Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 58 Heartbeat

Victoria’s POV:

I could sense Damien’s movement as I tried to back away, feeling heat rise to my cheeks beneath the silk scarf. My entire face and even the tips of my ears felt hot, the blush spreading rapidly as his powerful scent surrounded me.

"Damien," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "this is the backstage area. You need to leave. Anyone could walk in at any moment, and if they do—"

"And if they do, what?" he challenged, his eyes darkening as he took another step toward me. "Is there something you’re worried about them seeing, Victoria? Something you want to do that requires more... privacy?"

With each step I took backward, he advanced, his wolf’s presence growing more dominant. Soon, I found myself backed against the makeup table with nowhere left to retreat.

"Don’t get so close to me!" I pushed against his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his shirt. The contact sent a jolt through my fingertips that Nora responded to immediately.

I turned my face away, desperate to escape his penetrating gaze. "You’re reading too much into this. I don’t want to do anything with you. Please leave before someone comes back."

The last thing I needed was for someone to think I was having some secret affair with Damien Sterling in a changing room.

"You can relax," he said, his voice dropping to that deep timbre that made my wolf stir. "No one will be coming in anytime soon. Your friend Grace is likely counting orders until her fingers go numb, and the other models are all... occupied."

His implication was clear—beautiful models in this industry never lacked attention.

"That’s enough," I snapped. "Not everyone thinks with their hormones like you do."

Damien’s eyes flashed with something primal, and I saw Arthur looking at me through them. "I’m thinking with my hormones? That’s quite an accusation, little wolf, especially when I haven’t done anything yet." His smirk deepened. "Perhaps I should give you a reason to make such claims."

Before I could react, he leaned down, his lips coming toward mine. I turned my head just in time, causing his kiss to land on my cheek instead. Even through the silk scarf, I could feel the heat of his mouth, burning like a brand on my skin.

"Damien," I said firmly, trying to ignore how Nora was practically purring inside me, "we are not that kind of relationship. If you have... needs, go find another woman. Don’t come to me!"

The words came out harsher than I’d intended, but I needed boundaries. These repeated encounters, his kisses, the tension between us—it was all becoming too confusing. We weren’t a couple. We weren’t even friends with benefits. This undefined situation was uncomfortable.

Yes, I could admit that Damien was... skilled in certain areas, but this unclear relationship wasn’t what I wanted.

"You want me to find another woman?" His expression darkened instantly, Arthur’s anger flashing in his eyes.

In that moment, I caught a shift in his scent—something sharper, more possessive. Then I realized why. My charm bracelet had been struggling all night, and Damien’s wolf had finally caught something—the subtle change in my scent that indicated my heat cycle had just ended.

He let out a cold laugh. "Is that how it is, Victoria? You’ve been sampling different men every night of the week? Is that little pup Alexander enough to satisfy you?"

I realized he had completely misunderstood, thinking I was entertaining multiple partners.

"That’s my personal business," I replied coldly, "and not something you need to concern yourself with, Mr. Sterling."

"Personal business," he repeated with a bitter laugh.

Just as he seemed about to say something else, there was a knock at the changing room door, followed by Ethan’s voice: "Victoria? Are you in there?"

"Victoria, I know you’re in there. I’m coming in."

When Damien had entered earlier, he hadn’t locked the door behind him. Now, with Ethan’s hand on the doorknob, it was too late.

In that split second, Damien’s arm snaked around my waist while his other hand yanked away the silk scarf from my face. Before I could protest, his lips crashed against mine, our bodies pressing together in a heated embrace. His tall frame towered over me, his powerful legs trapping me against the table. Despite my petite stature, the dress accentuated every curve of my body, creating a scene of both innocence and seduction.

As Ethan pushed open the door, his eyes widened at the sight before him. His jaw dropped, momentarily rendered speechless.

Damien shifted slightly, positioning himself to shield me within his embrace while making sure Ethan had a clear view of our kiss. The message was unmistakable—he was claiming me in front of his half-brother.

"You..." Ethan’s voice trembled with shock.

Though this wasn’t the first time he’d caught us kissing, Ethan’s expression showed genuine betrayal. As if I had somehow cheated on him—which was rich, considering our history.

Damien broke our kiss but kept his arm firmly around my waist. "What’s your problem, Ethan? Do you enjoy watching other people’s intimate moments? Get out."

Ethan’s eyes reddened with rage. He charged into the room, shouting, "Damien, let her go! Release Victoria right now!"

When he tried to grab Damien, sent Ethan sprawling to the floor. Ethan scrambled to his feet, preparing to lunge at his half-brother, when I intervened.

"Ethan, what do you think you’re doing?" I demanded.

"Victoria, what are you doing with him?" Ethan spat, his wolf Leon snarling beneath the surface. "Are you that desperate? That lonely? I never knew you were this type of person—climbing into every man’s bed. Were you sleeping with him when we were together? Have you two been making a fool of me all this time? Victoria, you’re nothing but a—"

The slap echoed through the room before I even realized I’d raised my hand. My palm connected with Ethan’s face with enough force to snap his head sideways. The impact stung my hand, but the satisfaction of silencing his vile words was worth it.

Nora was raging inside me, demanding more than just a slap for those insults.

Before Ethan could recover, Damien delivered a powerful kick to his legs, forcing him to his knees before me. The sight of my former lover kneeling there, as if begging for forgiveness, gave me a dark sense of satisfaction.

"Watch your mouth, Ethan," Damien growled, his voice carrying Arthur’s threatening rumble. "Your issues with me are one thing, but speaking to a woman like that? You’re disgusting."

I grabbed a glass of water from the makeup table and threw it directly into Ethan’s face. "Your mouth is filthy. Let me clean it for you. Though it’s not just your mouth that’s revolting—it seems your entire brain is filled with garbage."

Every time I looked at Ethan, I regretted our five years together more deeply. Those years represented the greatest mistake of my life, a stain I couldn’t erase.

How had I ever been with him? Had I been kicked in the head by a mule?

"You two are having an affair behind my back, and somehow I’m the bad guy?" Ethan snarled, attempting to stand only to be pinned down by Damien’s foot.

Ethan clenched his fists, clearly humiliated at being forced to kneel yet again. Just as the tension in the room reached its peak, the door handle turned once more as someone else prepared to enter.