Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 112 Saved

Victoria’s POV

Damien didn’t hesitate. His gun fired again, the bullet tearing through Ethan’s thigh with deadly precision.

The agonized howl that escaped Ethan’s lips echoed across the dock as he collapsed to his knees, the knife clattering uselessly to the ground. The metallic scent of blood filled the night air, causing Nora to stir restlessly within me.

The realization dawned in Ethan’s eyes—painful understanding that my earlier compliance had been nothing but an act. He knew now I’d spotted Damien approaching and had deliberately created a diversion.

"Victoria!" Ethan’s voice cracked with desperation. "So everything you just said about understanding me, about us building a future together—it was all lies? You were just playing me?"

I stepped closer, letting the mask of pretense fall completely away. "I never once said I loved you, Ethan. I said I understood what you were saying. And I did—I understood perfectly that you’re a disgusting, entitled parasite. An utterly mediocre wolf who somehow believes he deserves to control an Alpha bloodline."

My wolf was snarling inside me, demanding retribution for the humiliation we’d suffered. For years of deception and betrayal.

"You honestly thought I would hand over my pack? My company? My birthright? That I’d wash your clothes and cook your meals while you played Alpha with my inheritance?" I laughed, the sound sharp and cold in the night air. "You’re pathetic. You’re not even worthy to stand in the shadow of a true Alpha."

Each word landed like a physical blow. Ethan’s face contorted in agony—not just from the bullet in his leg, but from the crushing of his fantasies, the final destruction of his delusions.

"NOOOO!" The howl that tore from his throat wasn’t human anymore. It was his wolf, Leon, screaming in rage and despair.

"Can you walk?" Damien’s voice was low against my ear, his smoky cedar scent wrapping around me like a protective shield.

My emotions were finally starting to stabilize, the adrenaline ebbing away to leave exhaustion in its wake. "Yes. Thank you, Damien."

The words of gratitude made him frown slightly. Without another word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders, the third one of his I’d received. The fabric carried his scent, and Nora whined appreciatively inside me, finding comfort in the familiar smell.

I took two steps toward the waiting SUV before Damien swept me into his arms. "Oh!" I gasped in surprise.

He carried me effortlessly, his stride purposeful as he moved toward his vehicle. The warmth of his body against mine was a stark contrast to the chill night air.

"Stay in the car," he instructed as he settled me inside. "The police will be here soon."

As he moved to close the door, I reached out instinctively, my fingers circling his wrist. "Damien, don’t kill him. Don’t stain your hands with his blood."

Murder carried serious consequences, even within wolf society. I feared what might happen if Damien’s rage overtook his reason.

"I won’t," he promised, his voice soft yet certain. "Trust me."

He shut the door and turned back toward Ethan, who had managed to struggle to his feet and was attempting to limp away.

Even from the distance, I could see the predatory change in Damien’s posture. Arthur, his wolf, was close to the surface—hunting, stalking. I watched as Damien raised his gun again, firing another shot that struck Ethan’s remaining good leg. Ethan crashed to the ground, now completely immobilized. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Damien approached him with deadly calm, radiating the cold fury of an apex predator. His entire being exuded dominance, the aura of a true Alpha wolf closing in on a challenger who had overstepped.

Ethan’s terror-filled screams carried across the dock. "Stay back! Don’t come any closer!"

"Killing me is against the law! You can’t kill me! You can’t!"

The irony wasn’t lost on me—how quickly Ethan had transformed from would-be murderer to pleading victim.

I could see Ethan trembling as Damien loomed over him. Every encounter between them had left Ethan cowering, but tonight, with Damien’s lethal intent so palpable, Ethan looked truly petrified.

"If you kill me, Lawrence won’t let it go!" Ethan shouted, referring to his father. "Murder is a crime! You’ll go to prison! Is she really worth it? I didn’t even hurt her—she’s fine!"

I couldn’t hear Damien’s response, but whatever he said made Ethan relax momentarily—before tensing again in renewed terror. I watched as Damien pointed his gun downward, aiming at something I couldn’t quite see from my position.

Another shot rang out, followed by a scream so agonized it barely sounded human.

My curiosity and concern finally overrode Damien’s instruction to stay put. I climbed out of the SUV and hurried toward them, the gravel crunching beneath my feet.

"Damien!" I called out.

He turned immediately at the sound of my voice, watching as I approached. Ethan was writhing on the ground, clutching his groin area, his howls of agony piercing the night.

"I told you to wait in the car," Damien chided, adjusting the jacket around my shoulders to better shield me from the chilly sea breeze. His protective gesture was surprisingly gentle for someone who had just shot a man.

Ethan continued to curse through his pain, spewing vile insults at Damien. I noticed his discarded knife on the ground and picked it up, my patience completely exhausted.

"Shut your mouth," I snapped, brandishing the blade, "or I’ll give you something else to scream about."

Nora growled in approval, ready to enforce the threat if necessary. Even wounded and defeated, Ethan’s arrogance was astounding.

"You’re the villain here," I continued. "You have no right to play victim now."

"It’s your fault! Both of you!" Ethan snarled, his eyes wild with hatred rather than remorse.

Police sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as they approached. Despite being in foreign territory, the Lancaster pack’s influence extended far, and local authorities responded quickly to incidents involving our family.

Damien had apparently driven straight from the airport after getting a call about my situation. He’d borrowed a vehicle and followed the tracking information Jeff Parker had obtained on Ethan’s movements.

As the police took Ethan into custody, I climbed into Damien’s SUV for the drive to the police station. Only then did I retrieve my phone, finding numerous missed calls from Grace.

"Are you okay, Victoria? It’s so late and you haven’t come back! I’ve been worried sick!" Grace’s message read.

It was already 1 AM. Not wanting to worry her further, I typed a quick response:

"I’m fine, just got caught up with some unfinished work at the company. Didn’t notice my phone was silent. Sorry for making you worry."

"You really scared me! I thought something had happened to you. I even called Damien to see if he knew where you were. I don’t know if he found you. Are you coming back tonight?"

So it was Grace who had alerted Damien. That explained how he knew where to find me. He must have raced straight from the airport to the dock. Once again, I owed him my life.

I glanced sideways at Damien as he drove, his profile barely visible in the dim light of the car.