Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 20 Absolutely bad

I closed the door as I entered the home.

Grace was hunched over her sketchbook at the dining table, her pencil moving frantically across the paper.

"Well, well," Grace said without looking up, "care to explain who that handsome guy was who dropped you off? That tall, gorgeous man looked familiar, even from twelve floors up."

I tossed my keys into the bowl by the door, trying to appear casual. "That was Damian Sterling."

"What?" Grace’s pencil clattered onto the table as her head snapped up, eyes wide with shock before narrowing with excitement. "How far have things progressed between you two? I need details, Victoria. Right now."

"There’s nothing to tell," I insisted, shrugging off my coat. "We don’t have any kind of relationship."

Grace completely abandoned her sketching, coming around the table to block my path to the kitchen. "I thought I was your best friend. When did you start keeping secrets from me? If there’s ’nothing’ between you two, how did you end up in his car? Was he trying to take you back to his den?"

I poked her forehead, pushing her back a step. "Don’t let your imagination run wild, Grace. It’s not like that."

Nora whimpered slightly within me, as if in protest.

"Please," Grace rolled her eyes. "Adult wolves don’t have ’innocent friendships,’ Victoria. So what if he wants to mate with you? Should we wait until we’re old to enjoy ourselves?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "You talk like you have experience. Why don’t you go out and find a wolf to ’enjoy’ yourself?"

"Well..." Grace stammered, her bravado cracking. Despite her bold talk, she’d never found a suitable mate. "I haven’t found the right male yet, okay? Look at the pathetic specimens roaming this city. I imagine kissing them and my wolf practically gags."

"It can’t be that bad," I laughed, but my mind immediately conjured Damian’s face—his perfect jawline, those penetrating eyes that seemed to see straight into my inner wolf. His scent... and those intoxicating Alpha pheromones.

Setting aside his terrible personality, he was indeed a tempting man.

"It absolutely is that bad," Grace insisted. "If someone isn’t your mate, but you don’t hate a male and actually want him to mount you, that’s true love in my book!"

I felt my cheeks heat up. I didn’t hate Damian’s touch. The night we spent together, my body had found pleasure too. But true love? That was ridiculous. I was just uncontrollably attracted to his scent.

"Let’s change the subject." I pushed past Grace and poured myself a glass of water.

After regaining my composure, I walked over to where Grace had hung her latest designs. "Are these your new pieces? For the upcoming exhibition?"

Grace nodded, thankfully allowing the topic change. "What do you think? I need to make some final adjustments before the fashion show next week." She looked at me speculatively. "Actually, Victoria, with your figure, you’d be the perfect model. Would you be willing to try them on for me?"

"Your body is better than most professional models. The Moon Goddess blessed you with curves in all the right places." She was already reaching for clothes from the hangers. "Please? You might give me some finishing inspiration."

I was happy to oblige.

I tried on every outfit, feeling my wolf preen slightly under Grace’s admiring gaze.

"Absolutely perfect," she breathed, circling around me. "I don’t understand it. These looked good on professional models, but on you—they’re extraordinary. Like they were made for you."

"You should model for my exhibition."

"Just by standing there, my reputation would skyrocket. Promise me you’ll consider it next quarter!"

"Alright, I’ll help you out, but I need practice. I can’t embarrass my best friend’s brand."

Later, after we’d both showered and changed into pajamas, we lay side by side in bed. I browsed property listings, mentally noting some promising options for Kane to investigate tomorrow. I needed my own territory, a place where I could be completely myself without hiding my Alpha nature.

"Victoria," Grace turned to face me, "you’ve been so busy with Lancaster company matters lately. Let’s do something fun this weekend. There’s a car race on Saturday."

"Car racing?" I hesitated, thinking of all the work waiting for me at the office.

"Please?" Grace’s eyes lit up. "The prize is this gorgeously designed limited edition sports car. I want it so badly, but my driving skills are terrible. Help me out, Victoria. Your skills are legendary."

Her pleading expression was too cute to refuse. "Okay, but I can’t guarantee first place."

"Are you kidding? You competed in international races under that alias and beat professional racers! Those drivers practically begged to become your apprentices."

I smiled at those memories. The speed, the freedom—it let my wolf run without actually shifting.

"That might have just been luck."

"That was pure talent. But even if you don’t win, just participating will be fun."

"Deal," I agreed, already feeling excited about it.