Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 111 All he cares about is profit

Victoria’s POV

Ethan’s face lit up with ecstatic joy.

"That’s wonderful, Victoria! We can build a real life together! As soon as we get back, I’ll divorce Scarlett. The Sterling and Lancaster packs will form the most powerful alliance our kind has seen. I promise to make you the happiest mate in the world."

His eyes gleamed with ambition as he continued, "My father has me working on that African territory expansion, but once you reveal your true status as the Lancaster heir, you can convince him to bring me back. Our packs should merge operations - you can hand over the Crescent Dawn business dealings to me. I’ll handle everything so you won’t have to worry about pack responsibilities or company matters."

He pulled me closer, his voice dropping to what he clearly thought was seductive. "I’ll be the provider, the protector. You can focus on making our den comfortable, bearing our pups. Imagine me coming home each day to find you waiting with our children, a warm meal prepared, my clothes laid out..." He sighed dreamily. "The perfect mate bond. Doesn’t that sound beautiful, Victoria?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

Was this truly a man’s fantasy? It was beyond absurd. Hand over my birthright - my pack, my territory, my company - so I could become his personal servant? Washing his clothes, cooking his meals, bearing his children, living under his control?

This wasn’t love. This was ownership. A true mate would support my ambitions, not expect me to abandon them to become his breeding machine and housekeeper.

The mere thought made Nora growl with disgust inside me. My wolf was close to the surface now, fighting for control, desperate to tear out his throat for such an insult.

But I maintained my composure, keeping my arms around Ethan while my eyes scanned the darkness behind him. A shadowy figure moved there - too distant to make out clearly in the pitch black, but the silhouette was unmistakable. Damien. My heart leapt with desperate hope. I’d also caught a glimpse of a black SUV parked at a distance.

I needed to keep Ethan distracted. If he spotted Damien now, he might lash out with that knife still clutched in his hand.

"Victoria? Why aren’t you saying anything?" Ethan’s voice broke through my thoughts, a note of suspicion creeping in.

"I’m... just overwhelmed," I forced myself to say, swallowing back the bile rising in my throat. The words felt like acid on my tongue.

Ethan’s eyes lit up, completely falling for my act. His scent shifted from anxious to triumphant.

"You finally understand, Victoria," he said, his voice thick with satisfaction. "Female wolves aren’t meant to lead packs or run companies. That’s for the males. You belong in our den, where I can protect you. Your pack will thrive under my leadership."

The mask was fully off now. His intentions couldn’t have been clearer if he’d written them across his forehead. All along, what he’d wanted wasn’t me - it was the Lancaster pack, the territory, the power that came with being mate to the future Alpha of Crescent Dawn.

"I see who you truly are now, Ethan," I said, each word carefully chosen. "How did I not notice what an... extraordinary wolf you are before?"

My words were laced with venom, but Ethan heard only what he wanted to hear. I could sense Damien moving closer through the darkness, but he was still too far away. The knife remained pressed against my skin, and Ethan’s grip was still too strong.

I needed to get that weapon away from him.

"Ethan," I whispered, forcing warmth into my voice, "your knife is hurting me."

"Is it? Where does it hurt? Let me see," he said, but didn’t lower the blade.

"Please, put the knife down first," I urged.

His eyes darkened with lust. "Victoria, if you truly love me, then kiss me. We have time now - all the time in the world that belongs to us." His free hand grabbed mine, forcing it downward. "Feel how much I want you. How my body responds to yours. This is what mates do."

He pressed my hand against his arousal, and something inside me snapped. Nora howled in outrage, and I could no longer maintain the charade. My strength was returning, and I yanked my hand away before bringing it back across his face with all the force I could muster.

The slap echoed across the dock, my palm stinging from the impact.

"You disgusting animal," I snarled, my wolf’s rage bleeding into my voice. "Get as far away from me as possible!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Ethan’s expression transformed from shock to murderous fury. "You’re dead!"

He raised the knife, lunging toward me with killing intent in his eyes. There was no hesitation, no remorse - just the cold determination to end my life.

A gunshot cracked through the night. Ethan screamed as a bullet tore through his wrist, blood spraying from the wound. The knife nearly fell from his grasp, but he managed to maintain his hold through the pain.

"ARGH!" he howled, eyes wild with agony and rage.

Disoriented but still dangerous, he began swinging the blade wildly. A dark figure rushed from behind, delivering a powerful kick that sent Ethan sprawling. Strong arms pulled me against a solid chest, shielding me from harm.

"Are you alright?" Damien’s voice trembled with what sounded like fear - something I’d never expected to hear from him. His smoky cedar scent enveloped me, calming my frantic heartbeat.

I could sense the terror that had gripped him. Taking that shot had been a desperate gamble - too dark, too risky with me standing so close to Ethan. If his aim had been off by even an inch, the bullet could have struck me instead. Or worse, startled Ethan into plunging the knife into my body before Damien could reach us.

I realized then that I’d communicated my trust to him with that final glance before slapping Ethan - a silent signal that I was creating an opening for him to act.

My face was pale, my body still trembling with adrenaline, but I managed to shake my head. "I’m okay."

I wondered briefly if that first gunshot earlier had also come from Damien - my mysterious guardian in the shadows.

"You again, Damien!" Ethan roared, his eyes glowing with his wolf’s rage. "Always interfering! Always ruining everything! I’LL KILL YOU!"

Blood dripping from his wounded hand, Ethan staggered to his feet and charged toward us, knife raised, his human facade completely shattered by primal fury.