Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 78 Who is knocking

Victoria’s POV:

"I’ve been waiting for you," I said, trying to sound nonchalant despite having sat on his porch for nearly an hour. "Didn’t expect you’d be working this late."

Damien’s dark eyebrows furrowed slightly as he studied me. "How long have you been waiting here?"

Almost an hour, but I wasn’t about to admit that. My wolf, Nora, nudged me with amusement at my pride.

"Not long," I lied smoothly. "Just got here."

His expression softened slightly. "How’s your grandfather? Is he better? Has he been discharged?"

"He’s improving significantly, but still in the hospital," I explained, tucking a strand of my golden hair behind my ear. "I decided to come home for the night. Thought you might be here, so I came over. There are some things I wanted to discuss with you."

Damien unlocked his front door with a fluid motion, then gestured inside. "Come in."

I hesitated, suddenly aware of the intimacy of entering his territory at this hour. Nora paced eagerly within me, drawn to Arthur’s domain.

"I’d rather not," I said, fighting against my wolf’s desires. "I just wanted to ask about the Dominion project. Your deal with Peter Morrison’s pack - you signed the contract before everything went down, right? I warned you earlier, so I assume there wasn’t much damage?"

Instead of answering my question, Damien’s expression darkened. "Why didn’t you tell me Catherine confronted you at the hospital?" His voice carried the subtle edge of an Alpha displeased.

I blinked in surprise. "You know about that?"

"I do."

"It wasn’t worth mentioning," I shrugged, my wolf bristling slightly at his tone. "What am I, a schoolgirl running to tattle? I handled it."

"Next time something like that happens, tell me," he said firmly, his wolf’s authority bleeding through his words.

I straightened my spine, my own Alpha nature responding instinctively to the challenge. "Why would I? You’re not my guardian. Do you expect to fight my battles for me? Besides, I didn’t let her get the upper hand. When someone causes trouble, I give it right back."

I’d always known that the only person I could truly rely on was myself. Since childhood, I’d handled my own conflicts. When other cubs mocked me for being raised primarily by my grandfather, calling me a stray, I’d fought back fiercely. Only by establishing dominance could I earn respect.

Damien’s lips curled into a slight smile that sent heat racing through my veins. "Next time, I’ll fight back for you."

I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, instantly regretting it. His eyes were fathomless, like the deepest ocean currents, drawing me in with dangerous magnetism. God had taken special care carving his features – the strong brow, those intense eyes, his straight, aristocratic nose. He simply stood there, exuding a unique charm that was entirely Damien’s own.

My heart raced traitorously, and I quickly averted my gaze. "No need," I replied, trying to sound casual. "Fighting my own battles is far more satisfying. I just wanted to check if you’d been affected by the project fallout. How’s everything going?"

"Thanks to your warning, we avoided any losses," Damien said. "In fact, they’ll be paying us substantial compensation."

Though from what I’d heard, Peter’s pack could hardly afford such payments now.

I narrowed my eyes thoughtfully. "Well then, you should properly thank me. Perhaps by signing that contract between our companies?"

A flash of irritation crossed his face. Every time we spoke, I mentioned business contracts, as if there could be nothing else between us. This clearly displeased him, though I couldn’t understand why.

"Not a chance," he replied firmly.

I clicked my tongue and muttered "petty" under my breath, too low for human ears but perfectly audible to a wolf.

"What did you say?" Damien asked, though his enhanced hearing had surely caught it.

"Nothing," I answered innocently. "Just complimenting you."

Damien’s expression told me he didn’t believe that for a second.

"I should head back," I said, suddenly aware of how tired I was. "You should get some rest too."

"Hmm," he nodded, making no move to stop me.

After returning home, I prepared for a much-needed shower. Tomorrow morning I’d need to visit Grandfather early.

Before showering, I examined the gift Grace had brought earlier. The sensual nightgown had tiny spaghetti straps, an open back design, and intricate lace details around the waist. The hem was scandalously short, barely long enough to cover my thighs. Its lavender color gave it an especially delicate, feminine appearance.

I just held it up briefly before draping it over the sofa arm. No way could I actually wear something like this.

