Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 144 What do you mean

Victoria’s POV

I could feel the heat rising to my face as Damien’s words echoed between us. Instinctively, I reached up to cover his mouth, my palm pressing against his lips.

"What do you mean, ’one-night stand’?" I hissed, glancing nervously toward the house. "This is the Lancaster estate! If my grandfather hears you talking like that and has a conniption, you’ll be the one paying for it!"

Despite our height difference, Damien allowed me to silence him, his eyes glinting with amusement above my hand. I could feel his warm breath against my palm, sending an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

His fingers wrapped around my wrist, though he made no real effort to pull my hand away. "Am I wrong?" he murmured against my skin.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Patrick emerging from the house, watching us intently. The tension between the three of us crackled in the air, setting my wolf Nora on edge. Her fur prickled.

Suddenly, Damien’s lips curved into a wicked smile beneath my fingers. "Remember when we were in bed together and you—mmph..."

I pressed harder, practically lunging forward until I was almost hanging from him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?" I whispered frantically. "Stop talking about that! You need to leave. Now!"

I felt his hand slide smoothly around my waist, steadying me against him. The casual possessiveness of his touch made Nora purr with satisfaction, which only infuriated me more. This position was far more intimate than anything Patrick and I had shared moments earlier—exactly as Damien intended, no doubt. The Alpha was marking his territory, and I was the unwilling prize.

"Mmph..." Damien’s muffled protests continued until I reluctantly loosened my grip, allowing him to speak.

"If I leave now, won’t that make your grandfather even more suspicious?" he reasoned, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. "Or do you really think I’m intruding on your little family gathering?"

"You’re impossible!" I snapped, acutely aware of how close we were standing.

"I came to see your grandfather, not you," he countered smoothly. "What right do you have to send me away? William hasn’t asked me to leave."

Inside the house, Patrick was watching us with unmistakable displeasure. His jaw tightened as he witnessed our interaction—my hands on Damien, Damien’s arm around my waist. The sight clearly bothered him, and part of me felt guilty for causing him distress.

Unable to stand it any longer, Patrick strode toward us. "Victoria, perhaps Mr. Sterling should come inside as a proper guest," he suggested, his voice strained with forced politeness.

Damien’s eyes narrowed at Patrick’s approach. "Whether I sit or not isn’t important. I’ve always been quite comfortable in Victoria’s home," he replied coolly. "You, however, are the guest here, Mr. Wagner. Perhaps you should go back inside where you belong."

The territorial display wasn’t subtle—both men staking their claims, each suggesting the other was the outsider. My wolf bristled at their posturing, uncomfortable with the brewing conflict. The air thickened with their Alpha scents, warring for dominance.

I pinched Damien’s side hard. "Stop talking," I warned through gritted teeth.

"Why?" he whispered, leaning close enough that his lips brushed my ear. "Are you protecting him? Unless you’re willing to beg me..."

Our faces were inches apart, his breath warm against my skin. To anyone watching—like Patrick—we probably looked like lovers sharing secrets. Patrick’s expression darkened further, his shoulders tensing as if physically pained by the sight.

"Victoria’s grandfather is waiting," Patrick interrupted firmly. "Either come inside properly or leave. Standing in the doorway like this is disrespectful."

As if on cue, Grandfather’s authoritative voice rang out from behind Patrick. "Bring him in."

Damien leaned close, his voice so low only I could hear it. "Looks like your grandfather has spoken. Too late to get rid of me now."

I suppressed a growl of frustration as we followed Patrick inside. The grand living room of the Lancaster estate welcomed us with its warm lighting and elegant furniture. Grandfather gestured for Damien to sit across from him, while Mrs. Spring brought in tea.

My phone buzzed with an urgent message from Elena about work matters that couldn’t wait. With a reluctant glance at Damien, I excused myself, whispering a warning in his ear as I passed: "Behave yourself."

As I stepped out of the room, I could feel the weight of masculine energies colliding—my grandfather’s established dominance as Alpha of the Crescent Dawn Pack, Patrick’s earnest determination, and Damien’s dangerous, calculated presence. The air practically crackled with tension. It was an Alpha showdown, albeit a quiet one, and I could feel the invisible claws unsheathing.

From the doorway, I observed my grandfather sitting tall, his posture radiating the authority of a man who had led one of the most powerful packs in the country for decades. Most visitors wilted under William Lancaster’s scrutiny, but Damien matched his intensity with a confidence born from hardship and determination. Even I could see they were cut from similar cloth—Alphas who had earned their power rather than simply inherited it. Two mountains meeting, unyielding.

"I should have visited when you were hospitalized," Damien said smoothly. "Please accept my apologies for the delay."

My grandfather’s eyes narrowed slightly. "You seem quite familiar with my granddaughter," he observed, cutting straight to the point as he always did.

When I’d pulled Damien outside earlier, I knew Grandfather would have noticed our interaction. The way Damien and I moved around each other betrayed a level of intimacy that couldn’t be easily explained away. Now I wondered if Grandfather suspected that Damien might be the reason I kept declining Patrick’s advances. The thought sent a jolt of alarm through me.

"We’re acquainted," Damien replied neutrally.

"Is that so?" Grandfather challenged. "Strange, because Victoria has never once mentioned you. You said your name is Sterling. What’s your first name?"

I could feel the chill in Grandfather’s tone from across the room. He was deliberately cold, offering none of his usual hospitality. Patrick, meanwhile, seemed pleased by this development, a subtle smile playing at his lips.

"Damien. Damien Sterling."

"Sterling? Are you connected to Sterling Enterprises?" Grandfather’s question came sharp and direct.

"No connection," Damien replied smoothly. His poker face was flawless.

"No connection? Good." Grandfather’s relief was palpable. Ever since my disaster with Ethan, the Sterling name had become poison in our household.

Patrick seized the moment, stepping forward. "William, you should know—this man is Ethan Sterling’s older brother. I recognized him from the incident overseas."

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Grandfather’s face flushed with anger, his scent turning sharp with outrage. "What? You’re related to that Ethan Sterling? So you’re a liar as well!"

My heart sank as Patrick continued his attack. "Their family seems determined to haunt Victoria. She was once so vibrant and trusting before Ethan destroyed that. Now what? You discovered she’s the Lancaster heiress and thought you’d try your luck too?"

Patrick’s words were calculated to inflame my grandfather’s protective instincts. "Victoria is too kind-hearted to blame your family properly for what happened," he continued. "She grew up without parents, without protection—do you people think that makes her an easy target?"

The mention of my parents hit me like a physical blow, even from the doorway. The loss that had shaped my entire life was being weaponized against Damien, and by extension, against my own agency. A cold fury began to simmer beneath my skin.

Grandfather’s hand trembled as he pointed toward the door, his face contorted with protective rage. "Get out!" he demanded, his voice shaking with emotion. "Get out now!"

I needed to intervene before this spiraled further out of control.