Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 208 Not yet

Victoria’s POV

Ethan’s appearance had little effect on Damien and me. Our relationship remained sweet and undisturbed, like honey flowing through my veins whenever I was near him. My wolf, Nora, practically purred within me whenever Damien’s scent—smoky cedar with hints of midnight rose—enveloped my senses.

Every day, Damien arrived at Lancaster Enterprises to pick me up after work. Though we hadn’t gone public with our relationship, Kane had clearly picked up on our connection. My heightened werewolf senses could detect his curiosity before he even opened his mouth.

"Victoria," Kane said, leaning against my office doorframe, his eyes darting toward the waiting room where Damien sat scrolling through his phone. "So Sterling’s back again. You two are..."

I nodded, feeling a smile tug at my lips. "We’re exactly what you think. He’s my boyfriend now."

"Does Grandfather know about this?" Kane’s protective instincts were showing—typical behavior for a pack member looking out for the future Alpha’s interests.

"Not yet," I replied, gathering my leather portfolio and tucking it into my designer bag. "I worry he might not take it well at first. I need to prepare him mentally when he returns. Keep this between us for now, okay?"

Kane nodded, his loyalty never in question. "No problem. Damien seems like a decent man. His Alpha qualities are impressive."

Kane and Damien had interacted professionally before. Damien’s business acumen was beyond reproach, even among the cutthroat Alpha wolves who dominated corporate America.

"Oh, before you go," Kane continued, handing me a sleek folder. "Take a look at this project. It’s promising, but the competition is fierce. ME Corporation already has operations in this space, so they likely won’t bid, but if we want it, we’ll be up against Silver Galaxy Pack—the Gillies Group from overseas. Their Alpha, Elijah Gillies, is formidable. Are you familiar with them?"

"The overseas Gillies family?" I asked, my fingers tracing the embossed logo on the folder.

Kane nodded. "That’s them."

"I know them somewhat," I replied, remembering my encounter with Brian Gillies during my trip to Europe. Grace had practically drooled over him the entire time.

I opened the folder and scanned the proposal. The project was indeed impressive, with potential for massive growth.

"I’ve gathered some intelligence," Kane said. "The Gillies are determined to secure this deal. Elijah won’t back down easily. We’ll face an uphill battle."

I closed the folder with a confident snap. "That’s fine. Fair competition is healthy. If we lose, it just means we need to work harder. It’ll push us to improve."

I tucked the folder under my arm. "I’ll study this at home. It’s quitting time anyway, so I’m heading out."

My wolf practically danced beneath my skin as I walked toward Damien’s scent. He waited in the lounge area, his powerful frame making the executive furniture look almost dainty in comparison. My inner wolf whispered that he’d make a perfect mate—strong, intelligent, protective.

"Mr. Sterling seems to have a lot of free time these days," I teased, approaching him with a deliberate sway in my hips. "Always hanging around my office. What brings you here so often?"

Damien’s eyes darkened as they traced my form, his lips curving into that half-smile that made my heart skip. "The energy here is good for me."

"Good energy? Since when do you care about that?" I laughed, setting my bag down.

"Since I discovered being near you soothes my wolf," he replied, not bothering to mask his intentions. "A minute away makes my skin itch."

"When did the mighty Alpha of Blood Moon Pack become such a smooth talker?" I reached out, my finger tracing his jawline as my eyes locked with his. "You’ve got quite the silver tongue lately."

"Just speaking truth," Damien said, pulling me into his arms with the natural authority of an Alpha. "I missed you. Seriously."

"Don’t be ridiculous," I protested, my body betraying me by melting against his chest. "We only said goodbye this morning."

His arms tightened around me. "That was ages ago. I want you in front of me every minute. I should just move my office here. Lancaster Enterprises is massive—surely you could find space for me. Just one room where I can work and watch you at the same time."

I couldn’t help but laugh, my lips twitching at his impractical suggestion. It wasn’t about office space or company secrets—I trusted him completely. But how would his employees reach him? The logistics alone would be nightmarish.

"Not happening. Stay at your own office like a responsible CEO," I said, nudging him playfully.

"What do you want for dinner? I’ll take you somewhere special," he said, shifting to hold my hand as we walked toward the elevator.

"I’m not picky," I replied, loving the way his large hand enveloped mine, his thumb absently stroking my skin in a way that made Nora purr.

After dinner at an upscale steakhouse, we wandered through downtown, hand in hand. I couldn’t help but notice the admiring glances we received—two powerful wolves, our auras subtly intimidating even to humans who couldn’t identify why they felt compelled to move out of our path.

We shared an ice cream cone, taking turns licking it like teenagers instead of two of the most powerful werewolves in the state. The sweetness was nothing compared to the taste of Damien’s lips when he kissed me after, the sugar mingling with his natural flavor.

Unbeknownst to me, a man in a baseball cap followed at a distance, carefully maintaining enough space that my enhanced senses didn’t pick up his presence. Had I known, my hackles would have risen, my wolf on alert. Howard Reiner—leader of the ruthless Venom Pack—was watching us, studying me with interest that went beyond my unexpected success with gemstone investments that had profited him handsomely.

