling Aaron. When he answered, I heard commotion in the background.

"Aaron, where are you?" I asked, already feeling uneasy.

"I can't hear you clearly, Erin," he replied, his voice nearly drowned out by the noise. "Alpha is about to address everyone. I'm right beside him. I'll talk to you later." The call ended abruptly.

My stomach knotted as I rushed out of the bedroom. Something was happening—something serious.

In the hallway, I grabbed a passing maid. "What's going on out there?"

She looked surprised. "Alpha is speaking with pack members who came here to oppose his decision about stepping down from his position."

My legs nearly gave out beneath me. "D-Derek is resigning from his position?"

I ran toward the large balcony on the second floor, my pulse pounding in my ears. Guards stood at attention, bowing slightly.

"Luna," they greeted me.

"Let me see what's happening," I demanded.

The balcony was crowded with Derek's family, officials, and Mya with her family. Looking down at the grounds, I saw hundreds of people gathered, all focused on Derek.

"We don't want you to step down, Alpha," voices called from the crowd. "Give us a reason."

I felt a hand on my arm and turned to see Cassandra.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "You shouldn't be here. Come, I'll take you back to your room."

I pulled away from her grip. "I know why this is happening. He's stepping down because of me. I can't let him do this."

"Don't be foolish," Cassandra said, grabbing my arm again.

My eyes filled with tears. "Please stop him. How can he do this? This position is his life."

"He loves you more than his leadership position," Cassandra said quietly. "He can give up everything for you, Erin."

Derek raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.

"I, Derek Stone, formally step down from my position as Pack Alpha," he announced.

The crowd erupted with protests. Derek's officials, including Aaron, gestured for them to calm down.

"I will not leave you all in the hands of someone unworthy," Derek continued. "After me, my brother Bradley Stone will manage this pack. I believe he will prove himself to be a great leader for all of you."

I glanced at Bradley, who kept his head lowered.

"He is my brother," Derek added. "He has the same bloodline as me. He will not let you all down. Now he also has his own mate. You all will have a good Alpha and Luna."

Unable to stop myself, I pushed through the crowd and grabbed Derek's arm. "Don't do this," I whispered desperately. "Please."

Someone in the crowd recognized me. "Is that our Luna?"

Derek pulled me behind him, his body tense. "Why are you here?"

"Why?" I challenged, my voice breaking. "Why can't I be here? Why are you giving up everything? This isn't fair, Derek. I already feel guilty about everything. If you do this for me, I'll never forgive myself."

Aaron approached us. "Go back to the room, Erin."

"No, brother. I won't," I refused. "You're discussing my life here."

Derek turned back to the crowd. "You're right. She is my mate. But unfortunately, she cannot be your Luna and rule the pack because I am stepping down."

Derek gestured for Bradley to step forward. "Bradley Stone is your upcoming Pack Alpha. The succession ceremony will be held next month."

Beta Tom stepped forward. "The gathering is over. No objections."