Chapter 137
Derek’s POV
My expression softened slightly. “It’s not your fault. It’s Bradley, and other matters.”
A knock interrupted our conversation. The door opened without waiting for a response, and Bradley walked in confidently. His gaze immediately locked onto Erin, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
“Brother,” Bradley greeted me, his tone deliberately casual.
“Sit down,” I responded coldly.
Bradley sank into a leather chair. “Thank you, brother. I thought you would make me wait until the last minute.
“If I made you wait, would you have waited?” I asked.
“Of course,” Bradley answered, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
I glanced at Erin. “I want to speak with him alone. Please leave.”
“Of course,” she replied, gathering her things.
“Take your breakfast with you,” I added, my tone leaving no room for argument.
As she picked up her plate, Bradley suddenly noticed her injured hand. “What happened to your hand?” he asked, reaching
out to grab it.
“It’s nothing,” she said, trying to pull her hand away.
“Let me take care of your hand-” Bradley began, but I cut him off.
“Let go of her hand,” I commanded. “She’s not a child.
I noticed Erin detecting the dangerous undertone in my voice as she quickly slipped out of the office, clearly relieved to escape the tense atmosphere, though also concerned about what my brother and I might discuss after her departure.
The moment Erin closed the door, I immediately felt her scent beginning to fade from the room. My wolf was displeased by this, wanting to call her back, but there were more important matters to handle now.
I walked to the liquor cabinet, took out two whiskey glasses, and poured aged single malt whiskey. Its amber color reminded me of the gold that flashed in Erin’s eyes when she was angry. I pushed one glass toward Bradley and picked up the other, letting the alcohol linger in my mouth for a moment before swallowing.
“What do you want?” I asked directly, unwilling to waste time on pleasantries with my brother. “Why did you suddenly appear on my territory this morning?”
Bradley took the glass, looking directly into my eyes–still with that challenging posture he had mastered since we were pups. “Erin. I want to talk to her once, without interruption.”
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Chapter 137
I gripped my glass tightly, restraining the anger that surged within me. Through the Soul Bond, I could sense that Erin was still outside, her presence flickering at the edge of my consciousness like faint starlight.
Since the moment I inexplicably kissed her, this connection had begun to strengthen, making me more sensitive to her emotions. I could even feel the dull pain from the burn on her wrist, though I tried to block it out.
“You lost that right,” I replied coldly, my voice sharper than I had intended. “You betrayed her trust and slandered her in front of in front of us, saying that she betrayed you.”
Bradley’s expression became complicated, and I could see the pain and regret in his eyes. It reminded me of when we were children, when he would wear the same expression after realizing he had made a mistake but didn’t know how to fix it.
“I know I made a mistake,” he admitted, genuine remorse in his voice. “But brother, I can’t leave her. I swear, I’ve tried, but I can’t. The Moon Goddess be my witness, I feel her calling to me with every full moon.”
There was a hint of truth in his words, which angered me even more. Erin wasn’t his, would never be his. This territorial impulse surprised me–even as Pack Alpha, I rarely felt such intense possessiveness over anything or anyone. But with Erin… everything was different.
I set down my glass, my voice dangerously low. “What would it take for you to leave her alone forever? Name your price.”
“I don’t want anything, brother,” Bradley answered angrily, his eyes flashing with hurt and defiance. “The Darkwood Pack’s wealth holds no appeal for me. I only want her. A chance to apologize, a possibility to start again.”
“Impossible,” I said definitively. “She cannot be yours.”
I stared into his eyes, watching him search for meaning in my words. I could almost see the gears turning in his mind as he pieced together the clues, his expression changing from confusion to shock.
“Could it be… because of the Soul Bond?” he asked slowly, his voice filled with disbelief. “You’ve felt a connection with her, haven’t you? Is that why your attitude toward her suddenly changed?”
Chapter Comments
Cherie A
I thought she had her own office? why is her desk outside his office now?
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