Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 147 What happened to your face?

Damien’s POV:

I watched in shock as Patrick stepped in front of Victoria, blocking her view with his hand still dramatically covering his self-inflicted injuries. Arthur growled inside me, furious at this pathetic display.

"Victoria, weren’t you upstairs with Alpha Lancaster?" Patrick’s voice dripped with fake concern as he positioned himself strategically between us.

Victoria’s golden eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What happened to your face?"

Patrick’s act was so transparent it made my wolf bristle. "It’s nothing," he whimpered, somehow managing to look both brave and victimized at once. "I’m sure Mr. Sterling didn’t mean it. Perhaps I upset him when I supported your grandfather’s opinions inside. He probably thought I was trying to come between you two, so I understand why he lashed out. But Victoria, I swear I wasn’t interfering—my thoughts align completely with Alpha Lancaster’s. Don’t trust what others might tell you."

I stood there, stunned into momentary silence. The audacity of this wolf was unbelievable. Arthur clawed beneath my skin, demanding release to teach this pretender a lesson about true pack hierarchy.

Victoria’s gaze shifted to me, her sweet scent tinged with confusion. "Your side of the story?" she asked directly.

"I never touched him," I stated firmly, keeping my voice controlled despite the rage building inside me. The bond between us hummed with energy, and I hoped she could sense my honesty.

Patrick’s face contorted with mock outrage. "What are you implying? That I did this to myself? That I’m mentally unstable enough to injure my own face? Victoria, I’m not crazy! He attacked me before, and now he’s done it again. Any man with such violent tendencies is dangerous!" His voice rose dramatically, the scent of deceit rolling off him in waves.

I stepped forward, my patience evaporating. "If I had actually hit you, your wolf would be whimpering from a shattered skull right now, not standing here spewing lies." The deadly calm in my voice made Patrick flinch visibly.

"Both of you, stop it," Victoria commanded, her alpha nature briefly flashing through her disguise. "Patrick, go inside. Now."

The manipulative beta opened his mouth to protest, but Victoria’s stern expression silenced him.

"You’re defending him?" I couldn’t help the accusation that slipped out, Arthur’s possessiveness taking over as my eyes briefly flashed with wolf fire. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I didn’t say that," Victoria countered, her scent shifting with frustration.

"You believe him?" I pressed, my voice growing colder. "You think I caused those injuries?"

Victoria sighed, her golden hair gleaming under the moonlight. "I never said that. Damien, can you please calm down?"

The use of my first name should have soothed me, but Arthur was too agitated. "Calm? I’m perfectly calm. Of course, you’ve known each other since childhood. You’ll always believe whatever your precious Patrick says." The jealousy burning through me was primal and unstoppable. "I’m nothing to you but an annoyance, someone you despise. Fine. Defend him all you want."

Something inside me snapped. A primal roar tore through my mind, and Arthur’s fury took over. I strode toward Patrick, who cowered against the wall. With precision and force that only an Alpha could deliver, I drove my fist into his face, sending him sprawling across the ground.

"That," I growled, standing over his crumpled form, "is what it actually feels like when I hit you. Mark it down."

Without another glance at Victoria’s shocked expression, I stormed to my car and peeled out of the driveway, tires squealing against the pavement.

I drove only a few miles before pulling over, my chest heaving with barely contained rage. My fist crashed against the steering wheel, the impact barely registering through my fury.

That pathetic excuse for a wolf had played me perfectly. Patrick Wagner was everything I despised—manipulative, dishonest, and utterly without honor. How could Victoria not see through his transparent schemes? He was no better than Ethan, perhaps even worse with his underhanded tactics.

Yet Victoria seemed blind to it all. Their childhood connection clearly meant more to her than she admitted. "Childhood friends," I scoffed aloud. Arthur paced restlessly inside me, wanting to return and claim what was ours. He howled for vengeance, for possession, for an Alpha to remind a wayward she-wolf where her loyalties should lie.

My wolf and I needed to redirect this aggression. Without thinking, I found myself driving toward the county detention center. I needed to see Ethan’s face, to remind myself that at least one Sterling enemy was exactly where he belonged.

When the guards brought my half-brother into the visitation room, his face contorted with hatred. "What are you doing here?" he spat, his wolf Leon flashing briefly in his eyes. "How dare you show your face!"

I leaned back in my chair, deliberately casual. "Just checking on the family dog," I replied with a cruel smile. "Seems like you’re not enjoying your accommodations. Good."

"Don’t think putting me here stops anything," Ethan snarled, his handcuffs rattling as he leaned forward. "I’ll still have pups to carry on my bloodline!"

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely amused by his delusion. "Ah yes, I heard about your impending nuptials. Quite the rebound speed. Perhaps I should congratulate you?" I paused, letting my next words land with maximum impact. "And maybe prepare a special wedding gift for the happy couple."

Ethan’s face paled, his scent spiking with fear. "What gift? What are you planning?"

I watched his panic with satisfaction as he slammed his palms against the table. Arthur purred with pleasure inside me, enjoying our enemy’s distress.

"You’ll find out," I replied softly. "Unless you’re eager to discover it sooner? By all means, move up the wedding date."

"If you touch my mother," Ethan growled, "I swear I’ll—"

I cut him off with a dismissive wave. "Your mother? Why would I waste energy on her when watching your family’s slow, painful downfall is so much more satisfying?" I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "Death would be merciful, Ethan. I prefer justice that lingers."

Author’s POV

Damien didn’t spend much time with Ethan. Frankly, his half-brother’s current state was pathetic to behold.

After leaving, Damien pulled out his phone and called his secretary. "Jeff, that information you gathered earlier—it’s all accurate, right?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Sterling. Every detail is confirmed," Jeff Parker’s voice came through with unwavering certainty.

"Good." Damien’s voice dropped lower as Arthur, his wolf, rumbled with satisfaction beneath his skin. "What’s Lawrence saying about welcoming his new daughter-in-law into the family?"

"Lawrence seems to be waiting until he can confirm the child is actually Ethan’s. The baby’s still too young for DNA testing, so he’s reluctant to make any formal announcements at this point."

Damien’s lips curved into a predatory smile as he slid into his car, the leather seat cool against his back. "If he won’t budge, find a way to make him.This is one area where I don’t mind helping my dear brother along. Marriage is just a formality, after all."

His fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel.

"Sometimes Lawrence doesn’t need to know everything.

Work through Marcia—she’s always been the weak link.

Speed this up. I want to see the Northstream Pack turn into a circus, become the laughingstock of every wolf territory. I want them finished."

Jeff went silent for a moment, processing the underlying message. Someone had clearly angered his Alpha. When Damien Sterling spoke with that edge in his voice, blood would spill—metaphorically or literally.

Of course, Damien’s return had always been about making the Sterling corporation pay. Many employees within Sterling Enterprises were already loyal to Damien rather than Lawrence. With one word from Damien, the company could fall under his control overnight.

But merely taking over the business wouldn’t satisfy the hatred that had been brewing for years. The vendetta went deeper than corporate assets.