Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 56 Damien was here!

Victoria’s POV:

I glided down the runway in my ocean-blue gown, each step creating ripples that seemed to flow behind me like water. The spotlights cast an ethereal glow on my skin, making it luminous against the deep blue fabric. My wolf, Nora, purred contentedly inside me, enjoying the attention and admiration from the crowd. She’d always been more comfortable with the spotlight than I was.

The audience was completely captivated—I could smell their collective awe, a heady mixture of admiration and desire that tickled my senses. No one dared to even blink, as though afraid to miss a single second of my performance. Despite having nothing but myself on that runway, I could sense their imaginations weaving stories around me, creating scenes in their minds as I walked.

I had stepped onto the runway with confidence, my gaze fixed forward, Nora keeping my nerves steady. But suddenly, my eyes locked with a familiar pair in the center of the VIP section, and shock rippled through me. My wolf instantly recognized his scent—smoky cedar with hints of midnight rose.

Damien was here!

Our eyes remained connected as I continued walking. His gaze was enigmatic, intense, making my heart pound erratically against my ribs. Nora stirred restlessly within me, drawn to his powerful alpha energy in a way that both thrilled and terrified me. My mate bond connection with him, formed that night we’d spent together, hummed to life with unexpected intensity.

I nearly stumbled, quickly averting my eyes to regain my composure. I couldn’t afford to ruin Grace’s meticulously planned show. But the damage was already done—my cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment and something else I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. The light makeup couldn’t hide my reaction; my naturally fair skin now glowed with a rosy hue that made me look even more alive.

I truly hadn’t expected Damien to show up here. Part of me felt relieved—at least now he would know I hadn’t intentionally stood him up, that I truly had other commitments. Would that make him feel better? Would he understand? The alpha was not known for his forgiveness, and wolves, especially alphas like him, took perceived slights seriously.

I barely registered the rest of my walk. Since spotting Damien, my mind couldn’t focus on anything else—not even Ethan’s presence, which I’d been dreading all evening. My former mate was completely forgotten, pushed to the furthest corner of my mind. Each step felt like I was floating, my feet barely touching the ground as Nora responded to the proximity of Arthur, Damien’s powerful wolf.

When I finally made it backstage, my palms were slick with sweat. My heart was still racing, my wolf still stirring with awareness of the powerful alpha’s presence beyond the curtain.

Grace rushed to meet me, her eyes bright with excitement. "Victoria! I knew you’d have this effect! You walked beautifully—absolutely stunning!"

"Couldn’t you tell how nervous I was?" I asked, trying to steady my breathing.

Grace looked genuinely surprised. "You were nervous? I thought you were exceptional out there! Like you were born for the runway."

I grabbed her hand and pressed it against my palm. "Feel how sweaty I am."

She nodded sympathetically after feeling the moisture. "Don’t worry about it. First time on the runway, nerves are to be expected. After you’ve done it a few more times, it’ll become second nature."

But I knew my nervousness had nothing to do with the runway and everything to do with the alpha male whose eyes had locked with mine. His wolf’s energy had called to mine across the room, making Nora restless and eager in a way I’d never experienced with Ethan. That realization unsettled me deeply.

Grace handed me a water bottle with a straw. "Take two minutes to rest, then we need to get you changed for the next outfit. The makeup artist will touch up your look, and then we’re back out there."

I nodded, taking a long sip of water. The thought of walking past Damien again made my stomach flutter with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The mate pull between us was growing stronger by the minute, despite my attempts to ignore it.

As the makeup artist freshened my look, I found myself growing increasingly anxious. My second appearance was fast approaching, and in my current state, there was no way I could face the runway—face him—without completely losing my composure. Nora was agitated, sensing my distress and responding to it with restless energy.

Just as panic began to set in, my eyes landed on a silk scarf draped over a nearby chair. A sudden idea formed in my mind—perhaps there was a way to regain control after all.

In the world of wolves, scent was everything. And right now, I needed something to mask the turmoil of emotions that any alpha in that audience—especially Damien—would be able to smell from across the room. With my wolf blood, I could hide much from humans, but other wolves would sense every emotion if I didn’t find a way to control it.

The silk scarf would have to do. What I needed now was to reclaim my confidence and show Arthur and his arrogant master that Victoria Lancaster was not so easily flustered.