Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 166 What is this about

Author’s POV

The call from Marcia Cross sent a chill down Mona’s spine. "Mona, dear, are you free tomorrow?" Marcia’s voice purred from the speaker, like honey concealing poison.

Mona’s heart leaped, her inner wolf instantly alert. "What is this about?"

"Tomorrow, my husband and I have arranged for our private doctor to come over. Just a simple blood test to confirm paternity." Marcia’s voice carried barely suppressed excitement. "You’re not worried, are you? Once we confirm that the pup you’re carrying is Ethan’s, you will officially become a part of the Sterling family and the North Creek Pack."

Panic surged through Mona’s entire body, her inner wolf whimpering anxiously. The secret she had so carefully guarded was about to be exposed.

"Tomorrow? But I’ve already made plans to go shopping with friends."

"That’s perfectly fine," Marcia replied calmly. "Just let me know when you’re available. Our doctor can accommodate your schedule anytime."

"Of course..." Mona responded weakly, her mind a chaotic mess.

She knew she couldn’t pass a paternity test. The pup wasn’t Ethan’s, and once the truth came out, all her plans would come to nothing. Despair almost consumed her when her phone buzzed with an unexpected message.

"I can help you."

A very simple sentence. From an unknown sender. Mona stared at the screen, confusion intertwined with desperate hope.

She replied, "Who are you? I don’t understand what you mean."

The reply came quickly: "You want to marry into a wealthy family, right? But this pup isn’t Ethan Sterling’s. I can help you with the paternity test."

A chill instantly ran through Mona. Someone knew her secret—the secret she had guarded so carefully. Her fingers trembled as she tried to dial the number, only to find it encrypted and untraceable.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she replied, her wolf letting out a defensive growl. "This child is absolutely Ethan’s. I don’t need your help."

The mysterious texter calmly replied, "You have one night to consider my offer."

After that, the number went silent, ignoring Mona’s increasingly frantic messages. That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Who had discovered her lie? The stranger didn’t seem intent on exposing her—quite the opposite, they wanted to help, implying they might have a vendetta against the Sterling family. Knowing her secret was in someone else’s hands felt like a collar around her neck, being led by a stranger. However, without help, the paternity test would destroy everything she had painstakingly built.

At dawn, Mona made her decision. Her finger hovered over the phone screen for a moment, then she typed: "I agree."

Unbeknownst to her, Jeff Parker immediately conveyed her response to Damian Sterling. Everything unfolded just as Damian had anticipated. Women like Mona had no choice but to accept.

"Understood." Damian’s terse reply was accompanied by Arthur’s satisfied growl, another piece in his intricate game falling perfectly into place.

***

With the assurance of her mysterious ally, Mona underwent the blood test the next day. The Sterling family doctor, with practiced skill, drew her blood and promised results within forty-eight hours.

For Mona, those two days felt like an eternity. She paced back and forth in the guest room of the Sterling mansion, each passing hour fueling her doubt about her decision. Could this stranger be trusted? Why would anyone help her deceive one of the most powerful packs in the region? The thought of her deception being in someone else’s hands tormented her, but she constantly reminded herself of her objective: to marry into the powerful Sterling family, discreetly transfer enough wealth to secure her future, then divorce Ethan and disappear without a trace. Freedom and luxury awaited her—if only she could pass this final test.

On the morning the results were due, a maid knocked on her door. "Miss Mona, the Sterlings would like you to come downstairs."

Mona’s heart pounded. This was it—the moment of truth. She slowly descended the staircase, each step feeling like a walk toward either salvation or execution.

Lawrence Sterling sat in the living room, his expression inscrutable. The Alpha power he exuded filled the room, making Mona’s inner wolf instinctively cower. His chilling aura made her wonder if the test had, after all, exposed her lie.

"Uncle," she greeted him softly.

Lawrence stared at her with piercing eyes. "The results are in."

His tone was cold and flat, revealing nothing. Mona’s nails dug deep into her palms, feeling the color drain from her face.

"Uncle, I—" she began, but the words caught in her throat.

Lawrence continued to scrutinize her with his predator-like eyes. Though over fifty, he possessed the vitality of a much younger wolf, his mature features radiating power and authority. His presence was awe-inspiring—and terrifying. Had his expression been less formidable, Mona might have found herself drawn to him. Compared to Ethan, Lawrence possessed a charismatic appeal entirely lacking in his son.

Just as the silence became unbearable, Marcia Cross entered the room, her smile bright and effusive.

"Mona, dear! Why are you standing? Come, sit down." She gestured towards the comfortable sofa. "Didn’t you say you wanted those imported cherries the other day? I had some specially flown in. They’re all freshly washed—you must try some." Marcia emerged from the kitchen carrying a crystal bowl filled with glistening dark cherries.

Mona accepted the offering with a mixture of confusion and gratitude, as Marcia continued, "Now that we’ve confirmed this pup is indeed of our family’s bloodline, we will honor our promise. We’ll arrange your marriage to Ethan as soon as possible."

"The test results are out?" Mona asked, barely concealing the immense relief in her voice.

Marcia nodded warmly. "Yes, dear. Thank you for your patience."

The tension in Mona’s body dissipated like water. The mysterious helper had kept their promise. She was about to become a Sterling.

Fearing any unexpected complications, Mona wasted no time. The very next day, she brought officials from the Werewolf Civil Registry to the prison, where she and Ethan held a brief, utterly joyless legal wedding.

Ethan signed the documents with cold, detached eyes. Despite Mona’s increasing resemblance to Victoria, he felt nothing for her. All he wanted was the child in her womb—the heir who would solidify his position within the pack. The moment the pup was born, he intended to divorce Mona immediately.

***

When Victoria heard the news of Ethan and Mona’s marriage, she felt no emotional stir whatsoever. Why should she care? That Chapter of her life had long since been decisively closed.

Yet, Mona seemed determined to announce her newfound status to the world—especially to Victoria. She wanted everyone to know that she had married into one of the region’s most powerful packs.

Unable to locate Victoria’s current residence, Mona laid in wait outside Lancaster Industries, ready to ambush her former rival. As Victoria approached the building, Mona called out to her.

"Victoria!"

Victoria turned, a flicker of annoyance in her golden wolf eyes when she saw Mona. "Do you need something?" Her voice was calm and restrained.

"Got a moment to chat?" Mona asked, her tone laced with newfound superiority.

Despite being only two months pregnant and showing no visible signs, Mona continuously cradled her abdomen—an obvious gesture to emphasize her condition. Victoria’s gaze swept over the woman, whose features bore an unsettling resemblance to her own. Her white wolf, Nora, let out a low growl of disgust within her.

"Talk to you?" Victoria’s voice was ice-cold and cutting. "You’re not worth wasting my time on."

"How could I not be?" Mona retorted, a sneer playing on her lips. "I am now Ethan Sterling’s wife. We’re married. The entire North Creek Pack stands behind me."

A dangerous smile curved Victoria’s lips, one that made her inner wolf’s fangs stir restlessly. "The North Creek Pack? Even Lawrence Sterling himself wouldn’t be worthy of opening my car door. Do you honestly think you’re important to me?"

She took a step closer, her sweet scent now laced with a hint of menace. "You should be grateful I’m in a good mood and merely letting you walk away. Otherwise, I could have you and your husband in jail within seconds. But perhaps newlyweds shouldn’t be separated?"

Victoria tilted her head, feigning thoughtfulness. "Perhaps I should send you to keep him company?"