Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 9 Punishment

Author’s POV

"Scarlett, you promised to buy me that designer bag I’ve been eyeing," Sophie Smith said sweetly. She was Ethan Sterling’s cousin, his uncle’s daughter, who had been basking in the family’s newfound status ever since Ethan’s mother married into the wealthy Sterling clan.

Scarlett had spent considerable time and money cultivating relationships with Ethan’s extended family, particularly using gifts to win over Sophie and solidify her own position. Despite her disgust at the girl’s obvious greed, she plastered on her most generous smile.

"Of course, darling. Bags, clothes, jewelry—anything that catches your eye today is yours," Scarlett promised, her voice dripping with false sweetness. While money wasn’t an issue for her, she privately despised Sophie’s materialistic nature. If she didn’t need to maintain appearances with Ethan’s family, she wouldn’t spare this girl a second glance.

After the humiliation she’d suffered at Victoria’s hands a few days ago, Scarlett had suggested this shopping trip to clear her head. The newly opened mall seemed perfect.

As they rounded the corner, Scarlett froze in her tracks. There, in the boutique ahead, stood Victoria Lancaster. Hatred surged through Scarlett’s body like wildfire, her manicured nails digging crescent-shaped marks into her palms. If looks could kill, Victoria would have died a thousand deaths in that moment.

Inside the boutique, Victoria had just emerged from the fitting room wearing a dress Grace had selected for her. The garment fit her curves perfectly, accentuating her full bust and hips, with subtle muscle definition visible along her arms and back.

"God, that bastard saw you looking this stunning and managed to resist? Maybe he really is sexually dysfunctional," Grace couldn’t help but marvel at Victoria’s perfect figure.

Victoria laughed. "Don’t mention him. Thank God he ’stayed pure’ for Scarlett, or I’d be completely disgusted right now."

"It’s absolutely perfect on you!" Grace declared. She was already imagining the reaction Victoria would get wearing this dress to the next pack gathering—perhaps every unmated Alpha would be drawn to her like moths to a flame.

Just as Grace was about to signal the clerk to wrap up the dress, a shrill voice cut through the pleasant atmosphere: "I want that dress!"

Victoria’s golden eyes narrowed as she turned to see Scarlett’s sneering face. Her wolf Nora stirred restlessly beneath her skin, responding to the threat with protective aggression.

Grace, never one to back down, immediately jumped in. "If it isn’t the homewrecker! Oh, I’d be ashamed to be in the same mall as you."

"Shut your filthy mouth!" Scarlett snapped, her face contorting with rage. She turned to the clerk, arrogantly commanding, "I said I want that dress. Pack it up now!"

Grace couldn’t believe such audacity. "This bitch stole your mate, and now she wants to steal your clothes? When will trash she-wolves develop even a hint of morals?"

"You—!" Scarlett’s face flushed crimson with anger when she realized Victoria’s friend wasn’t the least bit intimidated.

Scarlett dramatically pulled out her credit card. "I’ll pay ten times the asking price. Package this dress for me immediately!"

Grace nearly doubled over with laughter. "Are you mentally unbalanced, darling? This is my design, Victoria’s mall. Your pathetic attempt at throwing money around is like offering pocket change to royalty."

Grace didn’t take her words seriously and burst out laughing, thinking Grace was bluffing. After all, in her view, Victoria was just a pitiful omega, and Grace must be too.

She thrust her chin at Victoria. "Take it off now. That dress belongs to me!"

Victoria’s eyes flashed dangerously as she responded calmly, "Do you think you’re worthy of it?"

"Victoria, what’s a pauper like you doing in a place like this? Can you afford anything here?" Scarlett taunted. "I’m the VIP customer these people should be catering to. Be smart and leave before you embarrass yourselves further. If you leave quietly, I might even consider spending more money here."

The clerks exchanged confused glances. Was this woman really demanding they remove their own boss—the Alpha heir of the Crescent Dawn Pack—from her own store?

Victoria’s red lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Scarlett, didn’t I warn you not to cause trouble in front of me? Have you already forgotten kneeling before me? Your memory seems rather... selective."

Grace clapped her hands maliciously. "Wait, she actually knelt before you? What perfect training! Maybe today she wants to demonstrate her excellent manners by kneeling before both of us, hmm?"

The memory of that humiliation burned fresh in Scarlett’s mind. She’d desperately tried to forget it, but here was Victoria, digging it up again.

Sophie, unaware of that particular incident but recognizing Victoria as her cousin’s ex-girlfriend, joined the fray. In her mind, Victoria was just a gold-digger who had latched onto Ethan hoping to become a Sterling wife.

"Who do you think you are?" Sophie accusingly pointed at Victoria. "That’s not your dress to wear! Didn’t you hear Scarlett tell you to take it off?"

Grace immediately fired back. "Listen here, you little parasite, Victoria tried on this dress first! It was designed specifically for her!"

Sophie didn’t care about such trivial details as facts or the order of events. She lunged forward, grabbing at Victoria’s dress. "Take it off now! "

Her plan was simple: tear Victoria’s dress off in public, leaving her exposed in her underwear, humiliating her in front of everyone in the mall. Sophie imagined how pleased Scarlett would be, how many expensive gifts such loyalty would earn her.

Scarlett stood back, making no move to stop Sophie. She was eager to see Victoria publicly humiliated and stripped of her dignity.

What Sophie hadn’t considered was that she wasn’t facing a weak human woman, but the heir to one of the country’s most powerful packs. Victoria’s reflexes, honed through years of Alpha training, kicked in immediately.

As Sophie lunged, Victoria’s leg shot out with precise force, sending the girl flying backward several feet. Sophie landed hard on her backside, the impact knocking the wind out of her.

"Victoria! How dare you push me!" Sophie shrieked, still not understanding who she was truly dealing with.

These women had pushed too far, attempting to strip her clothes off in public. Victoria now had no intention of showing mercy. Her wolf demanded retribution, her eyes briefly flashing gold as she tapped out a message on her phone.

Within minutes, the mall manager appeared with security personnel. "Who’s causing trouble in my mall?" he demanded, though from his respectful posture toward Victoria, it was clear whose side he was on.

Victoria lazily pointed toward Scarlett and Sophie, her voice dangerously soft. "Those two. Strip them and throw them out."

"You heard Miss Victoria—strip them and throw them out!" the manager barked at his security team.

The guards moved swiftly, grabbing both women before they could react. As they struggled against the security personnel’s firm grip, Sophie began screaming at the top of her lungs.

"What are you doing? Do you know who we are? I’m Ethan Sterling’s cousin, and this is his wife! If you touch us, you’ll all be fired!"

Victoria took a step closer, her tone cold and flat. “Then call Ethan. Tell him his cousin and his cheating wife are being escorted out like trash.”

Scarlett froze, the color draining from her face. “You—”

“What?” Victoria cut her off. “You thought you could humiliate me again? You had your turn. Now it’s mine.”

Sophie tried to lunge forward, but the guards held her tighter. “You’ll pay for this!”

Victoria’s eyes didn’t waver. “No. You already did.”

She looked at the manager. “Take them out.”

“Yes, Miss Victoria.”