Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 77 I waited a long time

Victoria’s POV::

I raised my hand, catching Catherine’s strike mid-air. Before she could react, I swung my own palm across her face in a swift, powerful motion.

"Ah!" Catherine shrieked, clutching her reddening cheek.

"You’re merely a Deputy CEO of Blood Moon’s branch office," I said coolly, feeling Nora’s satisfaction rumbling within me. "I truly don’t understand what you’re so proud of. You act like you own the company. If I had such limited abilities, I’d be too embarrassed to even claim association with Blood Moon Pack."

"You... you..." Catherine sputtered, clearly shocked by my bold retaliation and verbal assault.

I leaned in closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "This is a hospital. If you continue causing a disturbance and refuse to leave, they can absolutely call the police." My lips curved into a cold smile. "Imagine the headlines: ’Respected Deputy CEO Catherine Watson Forcibly Removed from Hospital.’ I wonder how your Alpha would react to that kind of publicity?"

Catherine bit her lip, visibly trembling with rage. The nurse was already reaching for the phone to call security. Even an unstable wolf like Catherine could recognize when retreat was the better option.

With one final glare that promised future retribution, she stormed away, her wolf’s agitation evident in her stiff posture and jerky movements. She still had a disaster to mitigate back at the office.

As her footsteps faded, my confidence wavered. Despite my earlier warning to Damien about the Dominion project, I wasn’t certain if he’d taken precautions. Catherine had already signed the contracts, and while Damien was brilliant, even the most vigilant Alpha could be blindsided by betrayal from within their own ranks.

I pulled out my phone, opening our message thread, but hesitated. What could I say? Damien was undoubtedly occupied with pack business, probably too busy to concern himself with me. Besides, I wasn’t even certain if he had been the one who visited this morning. The familiar scent of smoky cedar and midnight rose had lingered in the room, but I couldn’t be sure.

After deliberating for a moment, I decided against messaging him. I’d already given him fair warning about the project – that was more than enough involvement from me.

Kane and Alexander had already left, leaving only my grandfather in the hospital room. I composed myself before entering, forcing a smile as I approached his bed.

"Grandfather," I greeted him softly.

"What’s wrong, little one? You seem troubled," he asked, his keen Alpha senses picking up on my distress despite my attempt to hide it.

"It’s nothing," I assured him, taking a seat beside his bed. "Besides, you’re ill. If I were cheerful while you’re suffering, wouldn’t that make me terribly inconsiderate?"

"You haven’t properly rested for two days," Grandfather observed, his eyes filled with concern. "You should go home tonight and get some sleep."

The exhaustion was taking its toll on me. Dark circles had formed under my eyes, and my wolf, Nora, was restless from the constant stress and lack of proper rest. But I couldn’t leave him – my wolf wouldn’t allow it. The pack bond between us was too strong, demanding I stay close to protect our ailing Alpha.

"There’s no need, Grandfather. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at home anyway. I’d rather stay here with you," I replied, my fingers intertwining with his.

He squeezed my hand gently. "Good. I’m glad my little Victoria is here with me."

"By the way, Victoria, about the company..." he began, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Grandfather," I interrupted softly but firmly, "you need to rest and not worry about Lancaster Enterprises. I’ll handle everything."

The company situation was indeed precarious. With Grandfather suddenly hospitalized, several shareholders and board members were already circling like vultures, their predatory gazes fixed on the position of CEO. They wanted to devour Crescent Dawn Pack’s business empire, not realizing the true power that lay behind it.

Despite spending these days at Grandfather’s bedside, I’d been continuously working, using my laptop and phone to address urgent matters. The weight of responsibility was heavy – not just for the company, but for our entire pack. As the future Alpha, I couldn’t show weakness, especially not now when so many were watching for any sign of vulnerability.

Time slipped away quickly as night descended over the hospital. Through the window, I watched the sky transform from twilight to darkness, stars emerging one by one against the black canvas.

Grandfather had finally fallen asleep, his breathing deep and even. I continued working on my laptop, fighting exhaustion as Nora, my wolf, grew restless within me. Several yawns escaped despite my best efforts to suppress them.

