Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 212 With this crowd?

Victoria’s POV

Grace tugged at my arm, dragging me toward the dance floor despite my reluctance. The night at Howl, one of the most exclusive wolf-friendly clubs in the city, was in full swing. The music pulsed through my veins, but dancing wasn’t exactly what I had in mind tonight.

"The singer just ran off with stomach cramps," Grace announced, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Victoria, you should totally take the stage! I haven’t heard you sing in forever."

I rolled my eyes. "With this crowd? No thanks."

The sea of bodies moved like waves around us. Some were humans, oblivious to the supernatural elements lurking in their midst, while others were wolves from various packs, their scents mingling in the air. My wolf, Nora, stirred restlessly within me, sensing the energy of the room.

"Come on," Grace persisted, her blue eyes sparkling under the club lights. "Your voice is amazing. Just two songs?"

The regular singer, a petite brunette clutching her stomach, looked at me hopefully. "Could you? I really need to step out for a bit."

I hesitated, weighing my options. My wolf nudged me forward—she enjoyed showing off sometimes, even when I preferred to stay in the shadows. "Fine," I conceded. "Two songs, that’s it."

As I made my way to the small stage, I felt eyes tracking my movement. My fitted black dress hugged my curves just right, something I wouldn’t have dared wear during my five years with Ethan when I was desperately trying to hide my true nature. Now, I embraced who I was—no more hiding the alpha beneath.

The moment my voice flowed through the microphone, a hush fell over the crowd. The first notes of the melancholy love song filled the space, my voice carrying emotion that even surprised me. I channeled everything I’d been through—the betrayal, the heartbreak, the rebirth—into each word.

Nora hummed contentedly within me, savoring the attention and the power we held over the room. This was different from commanding a boardroom; this was pure, unfiltered connection.

Through the dim lighting, I spotted Howard Reiner at the far end of the club. The Alpha of the notorious Viper Pack tapped his fingers rhythmically against his glass, his predatory gaze fixed on me. A chill ran down my spine as our eyes met briefly. His reputation in arms dealing and other shady businesses made him someone to avoid, especially for a female Alpha trying to maintain legitimate business connections.

After finishing the second song to thunderous applause, I quickly stepped off the stage despite the crowd’s pleas for more. The regular singer had returned, and I had no intention of becoming tonight’s entertainment.

"That was incredible," Grace gushed as I rejoined her at our table. "You should’ve seen their faces! Total shock and awe!"

"Just needed to get it out of my system," I replied, taking a long sip of my whiskey. The burn in my throat was satisfying, grounding me back to reality.

What I didn’t realize was that someone had recorded my impromptu performance and uploaded it online. The hashtag #StunningBarSinger was already trending, along with videos of me telling off that entitled Beta, Shuler, earlier that night. My peaceful evening was about to become considerably less so.

Howard Reiner appeared beside our table, his smoky cedar scent mingling with something metallic that made my wolf bristle defensively.

"Impressive vocals," he commented, his voice smooth but with an undercurrent of danger.

"Thank you," I replied coolly, maintaining eye contact but nothing more. Even a polite smile could be misinterpreted as interest by an Alpha like him.

Howard seemed intrigued by my disinterest. I suspected he wasn’t used to women—especially those he believed were mere Omegas—being so dismissive.

As the night progressed, more wolves approached our table, clearly drawn by my performance. I rejected each advance firmly but politely. By the third interruption, my patience began wearing thin.

"Grace, it’s getting late. We should head out," I suggested, already reaching for my purse.

She nodded, downing the last of her cocktail. "Fair enough. This was fun while it lasted."

Just as we stood to leave, another man blocked our path—human this time, with alcohol-glazed eyes and an overly confident smirk.

"Hey, beautiful singer," he slurred. "How much for a private performance? Name your price."

I stiffened. "Excuse us, we’re leaving."

"Come on, don’t be like that," he persisted, reaching for my hand. "I like women with fire in them."

My wolf snarled within me, itching to put this human in his place. I was calculating the least violent way to remove his hand when suddenly, it was wrenched away. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"She’s taken," came a deep, frost-laden voice that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

Damien Sterling stood there, his six-foot-three frame radiating alpha energy so potently that even I felt the weight of it. His midnight eyes were fixed on the man with such cold intensity that the human physically recoiled.

"I was just—" the man stammered.

"You were just leaving," Damien finished for him, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The man scurried away, and I turned to face Damien, catching the faint scent of midnight rose and cedar that always seemed to cling to him.

"When did you get here?" I asked, surprised. "And how did you know where to find me?"

The dangerous edge that had been in Damien’s expression moments ago vanished, replaced by that infuriating half-smile that always made my heart beat a little faster—something I would never admit aloud.

"You’re trending online, sweetheart," he replied, stepping closer until I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Hard to miss when my mate becomes a viral sensation in one night. You’ve apparently gained quite the following, which means I’ve got a lot more competition to worry about now."

"Trending? What are you talking about?" I pulled out my phone and gasped at what I saw. Videos of me singing and confronting Shuler had exploded across social media. "How the hell did this happen?"

"Welcome to fame," Damien murmured, his hand finding the small of my back possessively. "You’ve never sung for me, you know. I think I deserve a private performance as compensation."

I rolled my eyes even as warmth spread through me at his touch. "That’s your own fault for being late to the party."

"I don’t care. You still owe me," he whispered, his lips dangerously close to my ear.

Grace cleared her throat dramatically. "Um, hello? Third wheel still present and feeling extremely uncomfortable with all this sexual tension."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "We weren’t doing anything!"

Damien’s eyes glinted mischievously. "Would you like to see something that’s actually worth feeling uncomfortable about?"

"Yes!" Grace exclaimed, entirely too enthusiastically.

I swatted Damien’s arm. "Don’t you dare corrupt my best friend."

Grace laughed. "Honey, in this department, I was corrupted long ago. I live for this kind of drama."

"I’m not putting on a show," I insisted, grabbing Grace’s arm. "Let’s get you home first."

As we made our way toward the exit, Damien’s arm slid protectively around my shoulders, his body angled to shield me from the crowd. The gesture was subtle but clear to any wolf watching—this female was claimed.

From across the room, I caught Howard Reiner’s calculating gaze following our departure, his expression darkening when he noted Damien’s possessive stance. A problem for another day, I decided.

Behind us, I heard the excited murmurs of recognition rippling through the crowd.

"Wait, isn’t that Victoria Lancaster? The Lancaster Group CEO?"

"And that’s definitely Damien Sterling with her!"

"Holy shit, I just watched the Lancaster Alpha sing live!"

I leaned into Damien’s warmth as we stepped into the cool night air, realizing my quiet evening had just become considerably more complicated. But with his steady presence beside me and Nora’s contented purring in my chest, I found I didn’t mind nearly as much as I should have.