Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 44 I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Victoria’s POV:

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Damian, waiting for his response to my proposal. His face remained impassive, those sharp eyes coldly scanning my work, making my wolf Nora shift restlessly beneath my skin.

"What exactly does ’complete mess’ mean? Could you elaborate, Alpha?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the tension flowing through my veins.

Damian didn’t hesitate to point out several flaws in my proposal. I was shocked—not only had he identified legitimate issues I’d overlooked, but his analysis was brutally efficient. The wolf within me whimpered slightly, recognizing the superior strategic mind of a born Alpha.

True to his reputation as a business prodigy, his observations were devastatingly precise. Even more impressive were his suggestions for pack defense strategies—clearly demonstrating why his pack was so powerful. Though he usually acted like a domineering bad boy, as an Alpha, he was undeniably capable.

"So, once I revise the proposal, should I take this as your agreement to our partnership?" I ventured, flashing him my most charming smile.

Damian’s lips curved into that dangerous half-smile that made my pulse quicken. "What are you, some kind of bandit? You expect me to agree to a partnership without even showing me a proper project plan? That’s not how this works, little wolf."

I swallowed my pride. "We’ll revise it as soon as possible."

"Today," he said, his tone brooking no negotiation. "I want it today. I don’t give second chances."

"Today?" I couldn’t hide my surprise. "Isn’t that timeline a bit... aggressive?"

Something flashed across his face—perhaps annoyance—as he misinterpreted my concern as reluctance.

"Today," he repeated, his voice dropping to that low, gravelly tone that made Nora pace anxiously within me. "If you can’t deliver, you can leave right now. Don’t waste my time."

I could feel the Alpha command simmering beneath his words. Not directed at me—thanks to the magic bracelet hiding my true nature, he didn’t know I was his destined mate, with my white wolf bloodline. But his aura was powerful enough to make any ordinary wolf feel compelled to submit.

"Fine, today it is," I conceded. "Mind if I work here? Save us both the back and forth."

Damian nodded once, the movement sharp and decisive. "Acceptable."

I turned to Kane, my loyal beta masquerading as my CEO. "Mr. Lancaster, you can head back. I’ll handle things here."

If Damian found my little secretary charade amusing, he didn’t show it. He simply watched me with those calculating eyes as Kane reluctantly left us alone.

After Kane departed, I settled into a small corner of Damian’s spacious office and began reworking my proposal. With his insights fresh in my mind, ideas began flowing freely. Before I knew it, several hours had passed.

Katherine Watson, his company’s beta wolf and vice president, interrupted us twice during the afternoon. Each time, she looked at me with undisguised hostility. During her second visit, she finally voiced what was clearly on her mind.

"Alpha," she said, deliberately ignoring me, "having an outsider surrounded by sensitive information in your office seems... unwise."

I couldn’t help myself. "What’s with your constant assumption that others want to steal your precious secrets? People with that mindset are usually the ones considering corporate espionage themselves."

I gestured toward Damian. "Besides, I’m literally working under his supervision. What could I possibly take? Or do you think your Alpha is completely incompetent—all muscle and no brains—while you’re the only intelligent one in this pack?"

Damian’s expression remained neutral, but I swore I saw a glimmer of amusement in those dark eyes.

"You—!" Katherine stammered, then turned desperately to Damian. "Alpha, I’m only thinking of the company’s best interests. People might talk."

Before Damian could respond, I interjected. "Shouldn’t a vice president focus on actual projects rather than policing your Alpha’s office visitors? If you’re so worried about gossip, bring the talkers directly to me and your Alpha, and we’ll address them together."

"Victoria Lancaster," she hissed my name like a curse, "you may be from another company, but you have no right to be so disrespectful on ME Company territory."

I raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Your Alpha hasn’t objected to my presence, yet here you are acting superior. What exactly are you implying? That your rank is higher than his? Or do you believe you’ll soon become his Luna, giving you the right to speak for him?"

My words hit their mark. Katherine paled, her carefully constructed facade crumbling.

"I didn’t—Alpha Sterling, I never meant to imply—" she stammered, looking at Damian in panic. Then she pointed accusingly at me. "She’s the one with ulterior motives! She’s trying to become your Luna!"

To both our surprise, I laughed and admitted it directly. "What if I am? What’s wrong with that? Your Alpha is handsome, powerful, and respected. Who wouldn’t be interested? So you’d better be nice to me, because if I really do become Luna someday, you’ll be the first person I banish from this territory."

Katherine was known as the female terror of ME Company—employees trembled before her strict standards and sharp tongue. Yet here I stood, meeting her gaze unflinchingly, my dominance challenging hers even through the magical suppression of my bracelet.

When I’d faced Scarlett and her cronies in the past, I’d never backed down. Now, confronting Katherine, I maintained that same strength. My wolf Nora growled approvingly within me.

I noticed Damian watching our exchange with interest. Something in his expression had changed—he seemed almost pleased by my fearless response. I’d seen him wear that same calculating expression in business negotiations where he destroyed opponents in videos.

"You just said..." Damian’s voice cut through our standoff, his eyes locking onto mine, "you want to become my Luna?"

My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if he was serious or mocking me.

Quickly looking away, I recovered with a smirk. "Actually, I’d rather have your Alpha position than become your Luna. If you decide to step down from leadership, maybe consider letting me have that chair?"

Such audacity! Even I was surprised by my words.

Katherine’s face went ashen. In wolf terms, what I’d just said was equivalent to challenging an Alpha for territorial rights—essentially treason.

To my shock, Damian’s lips curved into a genuine smile. "That position isn’t so easily obtained, little wolf. If you truly had that capability, you’d directly acquire ME Company—though that seems unlikely at present. However, the Luna position... that might still be within reach."

"Upon reconsideration, I’m no longer that interested in being Luna," I replied.

"Didn’t you just express interest?" His voice dropped lower, sending shivers down my spine.

"Can’t a girl change her mind? Being Luna doesn’t come with much authority anyway. Could I even fire an employee?"

In all the world, I might be the only one brave enough—or foolish enough—to speak so casually with Damian Sterling. Katherine had certainly never addressed him with such familiarity, and he’d never shown such tolerant responses to anyone else.

Damian leaned forward, his smoky cedar scent intensifying as he invaded my space. "Why don’t you find out?"

My eyes brightened with mischief as an outrageous idea formed. "Damian, let’s be together! Just for one day—long enough for me to fire certain people. Then we can break up. What do you say, my temporary mate?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

My wolf Nora yelped excitedly at just the suggestion of claiming this powerful Alpha as a mate, even jokingly.