Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 89 She bit her lip

Damien’s POV

The house was quiet when I returned, an emptiness hanging in the air. The lower floor was silent too. Victoria had been staying with her grandfather for the past few days, not here with me.

It shouldn’t matter. We rarely saw each other even when she was here. But her absence left the place feeling hollow, as if something essential had been removed from my space.

Arthur stirred within me, my wolf restless and displeased. He had grown accustomed to catching traces of her sweet scent in the hallways, that tantalizing fragrance that had first drawn me to her at the nightclub.

My phone rang, breaking the silence. Felix.

"What is it?" I answered, my voice sounding rougher than intended.

"What are you doing this late? If you’re lacking company, want to come out for a drink?" Felix’s voice was cheerful as always.

"You could have called earlier. I just got home." Though honestly, the thought of sitting alone in this empty house wasn’t appealing.

"No problem. I’ll send someone to pick you up. Same place as usual. See you soon!"

I found myself heading out again, back to the club where I’d first seen Victoria drunk and vulnerable. The private room Felix had reserved was next to the one where Victoria had ordered those male models that night—a memory that still made Arthur growl possessively inside me.

Felix had already ordered drinks. He stood when I entered, grinning widely.

"Well, look who finally showed up! I’ve been trying to get you out for weeks. Haven’t seen you since the race. Have you forgotten about me?"

"Stop talking like a jilted lover," I said dryly, taking a seat. "It makes me sound like I’ve abandoned you."

Felix laughed. "How haven’t your own venomous words poisoned you yet? Come on, brother, I’ve just been hoping we could drink together, have some fun."

"What’s there to celebrate?" I glanced at the women pouring drinks in the corner, narrowing my eyes slightly. Arthur despised the scent of strange females these days, only interested in one particular sweet fragrance.

Felix caught my look. "They’re just here to serve drinks, not for entertainment. They’ll be leaving immediately."

He waved them away. "That’s all. You can go now."

The women left, closing the door behind them. But another female remained, seated near Felix.

"Let me introduce you," Felix said. "This is my cousin, Nina. She’s visiting for a few days and insisted on tagging along. I couldn’t say no."

Nina was already staring at me, her eyes wide and unblinking. Her scent was too floral, too artificial. Arthur recoiled.

"Hi, I’m Nina Morgan, Felix’s cousin!" she practically chirped, leaning forward eagerly.

"Hmm," I responded noncommittally, which was more acknowledgment than I usually offered strangers.

Nina seemed even more excited by my dismissal. I could smell her interest pheromones from across the table—a common reaction I’d grown tired of long ago.

Felix ignored his cousin and settled into his chair. "So, did you really send Ethan to Africa?"

"That was Lawrence’s doing, not mine." I took a sip of my drink, the amber liquid burning pleasantly down my throat.

Felix made a disbelieving sound. "You expect me to believe that? I know you too well. Even if Lawrence arranged it officially, I’d bet my club you were pulling strings behind the scenes."

I didn’t bother denying it. The truth was more complicated—I’d simply presented Lawrence with evidence of Ethan’s incompetence, knowing exactly how he’d react.

"I hear the old Alpha of Crescent Dawn is ill," Felix continued. "And the Lancaster princess is officially taking over the company."

"Yes," I confirmed, thinking of Victoria stepping into her power. The sight would be magnificent.

"Don’t you have plans?" Felix pressed. "You know how massive Lancaster Industries has become. People say the princess has never handled business before. She’s been playing around instead of learning the trade. Every major pack is eyeing Lancaster Industries, waiting for the old man to pass so they can carve it up."

I sat back, legs crossed, swirling my drink lazily. The dim lighting caught on the glass, casting fractured light across my hands. Arthur was amused by Felix’s assumptions.

"You’re underestimating the Lancaster princess," I said, unable to keep a slight smile from forming. "Lancaster Industries isn’t going anywhere."

My wolf purred in agreement. We’d both seen Victoria’s fierce intelligence, her strategic mind. The business world had no idea what was coming.

"So you’ve met her?" Felix looked curious.

I nodded. Not only had I met her—I’d claimed her in the most primal way a wolf could claim a mate. Even if she didn’t yet accept what we were to each other.

Nina suddenly leaned forward, interrupting our conversation. "Damien, can I call you that? I was wondering if I could get your number?"

She waved her phone hopefully, her scent spiking with desire. It made Arthur curl his lip in disgust.

"I’m afraid not," I replied flatly.

Felix sighed. "Nina, don’t interrupt."

She persisted. "Why not? It’s just a phone number!"