Taking my usual pajamas instead, I headed for the bathroom. After a refreshing shower, I was drying my hair when someone knocked at my door.

"Who is it?" I called out. "Coming!"

Damian’s POV:

As soon as Victoria left, I found myself checking the smart security system by my door. The integrated camera automatically records anyone who approaches the entrance - a necessity for an Alpha who values his privacy and security.

Scrolling back through the footage, I saw Victoria had arrived nearly an hour before I’d returned home. She hadn’t "just arrived" as she’d implied. She’d been waiting... for me.

Something stirred deep in my chest. Arthur, my wolf, rumbled with satisfaction at the knowledge that our mate - though she fought the connection - had sought us out, had waited patiently on our territory.

"She was here all this time," I murmured to Arthur.

I was actually really angry with Victoria earlier because of what she said.

But now I have completely calmed my anger because of her initiative to wait.

I think she might care about me.

We’d barely been apart for two minutes, and already I was drawn to follow her scent trail back to her home. I should have invited her in, should have found a reason to keep her close. The moon wasn’t full tonight, but Arthur’s possessiveness didn’t follow lunar cycles - it was constant where Victoria was concerned.

Without overthinking it, I grabbed a bag of takeout I’d picked up on the way home - food I’d been too distracted to eat - and headed across the expanse of manicured lawn that separated our estates. The Lancaster property was impressive, though not quite as extensive as my own. Perfect for a neighboring Alpha family, providing enough territory to satisfy the wolves while maintaining proximity.

Victoria answered the door almost immediately after I knocked. Her hair was damp, framing her face in golden waves, and the clean scent of her shower gel hit me immediately - subtle, natural, and intoxicating. Unlike the artificial perfumes that irritated my enhanced senses, Victoria’s scent was perfect. Even masked by soap, I could detect her natural sweetness underneath - the signature scent that had called to me from the first moment we met.

I held up the takeout bag, trying to appear casual despite Arthur’s increasing agitation beneath my skin. "Didn’t you say I should thank you? Brought you some late dinner. Have you eaten yet?"

I certainly hadn’t. The issues with the Dominion project had kept me at the office far longer than planned, food the last thing on my mind when pack security was at stake.

Victoria hesitated only briefly before stepping aside. "Come in."

I walked in, placing the food on her coffee table before settling onto her sofa. As I sat down, I felt something silky beneath me. Reaching down to move it, I froze when I realized what I was holding.

Between my fingers dangled what could barely be called a nightgown - just a few scraps of black lace held together by thin straps, designed to reveal far more than it concealed.

My wolf surged forward so suddenly I had to fight to keep my eyes from shifting. The image of Victoria in this barely-there garment flashed through my mind with such clarity that I felt my temperature rise several degrees.

"What’s this?" I asked, deliberately keeping my voice even as I held up the lingerie by its delicate straps. "I had no idea you had such... interesting tastes, Victoria."

My eyes darkened as I watched her reaction. "Who were you planning to wear this for?"

The question came out more possessively than I’d intended, Arthur’s jealousy bleeding through my carefully maintained control. The thought of her wearing this for anyone - especially my half-brother - made my canines threaten to descend.

Victoria’s eyes widened in horror. "Give that back!"

I pulled it just out of her reach, unable to stop myself from pushing further. "Is this what you wore for Ethan?" The name felt like acid on my tongue.

"That’s none of your business," she snapped, making another grab for the lingerie. "What I wear and who I wear it for is my private affair. Give it back!"

"If he got to see you in this," I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous rumble as Arthur pressed closer to the surface, "perhaps I should have the same privilege. Or is this meant for someone new?"

The last words came out in a near-growl, the mere thought of Victoria with another male sending a surge of territorial rage through my system. The bond between us, though unacknowledged by her, was undeniable to my wolf.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Fresh from her shower, dressed in modest pajamas that somehow managed to accentuate every curve of her body, she was breathtaking. I’d seen her without any barriers between us that night at the hotel - her skin like silk under my hands, her body perfectly formed. The mental image of her in this scrap of lace was enough to make my blood burn with desire.