Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 64 Jealousy

Damian’s POV:

I’d been waiting outside Victoria’s house for what felt like an eternity, checking my watch repeatedly. It was almost eleven at night, and still no sign of her.

After signing the contract earlier today, I’d handed it over to Kane, making him promise not to mention it to Victoria just yet. I couldn’t let her think she could walk away from our arrangement so easily. I hadn’t seen her in days, and something about that bothered me more than I cared to admit.

Arthur, my wolf, was growing restless inside me. *Mate,* he kept insisting.

When I’d returned home tonight and found myself unable to focus on work, I’d decided to come to her apartment, only to discover she wasn’t there. So here I was, waiting like some lovesick teenager outside her door.

Finally, the elevator doors slid open, and my wolf immediately recognized her sweet scent mixed with alcohol... and something else. Someone else. A low growl built in my chest before I could stop it.

Victoria emerged with a man’s arm around her waist, the two of them looking far too comfortable with each other. My eyes narrowed as recognition hit me. I’d seen his face before—Catherine had sent me a photo of them dining alone together last week, suggesting he might be one of Victoria’s potential suitors.

And now she was bringing him home? My wolf snarled, possessive instincts flaring despite my rational mind’s objections.

Victoria appeared drunk, her golden eyes blinking repeatedly as she tried to focus on me standing in her hallway. The territorial rage building inside me was almost uncontrollable.

"Victoria," I commanded, my voice cold and hard. "Come here."

Instead of obeying, she backed away slightly, her chin lifting in defiance. "Why should I come over there? I won’t!" Her voice carried that stubborn edge I’d come to expect from her.

The man beside her stiffened, positioning himself slightly in front of her. "Who are you? What are you doing at Victoria’s home?" he demanded.

"Victoria?" I repeated, fixating on how he’d called her by her full name rather than the nickname I’d just heard. "What’s your relationship with her?"

"That’s none of your business," he replied coolly. "It’s inappropriate for you to be here this late. If you need to speak with Victoria, come back tomorrow."

I felt my patience snap. "It’s inappropriate for me to be here, but perfectly fine for you? What are you—another one of her lovers?"

"Your language is offensive," he retorted. "How does Victoria even know someone like you? Please step aside."

I extended my hand toward Victoria, my wolf’s dominance seeping into my voice. "Come here. Now."

She remained stubbornly in place, her resistance only inflaming my wolf further. I could feel Arthur pushing against my control, demanding I assert myself more forcefully.

"Can’t you see she doesn’t want to go with you?" the man said. "She clearly doesn’t want to see you. Please leave—Victoria needs rest, and I’ll take care of her."

"That won’t be necessary," I growled, stepping closer. "My relationship with Victoria is far more intimate. I’ll take care of her."

I moved to take her from him, but he pulled her back protectively. "More intimate? Are you her boyfriend?"

I paused. What was I to her? Her ex-boyfriend’s brother? The man she’d spent one passionate night with? The business partner she’d been avoiding?

"I am her boyfriend," I stated firmly. "Now hand her over."

He looked skeptical. "I’ve never heard Victoria mention you. Can you prove it? Do you have photos together?"

We didn’t have a single picture together. But I remembered something else. "I have her door code. Is that proof enough?"

The man watched doubtfully as I approached the door and punched in the sequence Victoria had given me when she’d asked me to retrieve her clothes. The door unlocked with a satisfying click.

His expression changed to surprise. "You..."

Before he could finish, I moved swiftly, pulling Victoria against my side. Her sweet scent enveloped me, mixed with alcohol and something else I couldn’t quite identify. My wolf settled slightly at the contact, pleased to have her close again.

"Time to go home, little wolf," I murmured, guiding her through the doorway before slamming the door in her companion’s face.

The man immediately began pounding on the door. "Open up! Open up!"

I ignored him, carrying Victoria to the couch and setting her down gently. She tried to stand, wobbling slightly. "Damien, what are you doing here? How did you get in?"

Even drunk, she recognized me. Something about that satisfied both me and my wolf.

"Sit down," I commanded, unable to keep the edge from my voice. My emotions were a tangled mess I couldn’t sort through.

"This is my apartment," she protested, "how did you get in? You... you..."

She trailed off, falling back onto the couch and rubbing her temples. Without thinking, I moved closer, my hand replacing hers, gently massaging her head. "Headache? That’s what happens when you drink too much."

My wolf urged me to check her for injuries, to ensure she was unharmed. I fought the instinct, channeling it into anger instead. "How well do you know that man, drinking so much with him? Did he push drinks on you? Do you have any sense of self-preservation? Coming home drunk with a stranger in the middle of the night—do you know what he might have done to you?"

The words poured out before I could stop them. "You’re so guarded around me, but with other men, you let down all your defenses? That man isn’t even attractive—certainly not compared to me. Victoria, if you’re looking for company, you should come to me instead!"

I continued my frustrated monologue while she stared blankly at my mouth moving. Suddenly, she swatted at my face, her palm connecting with my cheek with surprising gentleness.

"Victoria," I said incredulously, "I’m trying to help you, and you’re hitting me?"

"This mosquito is so noisy..." she mumbled, waving her hand again.

A mosquito? She thought I was a mosquito? I was speechless.

"Remember what I’m telling you," I continued, trying to sound authoritative despite the absurdity of the situation. "Men aren’t to be trusted. Don’t get drunk around other men again. Next time, I’ll withdraw the contract—Blood Moon will never work with Lancaster Enterprises again!"

"Contract?" she perked up at that word, trying to stand. "Where’s the contract?"

She muttered under her breath, "That bastard Damien, heartless jerk, stringing me along... always promising to cooperate but never giving me a contract to sign."

My wolf bristled at her insults, even as I found myself oddly amused by her drunken candidness.

"Who’s the bastard? Who’s heartless?" I asked, pulling her back when she tried to move away.

Victoria looked up then, her golden eyes meeting mine but not quite focusing. She seemed to be studying my face with drunken intensity.

I continued my lecture: "Do you know how long I waited for you today? And here you are, drunk with another man—"

My words were cut short as Victoria suddenly rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against mine.