Standing up to stretch my cramped muscles, I decided to take a quick break. I padded softly to the door and opened it, peering into the hallway. Something had triggered my senses - a lingering scent perhaps, or the silent shift of air that wolves are uniquely attuned to detect.

The corridor was empty and quiet. At the nurses’ station some distance away, two staff members chatted in hushed tones, seemingly unaware of anything unusual. Yet my wolf remained alert, her instincts rarely wrong.

"Did you sense it too, Nora?" I whispered internally to my wolf.

She rumbled in affirmation, causing the hair on my arms to stand on end. Someone had been here - someone who didn’t want to be detected.

After lingering at the threshold for another two minutes and detecting nothing further, I returned to the room and resumed my work, though my wolf remained vigilant.

Later that evening, Grace stopped by to check on Grandfather. True to her nature, she arrived bearing gifts - one of which made me roll my eyes.

"Seriously, Grace?" I asked, pulling a silky, barely-there nightgown from the shopping bag. "This is what you bring to a hospital?"

She grinned wickedly, her beta wolf’s playfulness shining through her human façade. "Every she-wolf needs to embrace her sensuality, Victoria. Even pack heirs who work too hard."

"I’m pretty sure my grandfather doesn’t need to see this," I replied dryly, quickly stuffing the garment back into its bag.

"It’s not for him to see," Grace countered with a knowing smirk. "Maybe your neighbor might appreciate it."

I shot her a warning glare that would have made lesser wolves cower. Grace, being Grace, merely laughed.

After nearly a week of hospital vigilance, I decided it was time for a brief respite. Grandfather’s personal physician - a trusted member of our pack - agreed to monitor him for the night, allowing me to return home and freshen up.

"Go," Grandfather had insisted earlier. "An Alpha-in-training needs proper rest to maintain her strength."

The Lancaster estate was unusually quiet when I arrived. Our family compound, situated in an exclusive gated community where each home sat on several acres of land, provided the privacy that wolf packs required. I tossed Grace’s gift onto the sofa in my living room before collapsing beside it, the week’s exhaustion finally catching up with me.

Staring at the vaulted ceiling, I suddenly sat upright as a thought struck me. I hadn’t seen Damien since that night at the hospital. Had he taken my warning about the Dominion project seriously? Was Catherine’s treachery already being addressed?

Without giving myself time to reconsider, I stood and walked across my expansive lawn toward the neighboring property. Damien’s estate, even larger and more imposing than ours, loomed before me in the darkness. Despite the late hour – nearly ten o’clock – lights still burned in several windows.

At his front door, I pressed the bell, listening as the chimes echoed inside. No response. I knocked and called out, "Damien? Are you home?"

Silence greeted me. Perhaps he was still at the office? The thought of him working this late made my stomach tighten with an unfamiliar concern.

Rather than leave immediately, I decided to wait. I settled onto one of the comfortable chairs on his wraparound porch, telling myself I’d only stay for a few minutes. Those minutes stretched to half an hour, then longer.

By eleven o’clock, my eyelids grew heavy. Nora was unusually quiet within me, seemingly content to be near Arthur’s territory, even if his wolf wasn’t present. The connection between our wolves was something I still didn’t fully understand – or want to acknowledge.

"Just five more minutes," I murmured to myself. "If he’s not back by then, I’m leaving."

This bargaining continued as five minutes turned to ten, then fifteen. I was nearly dozing when headlights swept across the driveway. A sleek black SUV pulled up, and a tall figure emerged.

Even in the dim light, there was no mistaking Damien’s powerful silhouette. My wolf immediately perked up, sending a rush of awareness through my body.

"Damien!" I called out, perhaps too eagerly. "You’re finally home!"

He froze momentarily, his keen eyes finding me in the darkness. As he approached, I caught the familiar scent of smoky cedar and midnight rose, mixed with something else – tension, exhaustion, and a hint of suppressed anger.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he climbed the steps. "Victoria? What are you doing here?"