Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

I sat in the corner of the café, nervously stirring my coffee. After five years, this was the first time I’d reached out to Sabrina. My fingers trembled as I dialed her number last night.

Sabrina was the daughter of Alfred, my father’s beta. Sabrina and I grew up together, training side by side in the training grounds.

On that full moon night when we were sixteen, we experienced our first shift together, running under the moonlight, sharing both the joy and fear. We promised to always be each other’s support, to be godmothers to each other’s pups. I still remember how excited she was the day she met her mate, Cassian. Back then, we thought such happiness would last forever.

But now...

She arrived. Still radiant as ever, with her golden hair and bright brown eyes, beautiful and elegant as always. While my reflection in the mirror showed someone I barely recognized anymore.

Five years of misunderstanding stood between us, yet she remained the person I trusted most in this world. Perhaps that’s why, in what might be my final moments, I chose to turn to her for help.

"You’re early," she sat across from me, her voice clearly guarded.

"Sabrina..." I whispered her name, "I’m sorry I couldn’t be your bridesmaid."

"Bridesmaid?" She scoffed, "Weren’t you comfortable enough in prison? "

She was still angry about what happened five years ago.

I explained, "Sabrina, I really didn’t leak medical secrets or betray the pack.Why would I do that? That research was my life’s work too!"

Sabrina said, "How do you explain all that irrefutable evidence of betraying the pack and selling medical secrets?"

I expected this reaction. Sabrina had always been righteously indignant, and after believing in me so completely, the "evidence" had slapped her in the face.

I took a deep breath and said earnestly, "Sabrina, if you’re willing to trust me one more time, I’ll tell you that those pieces of evidence were fabricated by someone to frame me."

Sabrina fell silent for a moment, studying my eyes, then said, "You’re not lying. From what I know of you, when you lie, your eyes dart around and your heartbeat quickens. For now, I believe in your innocence."

I exhaled slowly. Sabrina’s trust hadn’t vanished completely.

She added, "Unless you’ve become a master actor, in which case there’s nothing I can do. What did you want to see me about?"

"Remember how we promised to be godmothers to each other’s children?" I struggled to keep my voice steady. "Now you can see, my Clara..."

"Don’t bring that up!" She cut me off. "You didn’t ask to meet just to discuss this, did you?"

I took a deep breath. "I need to see Brett, for a proper conversation. Please help me, Sabrina."

"Why do you suddenly want to see him?" Her eyes narrowed. "What are you plotting now?"

Her gaze lingered thoughtfully on Clara’s photo on the table. That question, I knew she’d always wanted to ask,was Clara truly Brett’s child?

"Because I don’t have much time left." I smiled bitterly. "I’m really sick. It’s not an act or a lie. The Moon Goddess say I have a year at most..."

"You really think I’ll fall for that?"She coldly interrupted.

"Sabrina, I’m dying. What reason would I have to lie?" My voice cracked.

"I know you hate me,because you think I let you down. But I didn’t. Still, please... just believe me, this once. I don’t want to leave with all these misunderstandings between us."

I hesitated, then added, "Besides...I need to find someone to care for Clara. That child has no one but me..."

Sabrina stared at the photo for a long time, as if searching for something. I knew she must have noticed how much Clara resembled a young Brett.

She studied me for a while.

"You used to be my strongest defender," I said softly. "You knew me better than anyone. Do you really believe I could have done those things?"

Her expression wavered slightly.

"I never betrayed anyone," I met her eyes directly. "If it weren’t for Clara, I would rather..."

Before I could finish, tears spilled from my eyes.

After a long silence, Sabrina suddenly stood up. "Come with me to the hospital."

"What?"

"For tests," she turned away, her voice shaking. "If you’re lying to me..."

I shook my head. "I swear, everything I’ve said is true."

"We’ll discuss everything else after the tests." She bit her lip. "If... if the results are as you say, I’ll have Cassian talk to Brett."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

After five years, I finally saw glimpses of the Sabrina who used to defend me.

Brett’s POV

When Cassian mentioned Lilith wanted to see me one last time, my response was cold and absolute.

"Tell her to stay the hell away from me. I don’t want to see her," I warned.

I was walking down the long corridor of Aurora BioSciences,wearing a white lab coat.Our company had been working for nearly two decades on developing medications targeting specific genetic disorders in werewolves,and we were finally on the verge of a breakthrough.This was the same project where Lilith, as a core researcher five years ago, leaked crucial data that almost let Umbra Capital Group steal our research.

I studied the clinical trial reports in my hands, completely absorbed in analyzing the data.

Cassian stepped into my path. "Just meet with her once, Alpha Brett."

"Cassian, you’re mated yourself." I looked up from the reports, and Jacob, my wolf spirit, nearly howled with rage."You should understand an Alpha’s dignity and responsibilities I’m engaged to Vanessa now.I won’t meet with other women, especially not my ex-mate who betrayed me."

"What if there’s been some misunderstanding between you two..." Cassian began.

I closed the report and narrowed my eyes at Cassian. "You seem unusually invested in Lilith’s affairs."

Jacob growled within me. As an Alpha, I possessed an innate dominance over my Beta. Cassian bowed his head and extended his neck in submission.

"Cassian, as my Beta, you should know better. My orders are absolute. When I say no, it means no."

But watching his evasive gaze, sudden realization hit me. "Wait... Did Sabrina put you up to this?"

Cassian visibly stiffened, then let out a sigh. "...You should tell Lilith yourself that you never want to see her again."

His response was as good as a confession.I let out a bitter laugh. No wonder he’d been so persistent. Sabrina always had to stick her nose where it didn’t belong.

"Unnecessary," I replied coldly. "I made myself perfectly clear five years ago."

Cassian called out behind me, "Alpha, then at least let me give her your number."

I paused for a few seconds, then continued on my way to work. With my doctorate in medicine specializing in werewolf gene therapy, I had more pressing matters to attend to. After all, this was Aurora BioSciences’ core business.

When I’m in the lab, I lose track of time completely. Hours flew by, so when Lilith got my number from Cassian and bombarded me with calls and texts, I didn’t see any of them.

It was past eight when I finally went back to the pack house and saw all the missed calls and messages.

[Alpha Brett, please meet me one last time. I’m waiting at the Medical School]

I stared at the message, turning it over in my mind before letting out a heavy sigh. Finally, I decided to drive to Blood Moon Pack’s Medical School to meet her. We’d studied there together once upon a time.

As much as I hated her, I couldn’t completely ignore her existence.