Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 206 Your ex and your brother?

Ethan’s POV

I hadn’t been home for several days, not that anyone there cared about my existence anyway. Tonight, I was out with some friends at an upscale restaurant when one of them suddenly gasped.

"Ethan, isn’t that Victoria, your ex-girlfriend? And is that... your brother with her?"

The words pierced through me like silver bullets. I turned my head so quickly I nearly strained my neck. There they were—Victoria and Damien, looking irritatingly cozy together at a corner table.

My pack mates all knew Victoria from when we were dating. These same friends who had once whispered behind her back that she wasn’t good enough for me—a Sterling, even if I was born on the wrong side of the blanket. Back then, Victoria had concealed her true identity, appearing to be just a pretty omega. Some of these idiots had even harbored thoughts about pursuing her if we ever broke up.

Well, we did break up, but not in the way anyone expected. And now that Victoria’s true identity as a Lancaster—heir to the Crescent Dawn Pack—had been revealed, these same friends wouldn’t even be worthy of lacing her boots.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. She was radiant tonight, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders, her laughter filling the air as she gazed at my brother. My brother. The rage building inside me was so intense I could feel Leon, my wolf, howling to break free.

"They look pretty happy together," another friend commented. "You don’t think they’re actually... you know... together, do you? Your ex and your brother?"

"What a waste," added another, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "A beauty like Victoria with a Lancaster fortune behind her... she should have been yours, Ethan. You two were perfect together. That should have been yours."

Their words only stoked the fire within me. My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles turned white. I couldn’t stand seeing Victoria with Damien. It was unbearable.

"By the way, Ethan," another friend leaned in, his voice lowered conspiratorially, "isn’t your father being a bit cold to you lately? I heard he froze your cards. Do you think he might be... reconsidering things? I mean, Damien is his son too, and well... I’m just saying this as a friend, you know what I mean?"

Of course I knew what he meant. Since my injury, I couldn’t father children anymore. But Damien could. My father Lawrence, the Alpha of the Northstream Pack, would naturally want an heir who could continue the bloodline. The obvious choice would be Damien.

My hands clenched into fists, hatred burning in my eyes.

So Damien was taking everything from me—my girlfriend, my father’s love, my rightful place in the Sterling pack? Everything that should have been mine?

No. I wouldn’t allow it. Never.

It was Damien who had done this to me. Damien who had shot me and left me like this. The more I thought about it, the more enraged I became. I couldn’t contain it any longer.

I lunged forward, aiming a punch straight at his smug face.

What I hadn’t anticipated was Damien’s lightning-fast reflexes. Even with his back to me, he sensed the danger coming. In one fluid motion, he protected Victoria, spinning around to grab my attacking arm. Before I could react, his leg shot out, kicking my knee. With my wrist locked in his grip, I dropped straight to the floor, kneeling before him like some pathetic subject.

"Argh!" I cried out in pain.

The attack I’d planned had failed spectacularly. Now I was kneeling before him, utterly humiliated. With my injured thigh and hand, I was no match for Damien. I couldn’t even stand up.

"What are you trying to do, Ethan?" Victoria’s cold voice cut through the air as she stared down at me, then glanced at my approaching friends.

My pack mates rushed over, naturally taking my side.

"Victoria, how can you be so heartless?" one challenged. "Look at what you’ve driven Ethan to. Don’t you understand how much he loves you?"

"Exactly!" another chimed in. "Ethan had his reasons for what happened, but his feelings for you never changed. Look how miserable he is now. How can you treat him like this?"

I could see Victoria’s expression shift to one of utter disgust. I knew she’d overheard these same friends talking behind her back before—saying she wasn’t good enough for me, that her pretty face meant she couldn’t be trusted, some even claiming she’d tried to seduce them.

"Three seconds," Victoria’s voice was ice cold, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You have three seconds to apologize. I’m angry now, and you should consider whether you can afford to face my wrath."

Her tone was imperious, her demeanor queenly. My friends seemed to shrink under her gaze, suddenly finding it difficult to breathe. And with Damien standing beside her, looking at them like a predator eyeing its next meal, they visibly wilted.

They had spoken impulsively and were now backpedaling rapidly.

"We’re sorry, Victoria. We didn’t mean it that way," one stammered. "It’s just that Ethan truly loves you. We’re his brothers, we’ve witnessed his feelings for you. If you could get back together, that would be wonderful—"

Damien cut him off by pulling Victoria closer, his arm possessively around her waist. "Get back together?" he sneered. "Open your fucking eyes. Victoria is my girlfriend now. What she had with Ethan is ancient history. Stop pawing at her like desperate dogs. I thought you’d learned your lesson in jail, Ethan, but let me warn you one last time—stay in your lane, or you’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars."

Damien’s eyes were cold as ice, his voice filled with authority and possessiveness that made my blood boil.

"Do you understand?" he demanded, tightening his grip on my wrist painfully.

Despite the pain, I refused to back down. "Your girlfriend? Ha!"

I looked up at Victoria, desperation in my eyes. "Victoria, have you forgotten all the beautiful moments we shared? You can’t have forgotten me completely. This can’t be happening. How can you be with Damien? Please, give me one more chance. I promise I won’t make the same mistakes again. Please, Victoria!"

I was kneeling there, begging her, when Victoria’s hand whipped across my face with a resounding slap.

"Even speaking to you is a waste of my time," she spat. "You’re delusional."

She turned to Damien, tugging at his arm. "Let’s go. I don’t want to deal with this pathetic creature anymore. He makes me sick just listening to him. I’ll lose my appetite for dinner."

Damien allowed himself to be pulled away, finally releasing my wrist before leaving with Victoria.

I remained kneeling on the floor, unable to get up for several moments. My gaze had turned manic. So they really were together now. "Girlfriend," he’d called her!

I had humiliated myself, made myself as pathetic as possible, and Victoria hadn’t shown an ounce of sympathy. Instead, she’d slapped me.

My mind suddenly flashed to the hitman I’d contacted days ago. Why hadn’t I heard anything yet? Why was there no progress?

I need to kill Victoria. I have to kill her! Even if it costs me my life, I won’t let them be together.

If I can’t have her, I’ll destroy her. Neither of them deserves happiness!

I felt Leon stir within me, his growl resonating through my chest. He was just as furious as I was, but for different reasons. My wolf had never forgiven me for betraying our potential mate. But I didn’t care what he thought anymore. All I knew was that I would make them pay—both of them.