As Felix began to respond, I cut him off with words that surprised even me: "My girlfriend wouldn’t approve."

Felix choked on his drink, spraying alcohol. "What? Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

"Wait, what?" Felix looked up at me with widened eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Getting hard of hearing at such a young age?" I replied coolly, swirling the amber liquid in my glass.

"No, my hearing is perfectly fine. But you? A girlfriend? Since when?" The disbelief in his voice was almost amusing. Arthur huffed inside me, equally entertained by Felix’s reaction.

Felix leaned forward, his eyes scanning my face for any hint of deception. "I’m your best friend. How could I not know about this?"

I kept my expression neutral, my scent steady and controlled. "It’s personal. Leave it alone."

In reality, I’d simply wanted to shut down Nina’s advances. The young female wolf’s eager pheromones were irritating Arthur, making him restless beneath my skin.

"Who is she?" Felix persisted, unable to let it go. "Is it Catherine? Your Beta? No, that can’t be right. You’ve never shown the slightest interest in her all these years."

"Then who?" he continued, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Your inner circle barely includes any females."

He snapped his fingers suddenly. "Wait—is it Victoria? But that doesn’t make sense either. She was completely devoted to Ethan until recently. Why would she suddenly look your way?"

I remained silent, though Arthur growled softly at the mention of Ethan’s name. The memory of Victoria’s scent intertwining with mine that night was enough to make my wolf pace with possessive energy.

"Or could it be..." Felix’s eyes widened dramatically. "The Lancaster princess? Damien, tell me you’re not entering a business arrangement with Crescent Dawn Pack? A mating for alliance purposes?"

"Drop it," I said firmly, my voice carrying just enough Alpha command to make him pause.

Nina, who had been quietly fuming across the table, suddenly interjected. "It’s just a phone number, Damien. Would your girlfriend really be so controlling? Don’t you think that’s problematic, being on such a tight leash?"

She bit her lip in what she clearly thought was an enticing manner, her jealousy and dissatisfaction filling the air with a sour undertone that made Arthur curl his lip in disgust.

"Excuse me?" My voice dropped dangerously low, and I felt Arthur rising closer to the surface. "You think you have the right to judge someone you’ve never met? My mate can be whatever she wants to be, and if I choose to indulge her wishes, that’s between us. You’re nothing but a stranger, and your opinion means less than nothing."

Though Victoria wasn’t officially my mate—yet—the protective instinct flared instantly. Arthur was practically preening at the defense of our chosen female, even if she didn’t know her position in our life. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Nina’s eyes immediately filled with tears, clearly unaccustomed to being spoken to with anything less than adoration. "Felix!" she whimpered, turning to her cousin for support.

Felix sighed heavily. "Enough, both of you. Nina, what you said was out of line. You don’t get to comment on someone’s relationship like that. If there’s nothing else, I think it’s time I had someone take you home."

"Damien, my little cousin is somewhat spoiled. Raised with everything she ever wanted," Felix attempted to smooth things over. "Sometimes she speaks without thinking. Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t mean any harm."

I nodded once, not particularly concerned. Nina’s opinion meant nothing to me or to Arthur.

"I’m not leaving!" Nina protested, her voice rising with indignation. "And I’m not spoiled, Felix, stop saying that!"

Felix looked increasingly uncomfortable, clearly worried that his cousin might further antagonize me. With good reason—I wasn’t known for my patience with disrespect.

Eventually, he managed to convince his driver to escort Nina out, despite her protests. The room felt instantly clearer once her scent had dissipated.

After she left, Felix leaned in conspiratorially. "So, Damien, who is this mystery girlfriend of yours? You can tell me."

"There isn’t one. I made it up," I admitted, taking another sip of my drink. After all, Victoria hadn’t officially accepted me yet. Arthur whined with disappointment at this acknowledgment.

Felix’s jaw dropped. "Seriously? You were so convincing! I almost believed you’d been seeing someone behind my back. I should have known better—someone like you doesn’t just suddenly get a girlfriend. You had me worried for a minute!"

I rotated the glass between my fingers, watching the light catch in the amber liquid. My thoughts drifted to golden eyes and a fierce, unafraid expression. To the one woman who had ever dared to challenge me, who showed no fear in my presence.

"Maybe soon," I murmured, more to myself than to Felix. Arthur rumbled in agreement deep in my chest.

But for several days I did not see Victoria again.

I heard she had a lot of trouble at work.

She was so good at it that she solved it all.

A few days later, I learned that Victoria had gone on a business trip

I can’t control my longing, I want to go and see her.