Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 120 What are you talking about?

Victoria’s POV

When I got home, my first move was checking on William. I’d kept the whole Ethan kidnapping disaster under wraps, worried it might trigger another one of his heart episodes. The last thing I needed was him keeling over while I was gone.

But the second I stepped through the front door of our sprawling estate, I could smell the tension in the air. William sat rigid in his favorite leather chair by the crackling fireplace, his usual bear-hug energy replaced by pure Alpha rage. The legendary leader of Crescent Dawn Pack looked ready to tear throats out.

"William! Your favorite granddaughter’s back!" I bounded across the hardwood floor and threw my arms around his broad shoulders, nuzzling against his neck. His familiar pine-and-leather scent now carried the sharp edge of fury.

Complete radio silence. No crushing hug. No kiss on my forehead. Nothing.

My stomach dropped. The pack staff had sworn he was doing fine—wolfing down his meals, keeping his usual routine. Maybe he was pissed about my mysterious "business trip"?

"What’s got you all worked up?" I pulled back to study his weathered face. "You’re giving me the cold shoulder. Don’t want to see me? Should I just turn around and leave?"

"Victoria!" His voice carried decades of Alpha command. "Why the hell didn’t you tell me what happened? Something this damn serious?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That Sterling bastard kidnapping you! Why keep me in the dark?" His eyes flashed molten gold—Maximus was clawing at the surface, his Alpha wolf livid that someone had dared threaten pack family. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Oh. You found out." I winced, wondering who’d broken their promise. I’d made Kane and Elena swear to keep their mouths shut. Definitely wasn’t Grace—she knew William would lose his mind. Could’ve been Damian? Nah, he wasn’t the type to stir up family drama on purpose.

"Found out? Were you planning to hide it forever?" His voice climbed higher, Alpha authority bleeding into every word. "Those bastard Sterlings! Putting their filthy hands on my granddaughter, the Crescent Dawn heir! They must have a death wish. I’ll rip that boy’s throat out myself! I’m old enough that I don’t give a damn about pack law anymore!"

Despite everything, I had to smile as I grabbed his clenched fist. Our family bond hummed with warmth even through his Alpha rage. "Don’t you think you’re being a little dramatic, old man?"

My fingers worked circles over his knuckles, trying to ease the tension. "Look at me. I’m fine. Ethan didn’t lay a finger on me. I’m sitting right here in one piece. Let the authorities handle this mess. Justice will come through the right channels."

William’s jaw stayed locked tight. "Unacceptable. I can’t let this slide. Every time I picture someone hurting you, it feels like claws ripping through my chest. I failed to keep you safe."

"This isn’t on you," I said firmly, squeezing his hand. "You can’t protect everyone from everything. This was my screw-up—getting tangled up with my toxic ex in the first place. I was blind to what he really was. Don’t you dare blame yourself."

Watching him torture himself was my worst nightmare. Ever since my parents died in that brutal territory war twelve years ago, he’d carried crushing guilt, convinced he’d failed to protect his son—my father—when it mattered most.

"Victoria," he whispered, his voice cracking as tears gathered in his steel-gray eyes, "you’re all the family I have left in this world. If something happened to you, what would become of me? Of our pack?"

The raw pain in his voice made my throat close up. Nora whimpered deep in my chest, sensing my distress through our bond. I pulled out my handkerchief and gently dabbed at his eyes.

"And you’re all I have too," I whispered back. The sacred bond between Alpha and heir, grandfather and granddaughter, pulsed between us like a living thing. "You’re my only blood in this world. You have to stay strong and healthy. You can’t leave me alone. I couldn’t handle being the last Lancaster standing."

The words settled between us, heavy with all the grief we’d both survived. In the wolf world, pack meant everything, but we were each other’s most precious connection.

"Besides," I added, tracing the intricate family crest tattooed on his weathered hand, "the pack needs their Alpha. And I need my grumpy old grandfather."

His expression melted, the harsh lines around his eyes softening as he reached up to cup my face. "My little wolf. Look how strong you’ve become."

"Had the best teacher," I replied, leaning into his calloused palm.

For a moment, we just sat there in the firelight, our family bond settling into comfortable warmth. Then his eyes went sharp and predatory again.

"I still want Sterling blood for this," he growled, but the heat had cooled to a simmer.

I laughed, the sound echoing off the stone walls. "Well, if it makes you feel better, the Sterling family is tearing itself apart. Lawrence can’t control his sons, Northstream Pack is hemorrhaging territory, and Ethan..." I shrugged, remembering how pathetic he’d looked last time. "Let’s just say karma’s working overtime."

William’s eyes lit up with sudden wolf-like interest. "Speaking of Sterlings... word through the pack network is you’ve been seen with the older son. Damian, right?"

Heat blazed across my cheeks and Nora stirred restlessly in my chest. "It’s not what you think."

"Oh?" One silver eyebrow shot up with knowing amusement. "And what exactly am I thinking?"

I rolled my eyes, grateful we were moving to safer ground. "We’ve crossed paths a few times. Business stuff."

"Mmm." The sound rumbled deep in his chest, but his expression said everything. "Interesting that the Blood Moon Pack Alpha would take such personal interest in ’business matters’ with my granddaughter."

My jaw hit the floor. "You know? About him being—"

"Victoria," William chuckled, the sound rich with Alpha authority, "I’ve been running packs for over fifty years. Think I don’t know who the real power players are? Damian Sterling built an empire right under his father’s nose. Takes serious Alpha strength to pull that off."

I stared at him, completely speechless. All this time I thought I was the only one who’d figured out Damian’s secret—that behind his rich playboy facade, he was actually the mysterious Alpha of one of the most dangerous packs in the country.

"Don’t look so shocked, little wolf," William said, patting my hand with obvious amusement. "Now, how about you tell me everything that really went down while you were gone? And this time, don’t leave out a single detail."

I sighed, settling deeper into the leather cushions beside him. Some things never changed—you couldn’t hide anything from a seasoned Alpha, especially when that Alpha happened to be your grandfather.

"Alright," I began, watching the flames dance in the fireplace, "it started when Ethan sent his goons to grab me at the hotel..."