Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 116 Someone was in my car.

Victoria’s POV

The past few days had been surprisingly peaceful. Ethan had been extradited back to our homeland to face charges for his crimes, and I was finally wrapping up my business abroad. I could almost taste the freedom waiting for me back home.

Damien had reluctantly returned to our country after receiving multiple urgent calls from Jeff. I’d practically pushed him onto the plane, insisting I would be fine for the few remaining days.

"I’ll be back in Crescent territory by the weekend," I had assured him. "You have Blood Moon Pack business to attend to. Don’t neglect your responsibilities because of me."

What I didn’t know then was that Damien had stationed several of his most trusted enforcers nearby, keeping watch over me from the shadows. My wolf, Nora, had sensed their presence occasionally—that distinctive Blood Moon Pack scent lingering faintly in places I frequented—but I’d attributed it to lingering traces of Damien himself.

Today marked my final day of work. The conference room had emptied hours ago, leaving me alone with stacks of contracts bearing my signature. The old corporate wolves who had initially resisted my leadership had finally yielded, recognizing the strength of the Crescent Dawn Pack’s heir. Tomorrow I would fly home, back to the territory where my grandfather William waited.

I’d taken to driving myself since the incident with Ethan. The thought of being trapped in a car with a stranger—even a vetted driver—made Nora restless beneath my skin. My wolf had become hypervigilant since the kidnapping, and I couldn’t blame her.

As I unlocked my rental car in the underground parking garage, my phone rang. Grandfather’s face lit up my screen.

"Hello, Grandfather," I answered, leaning against a concrete pillar rather than getting into the car.

"Victoria." His powerful voice, still commanding despite his age, brought an immediate sense of comfort. "You’re returning tomorrow, yes?"

"That’s right. My flight leaves at noon." I smiled, picturing him in his study at the Lancaster estate. "Everything’s fine here. I’ve wrapped up the negotiations. The Moscow branch has been secured."

"Excellent." Pride colored his tone. "The council will be pleased."

"And how are you?" I pressed. "Have you been taking your medication? Following doctor’s orders? I’m coming straight to the manor when I land, and I’ll be checking with Grace to make sure you haven’t been skipping your checkups."

He chuckled, the sound warming me from within. "You sound like your grandmother. Always fussing."

"Someone has to. Have you eaten breakfast? It’s morning there, isn’t it?"

We chatted for another minute before ending the call. As Alpha of the Crescent Dawn Pack, William Lancaster had always been my rock—the one person who had supported my decision to hide my Alpha nature while searching for genuine love. Now that I’d embraced my heritage fully, his guidance meant more than ever.

I slipped my phone into my pocket and finally opened the car door. The moment I settled into the driver’s seat, Nora went rigid inside me. Something was wrong.

The scent hit me instantly—blood, metallic and fresh, mingled with something smoky and unfamiliar. My wolf’s hackles rose, and I glanced in the rearview mirror. Despite the dim lighting, I could make out movement in the backseat.

Someone was in my car.

Cold sweat broke across my forehead as adrenaline surged through my system. My instincts screamed at me to throw the door open and flee, but before I could move, something cold pressed against the back of my head.

"Don’t move." A man’s voice, cold and commanding, came from behind me.

"I’m not moving," I whispered, my voice steadier than I expected. My Alpha instincts wanted to growl, to challenge this intruder in my territory, but the unmistakable pressure of a gun barrel against my skull kept Nora in check.

The darkness made it impossible to see his face clearly, but his accent sounded familiar—he was from my homeland. Another expatriate, though clearly not one with friendly intentions.

I attempted to establish some connection: "You’re from home too? We’re countrymen then. Which city are you from? Are you here on business or vacation?"

"Drive." His command cut through my attempt at conversation, giving me no opportunity to establish rapport.

Howard Reiner hadn’t expected to be double-crossed during what should have been a routine weapons transaction. The police were hunting him, and his supposed business partners had apparently decided they wanted both the merchandise and their money. He’d escaped, but not before taking a bullet to the abdomen.

It was ironic that he’d ended up near Lancaster Industries. He’d saved Victoria’s life during that dock incident, though she didn’t know it. His bullet had struck Ethan Sterling at a critical moment. The disruption she’d inadvertently caused had actually been fortuitous—he’d sensed the double-cross coming and managed to secure the merchandise before the meeting even properly began.

Now that he’d survived, he intended to make everyone involved pay dearly.

"Where am I driving to?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. "Where do you want to go?"

"Your place."

My heart raced. There was no way I could bring this armed stranger to my temporary home. While guns weren’t entirely prohibited in this country, having one pressed against my head certainly wasn’t legal. I needed to alert the authorities somehow, but first, I had to de-escalate the situation.

"Sir, if you need something specific, I can help. Money? I can give you that. Medical attention? I can take you to a hospital, or if you prefer privacy, I can book you a hotel room and call a discreet doctor."

"Do as I say and I’ll spare your life," he replied coldly, pressing the gun harder against my skull. "Disobey, and I’ll have no choice but to kill you."

"I’m driving, I’m driving!" I quickly fastened my seatbelt and started the engine. My mind raced through scenarios—could I find a way to deliver him to the police? Or perhaps create an opportunity to escape? I didn’t know this man, had no quarrel with him that I was aware of.

It seemed this foreign soil didn’t agree with me. In the short time I’d been here, I’d faced more danger than in years back home. At least in Crescent Dawn territory, armed strangers didn’t typically appear in the backseats of cars.

As I pulled out of the Lancaster Industries parking garage, I studied him in the rearview mirror. He wore a mask and hat that concealed most of his features, though he appeared young from what little I could see.

"Are you hungry?" I ventured, seeking any opening. "I could stop somewhere and get you food."

"No."

"You’re injured, aren’t you? I could stop at a pharmacy, get some supplies to treat your wound."

All I needed was one chance to exit the vehicle. If I could get out, I would run—abandon the car entirely if necessary. Either I’d find help or at least ensure my own safety.

"No." Howard could see through Victoria’s transparent attempts. She was looking for an escape opportunity, probably hoping to alert the authorities. He wasn’t about to give her that chance.

My plans thwarted, I considered more desperate measures. Maybe I could deliberately crash the car at low speed, create enough commotion to attract attention?

Before I could implement any such plan, the man spoke again: "Don’t try anything clever, unless you want your entire family to suffer. I know exactly who you are, Ms. Lancaster, heir to the Crescent Dawn Pack."

His words chilled me to the bone. He knew my true identity—not just as Victoria Lancaster of Lancaster Industries, but as the Alpha heir of one of the most powerful wolf packs. The pool of people with that knowledge was limited, yet I couldn’t place this stranger among them.

"You clearly aren’t here to kill me," I observed, forcing myself to remain calm as Nora prowled

119anxiously within me. "You’ve been ambushed yourself, haven’t you? Since you know my identity, you know I can’t simply disappear. Let me propose a deal."

Howard lifted his gaze, slightly intrigued despite himself. "What kind of deal?"

I spoke clearly and confidently, channeling the Alpha authority I’d hidden for so long: "I’ll find you a secure location, arrange for medical treatment, and ensure your safe departure. In exchange, you harm neither me nor my family. We have no quarrel with each other—your wounds aren’t my doing. In fact, I’m offering to help you."