Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 57 Keep it!

Victoria’s POV:

I grabbed a silk scarf from nearby and wrapped it around my face, leaving only my eyes exposed. The scarf would help mask my scent receptors a bit, making it easier to handle being near Damien. With my wolf senses heightened from the adrenaline of the runway, I needed all the protection I could get.

"Victoria, was this scarf part of your intentional design?" Grace asked, admiring the effect. "It looks amazing—like a mysterious sea goddess with half her face concealed. It’s absolutely brilliant!"

I hadn’t planned it at all. The truth was, I could sense Damien’s smoky cedar and midnight rose scent even from the runway, and it was making Nora, my wolf, restless inside me. The hand-crafted charm bracelet that usually helped conceal my alpha status was starting to feel warm against my skin, working overtime to mask my true nature.

"Not really. Does it look okay? I can take it off if it doesn’t work," I replied, trying to sound casual.

Grace grinned. "Keep it! It’s perfect for your final walk."

This was my second time on the runway tonight, and my last. The first gown had been like wearing the blue ocean itself, but this one transformed me into something else entirely—a graceful jellyfish floating through dark waters.

The pale blue dress featured a strapless bodice that perfectly highlighted my curves, decorated with subtle star patterns. My waist was exposed, making it appear delicately slim. Below spread a voluminous skirt that moved like a jellyfish pulsing through water, complete with flowing ribbons that danced with each step. Beneath it all, my legs seemed to glow with an ethereal quality that even I wasn’t fully aware of.

If my first look had made me appear like a sea goddess, this one transformed me into a sea spirit—something wild and magical.

Everyone was eagerly anticipating my return to the runway. This time, with half my face concealed behind the silk scarf and my long blonde hair cascading down in waves like sea foam, I created an entirely different but equally captivating impression.

I could feel Damien’s intense gaze following me. Arthur, his wolf, was watching Nora through his eyes—I could sense it even through my charm bracelet. Despite my efforts to hide my face, my heart raced whenever I felt his eyes on me. The Sterling heir of the Northstream Pack had no idea he was looking at the future Alpha of Crescent Dawn.

I focused on walking my path, avoiding his gaze as I approached the front of the T-stage—directly opposite where Damien sat. I executed a perfect turn, and for just a split second, the scarf lifted, revealing a glimpse of my face. It was over in an instant, the scarf falling back into place before anyone else could notice.

But I knew Damien had seen it. I could sense his wolf’s reaction—the slight hitch in his breath, the intensity of his focus sharpening.

When I returned backstage, I caught sight of him rising from his seat, his expression unreadable but purposeful. Meanwhile, Ethan remained frozen in place, his desire radiating off him in waves that made me sick. I could smell his lust even from a distance—it was nothing like the bond-seeking pull I felt from his half-brother.

"Victoria, you’re absolutely my lucky charm!" Grace exclaimed when I returned backstage. Her excitement was genuine, her scent bright with happiness.

"It’s not that dramatic," I said, smiling beneath my scarf.

"It is! You have no idea how many people have contacted me already. Companies I’ve been trying to partner with for ages are suddenly reaching out! Look, I even recorded your walk."

She showed me the video, and I hardly recognized myself—the creature on screen really did look like some mythical water spirit. I was just relieved I hadn’t embarrassed Grace’s designs.

"Finally done," I sighed. "I can breathe again. Grace, I’m going to change now."

She nodded eagerly. "Perfect timing—I’ve got some major fashion labels wanting to talk. I’ll catch up with you later!"

When I entered the changing room, I was surprised to find it empty. The other models should have been changing by now, but there wasn’t a soul in sight. Strange.

I tried to unzip my dress but discovered the zipper was stuck. After several failed attempts to reach it, I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," I called, still struggling with the zipper. I assumed it was Grace or one of the makeup artists—all female packmates who wouldn’t raise any concerns.

As the door opened, I turned my back. "Can you check if my hair is caught in the zipper? I can’t seem to get it."

Before the words were fully out of my mouth, a powerful wave of smoky cedar and midnight rose hit my senses. Nora immediately stirred within me, recognizing the scent before my human mind could process it.

Damien Sterling. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

I felt his presence behind me, his wolf’s energy filling the small space. I quickly swept my hair aside, exposing my bare back to him without thinking. The moment hung suspended between us, charged with unspoken tension.

His fingers brushed against my skin as he reached for the zipper, sending electric shocks down my spine. My charm bracelet heated against my wrist, working frantically to suppress Nora’s instinctive response to Arthur’s proximity.

With a swift movement that betrayed his strength, he tugged at the zipper—and broke it completely.

"My apologies, little wolf," his voice came low and slightly husky. "Your zipper seems to be of inferior quality."

I froze at the pet name, then spun around to face him, my scarf still in place. Our eyes locked, and I felt that familiar pull—the one I’d been fighting since our first encounter. The one that had nothing to do with our one-night stand and everything to do with what our wolves already knew.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes darkened as he studied me through the veil of my scarf. "Why shouldn’t I be here? You practically invited me over when you asked for help," he said with that infuriating smirk. "Though I must admit, you surprised me tonight, Victoria. I didn’t know you had this in you."

"I had no idea it was you," I countered, acutely aware of how my wolf was responding to his presence in this enclosed space. Without the crowds and the noise to distract us, his scent was overwhelming.

His gaze traveled over my face, lingering on the scarf that concealed the lower half. Something shifted in his expression—something hungry and curious. He reached forward slowly, his fingers moving toward the edge of the silk.

"I wonder," he murmured, his voice dropping even lower, "what you’re hiding beneath this."

My heart hammered in my chest as his fingers brushed against the fabric. Every wolf instinct in my body urged me to lean into his touch, while my human pride screamed at me to pull away. The charm bracelet burned against my skin, struggling to maintain the façade that had protected me for five years.