Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 71 I had to admit

Victoria’s POV:

I had to admit, if Damien hadn’t been there with me, those waiting hours would have been unbearable. Having him beside me, talking quietly as we watched over my grandfather, made everything slightly more tolerable.

"Your time must be valuable, Mr. Sterling," I said lightly, trying to mask my gratitude with teasing. "Should I be worried about paying by the minute?"

Damien stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming with that predatory amusement I was becoming dangerously accustomed to. "That’s actually not a bad idea, little wolf. Let’s calculate it by the second—though I won’t ask for money. I doubt you could afford it." His smoky cedar scent wrapped around me as he leaned closer. "But when I need something, you’ll simply owe me that time back."

He glanced at his Rolex, the expensive timepiece catching the sterile hospital light. "You’re already several hours in debt. Next time I call, you’ll have to come running."

"You’re such a mercenary," I laughed despite myself. "Is that how you built Blood Moon Pack? Just conniving and manipulation?"

His lips curled into that dangerous half-smile. "Of course. Business is all about maximizing profit, Victoria."

Nora stirred inside me, oddly comfortable with his proximity despite her usual wariness around other Alphas.

"Then I’d like a refund," I retorted, attempting to push him away. "You’re free to leave now, before I rack up any more debt."

His warm hand caught mine, holding it firmly against his chest. I tried to pull away, but he held on tight, his wolf’s energy—Arthur’s presence—brushing against my consciousness through the contact.

"I’ll give you a discount on the rest," he murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

"No need," I insisted, acutely aware of my racing pulse. "You should go home. I’ll stay with my grandfather alone. No sense in wasting your evening."

Damien’s expression remained unreadable. "You invited me to dinner tonight. I already set aside this time for you. Whether you want it or not, it’s yours."

I managed to reclaim my hand, ignoring the lingering warmth. "There’s nothing for you to do here. You might as well get some rest."

He nodded slowly. "Then I’ll go."

"Okay."

"I’m really leaving," he said, watching me.

"Go ahead. I’m fine here."

"Alright." He turned and walked out, the hospital room door closing softly behind him.

Suddenly, I was alone with Grandfather and the oppressive silence. The only sound was the rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment—cold and mechanical, like a countdown of life’s precious moments. Each beep sent a chill through me, Nora whimpering anxiously within.

I moved to Grandfather’s bedside and took his hand in mine. It felt smaller than I remembered, frailer. "Grandfather..."

"Why do you always insist on carrying everything alone?" I whispered. "Why keep everything from me? Kane told me about the pack crisis two years ago—how you handled it all by yourself. But I never knew a thing."

My voice cracked slightly. "You’re still trying to protect me like I’m a pup. I’m twenty-three, an adult wolf. I can shoulder these burdens with you. You’re my most important person in this world. What would I do if something happened to you? Would you really leave me alone in this world?"

I squeezed his hand gently. "So please get better quickly. And no more secrets—no more sneaking off for surgeries without telling me. If you keep hiding things, then I’ll start hiding things from you too!"

I wasn’t sure if he could hear me, but speaking aloud was better than the suffocating silence. At least my voice might reach his wolf, even if his human consciousness couldn’t hear me.

His hand felt so weathered beneath mine, the skin loose and wrinkled with age. His hair had gone completely white, and his face was mapped with the lines of a long, challenging life. I’d never really looked at him this way before—as a mortal, aging wolf rather than the indomitable Alpha who had raised me.

Though I understood that life was finite, that every wolf eventually returned to the Great Moon, I desperately wanted more time with him. Just a little longer with the only true family I had left.

I kept talking, telling him stories about the pack, about my designs, about anything that came to mind. Whenever I stopped, the beeping of the machines grew more pronounced, each sound like a needle in my heart. The silence only amplified my fear, so I filled it with words, hoping they might anchor both of us.

A soft knock interrupted my one-sided conversation.

Expecting a nurse or doctor, I turned—and there stood Damien, takeout bags in hand.

"You came back?" I couldn’t hide my surprise.

"You invited me to dinner, didn’t you?" His tone was casual, but his eyes watched me carefully. "Even if we’re dining in a hospital, it still counts. I brought food—you can’t spend the entire night here without eating something."

I wasn’t particularly hungry, but something about the gesture—about him returning when he could have easily gone home—touched me deeply. Nora perked up inside me, her earlier anxiety momentarily forgotten.

He’d left so decisively earlier that I’d genuinely believed he was gone for the night.

Damien set the bags on the small table in the corner and began unpacking containers of food. The room remained quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitors, but somehow, his presence changed the atmosphere. The fear didn’t feel quite as overwhelming anymore.

After arranging everything, he looked up. "What are you staring at? Come eat."

I checked on Grandfather one more time, carefully tucking the blanket around him before joining Damien at the table.

The spread was impressive—steaks cooked rare, roasted vegetables, fresh bread, and even a bottle of water for each of us. It was far more than I’d expected, especially considering we hadn’t even made it to our dinner reservation.

"Thank you, Damien," I said quietly.

He made a dismissive sound, clearly uncomfortable with gratitude. "Just eat. I wasn’t sure what you like—we haven’t really dined together much. I ordered a variety."

"I’m not picky," I replied, cutting into the perfectly prepared steak. "I even managed to eat that awful soup you made, remember?"

I was referring to the broth he’d prepared when I’d stayed at his place after the incident with Ethan and Scarlett.

Damien’s eyes narrowed. "You dare criticize my cooking?"

I couldn’t help but smile at his indignation. That was probably the first time anyone had tasted something prepared by the mighty Alpha of Blood Moon Pack.

"What? If it tastes bad, I’m going to say so. The soup was one thing, but those side dishes? You barely used any seasoning—completely bland until I fixed them!"

"Yet you still had multiple servings," he pointed out, his voice a low growl that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.

"I was starving," I defended myself. "I could have eaten anything. Maybe you should practice more, Mr. Sterling. Work on your culinary skills."

"I have no intention of practicing," he said coolly. "I have far too many responsibilities to waste time on domestic skills. Unlike those wolves who surrender their identity to please a mate, cooking and cleaning all day, forgetting their own value."

I stabbed a piece of steak with my fork, looking him directly in the eyes. "That’s because you’ve never truly loved someone. When you finally do—when your wolf finally recognizes his mate—you’ll discover that nothing you do for them feels insignificant. You might even find yourself happily cooking and doing laundry for that person!"