Howard had been in town for weeks, curious about me for reasons beyond my business acumen. There was something about me that intrigued him—my intelligence, my capabilities, the way my presence commanded attention despite my attempts to blend in. My light was impossible to hide.

He’d accepted a contract from Ethan to eliminate me, and Ethan had been pressing him repeatedly, yet Howard hadn’t acted. After our last encounter when his plan failed and Damien had swooped in, Howard had withdrawn his men and decided to handle this personally.

I’d been too occupied with company matters for Howard to find the right opportunity. With Damien constantly at my side, the challenge grew.

That night, Damien and I returned home together. As Saturday approached, Damien had hoped for uninterrupted time with me—movies, shopping, or simply lounging together doing nothing. Just being near me made his wolf content.

"Can’t tomorrow," I said as I changed into my nightgown, catching Damien watching me with hungry eyes. "I already have plans."

"With who?" His voice dropped an octave, a hint of jealousy flashing in his eyes. "Shouldn’t weekends be reserved for your devoted boyfriend?"

"With my dearest Grace, of course," I replied, enjoying the subtle territorial display from my Alpha.

"She’s your dearest, then? Where do I rank?" The question came with an audible sulkiness that made me smile.

The mighty Damien Sterling, pouting because he placed behind my best friend in my affections.

"You?" I turned to face him, letting my nightgown slip slightly off one shoulder. "You’re my boyfriend, aren’t you?"

The smile I gave him reached deep into his soul—I could see it in the way his pupils dilated. Damien moved closer, intending to claim my lips.

I playfully dodged, enjoying the thrill of the chase.

Unwilling to be denied, he cupped my face with both hands and captured my mouth in a kiss that radiated dominance. His kiss was aggressive, demanding, seeking to claim every part of me. I tried to pull back teasingly, but his voice came out husky: "You’re abandoning me tomorrow and won’t even let me kiss you goodnight?"

Something in his half-playful, half-genuine dejection melted my resolve.

"Just one kiss then," I murmured, taking his perfect face in my hands and pressing my lips to his.

One kiss quickly became more as his hands slipped down to my waist, pulling me against his hard body. His scent intensified with arousal, making my wolf howl with desire. I felt the familiar heat pool between my legs as his tongue explored my mouth. When he finally pulled away, we were both breathing heavily.

"Just one?" he asked with a wicked grin.

"Maybe a few more," I conceded, pulling him toward the bed.

The next day, Saturday morning found me meeting Grace at our favorite coffee shop. While sipping our lattes, I shared recent developments in my life.

"So you and Damien are officially together, and you haven’t even treated me to a celebration dinner?" Grace prodded, stirring her drink. "This is major news! Don’t I deserve some acknowledgment?"

"Of course you do," I laughed. "How about lunch today? My treat. Whatever you want."

"Perfect! There’s this trending restaurant downtown that’s impossible to get into these days. If we head over after shopping, we might snag a table before the rush. Sound good?"

"Absolutely," I agreed without hesitation.

After browsing through several boutiques, we headed to the restaurant. Grace hadn’t exaggerated—the place was packed. Luckily, we arrived just in time to claim the last available table.

Once seated, Grace leaned forward with a mischievous gleam in her eye. "So, when are you and Damien getting married?"

I nearly choked on my water, coughing slightly as I set down my glass. "You’re thinking way too far ahead! We haven’t even discussed that."

"Just because you haven’t thought about it doesn’t mean he hasn’t," Grace countered with a knowing smile. "What man wouldn’t want to claim you permanently? Hell, if I were a man, I’d be planning our wedding already."

"We’ve only just become official," I protested. "It’s much too soon to think about marriage."

"At the rate you two are moving, it won’t be long," Grace predicted confidently.

As we continued chatting, a tall man approached our table. "Excuse me, ladies, but there are no more tables available. Would you mind if I joined you?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Looking up, I found myself staring at one of the most attractive men I’d ever seen. He appeared to be mixed-race, with striking blue eyes that contrasted beautifully with his olive skin. He stood tall—even taller than Damien—and wore designer clothes that accentuated his athletic build. Everything about him screamed wealth and refinement.

Before I could respond, Grace jumped in: "Not at all! Have a seat. Are you dining alone, handsome?"

"Yes," he replied smoothly, taking the seat beside me. "I heard the food here was exceptional, but I didn’t expect such a crowd. There are dozens waiting outside now."

Though this wasn’t our first encounter, it was the first time he’d shown his face so boldly. Howard Reiner, infamous in whispered legends but rarely photographed, was now sitting casually beside me.

I’m perceptive, but even I couldn’t have guessed the danger sitting so close. I couldn’t know that Howard was testing me, curious to see just how clever I truly was. Online, there were only rumors about him, no photos to identify him by.

What I also couldn’t know was that Howard had taken a contract on my life from Ethan, who had been pressuring him to complete the job. Howard, however, had developed his own interest in me—an interest that went beyond professional curiosity.