Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 156 I should go

Victoria’s POV

I hadn’t even spoken when Patrick cut in: "Let’s go, Victoria. Your grandfather has already arrived. We shouldn’t keep him waiting, and Mr. Sterling clearly has somewhere to be. Let’s not waste his time."

Patrick extended his hand toward me, clearly intending to take mine, but I stepped back, avoiding his touch. Nora bristled inside me, uncomfortable with another dominant wolf’s presumption. It was a quiet refusal, but firm.

He didn’t seem bothered by my rejection.

With Grandfather there, he knew I’d have to follow him anyway.

And Damien certainly wouldn’t interfere—Grandfather had never made his dislike for him a secret.

I stood frozen, caught between two Alpha males.

The tension in the elevator was suffocating, their competing scents—Patrick’s pine and sandalwood against Damien’s smoky cedar and midnight rose—making it hard to breathe.

Damien remained silent, but the intensity in his steel-gray eyes sent shivers down my spine. His face had darkened into something dangerous, something predatory. My wolf whined softly, sensing the storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

I couldn’t stay in the elevator forever. Someone else might need it, and the situation was growing more uncomfortable by the second.

"I should go," I finally said to Damien, my voice barely above a whisper.

As Patrick and I exited the elevator, I glanced back just before the doors closed. For a split second, Damien’s eyes locked with mine—cold, possessive, and filled with something I couldn’t quite place. My wolf growled low in my chest. What was he planning?

With the elevator gone, I turned to Patrick. "Let’s go," he said, gesturing down the hall.

"Was that deliberate?" I asked, my voice sharp.

"What?"

"Buying an apartment here. Why this building, Patrick?"

"You’re overthinking things, Victoria," he said with practiced casualness. "I simply like this complex. The location, amenities, security—everything checked the right boxes. When the opportunity came up, I took it. Besides, living close means we can look after each other, right? If you work late and haven’t eaten, you can come straight to my place. I’m sure your grandfather would approve."

My temper flared. "Patrick! We both know this isn’t a coincidence. Let me make something perfectly clear—I’m an adult. I don’t need looking after. I can feed myself just fine without your help. If I needed caretaking, I’d hire a housekeeper."

The familiar weight of expectation settled on my shoulders. That subtle pressure Patrick always seemed to exert without saying anything directly. It was exhausting. His brand of insidious manipulation was more tiring than any outright confrontation.

"Look, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I need to be clear about something," I continued, softening my tone slightly. "I value my independence. I prefer handling things on my own. We were friends as children, and barring unforeseen circumstances, we’ll remain friends—nothing more. Always friends, right?"

Patrick opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the door to his apartment swung open and Grandfather appeared in the doorway.

"Patrick, Victoria, why are you both standing out here?" His familiar gravelly voice brought immediate comfort.

"Coming right in," I called, grateful for the interruption.

As we entered, I went straight to my grandfather, taking his weathered hand in mine. "Grandfather."

"Patrick’s place is quite impressive," he remarked, looking around approvingly. "It’s good that you two live so close. You can keep an eye on each other."

I sighed, trying not to roll my eyes. "Grandfather, I don’t need supervision. I’m doing perfectly fine on my own. You’re talking as if I can’t function without Patrick nearby."

"I just worry about you, pup," William Lancaster replied, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. His Alpha concern was palpable, thick in the air.

"I know you do," I conceded, squeezing his hand. "But I take care of myself just fine. Plus, I have Kane and Elena if I need anything. We look out for each other."

My grandfather nodded, a wistful expression crossing his face. His wolf had always been overprotective, especially since my parents’ passing.

"Grandfather, why don’t you come up to my place afterward? Since you’re already in the building," I suggested, hoping to redirect the conversation.

"We’re at Patrick’s now. Wouldn’t that be rude?"

"Not at all. We’ll spend some time here, then visit my place. How does that sound?"

He nodded. "I’d like that."

Patrick had disappeared into the kitchen and was now busily preparing something. The awkwardness was palpable—being alone with my grandfather in another wolf’s territory, especially one with obvious intentions toward me, felt strange.

I shifted uncomfortably on Patrick’s leather sofa, wondering if I could fabricate an excuse to escape to my own apartment. Nora paced restlessly within me, sensing my discomfort.

From the kitchen, Patrick called out, "I’m preparing something special. Hope you both are hungry!"

"Patrick," I responded quickly, "don’t go to all that trouble. We could just go out to eat instead."

"Nonsense," he insisted. "I want you and William to try my cooking. It’s my specialty."

I could smell the subtle hint of pride in his scent. He was showing off—trying to impress me with domestic skills. As if that would suddenly make me see him as mate material. Nora huffed in disagreement.

While Patrick worked in the kitchen, Grandfather and I sat in uncomfortable silence until he finally spoke.

"Victoria, you’ve been visiting the pack house less frequently lately. Is it because of work, or because of Patrick?"

"You’re reading too much into things, Grandfather," I said, tucking a strand of golden hair behind my ear.

"Am I? Well, I hope so," he said, his blue eyes studying me carefully. "Just promise you’ll come see your old grandfather more often, will you?"

"Of course I will, Grandfather. Always," I promised, squeezing his hand.

Downstairs, Damien hadn’t left the building. He pulled out his phone and called his friend Felix.

"I’m not making it to golf today," he said without preamble.

He’d originally planned to meet Felix at the country club—it was the weekend, and Damien had nothing pressing scheduled.

"Why not?" Felix questioned. "You just said you were on your way out. What happened?"

"Nothing important," Damien replied tersely, his wolf Arthur growling deep in his chest.

"It wouldn’t have anything to do with Victoria Lancaster, would it?" Felix guessed accurately.

Damien didn’t answer directly. "I have to go," he said, ending the call. His voice clipped, betraying his annoyance.

Felix knew better than to press the issue. Damien’s priorities had clearly shifted since Victoria entered his life, though he’d never admit it openly.

Next, Damien called his assistant. "I need you to create a situation that will require William Lancaster to leave his current location immediately."

If they thought they could play happy families without him, they were sorely mistaken. Damien didn’t want to upset William—the old Alpha’s health was fragile, and the last thing he needed was a hospital visit. But once William was gone, Damien could make his move.

That Wagner wolf was becoming a persistent problem. The audacity of buying an apartment directly beneath Victoria’s! The territorial challenge was unmistakable. It was a direct affront, a claim staked too close.

His assistant hesitated on the other end of the line. "Sir? You realize that’s not exactly a simple request..."

Back in Patrick’s apartment, Grandfather’s phone suddenly rang. He answered it, his expression growing serious as he listened.

"Is that so? Very well. This afternoon won’t work?" he asked, his voice taking on the authoritative tone of the Crescent Dawn Alpha. "Fine," he concluded before hanging up.

I leaned forward. "Grandfather? Is everything alright?"