Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 8 Busy

Victoria’s POV

I watched Scarlett’s hand rise toward my face.

She actually dares.

Before her palm could connect, I caught her wrist mid-swing. Even through the suppression bracelet, I could feel the Alpha strength coursing through my veins, demanding to be unleashed.

CRACK!

My own slap landed across Scarlett’s cheek with satisfying force, the sound echoing through the ballroom like a gunshot.

Gasps rippled through the crowd of guests. I could feel their shocked stares burning into us, phones discretely rising to capture the drama. Good. Let them watch.

Scarlett clutched her reddening cheek, staring at me with pure disbelief. "You actually hit me!"

"That slap is the least you deserve," I said, each word precise as a blade. "Don’t assume everyone else collects garbage like you do. Ethan is trash I threw away—you’re welcome to scavenge him from the dumpster, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us want to drag filth home."

I paused, letting a cold smile curve my lips. "And frankly? This particular piece of trash isn’t worth keeping anyway."

Without breaking eye contact, I pulled out my phone and hit play. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

I’d started recording the moment I’d encountered Ethan tonight—years of navigating corporate sharks had taught me to always have insurance.

Ethan’s voice filled the silence, sickeningly familiar: ’Victoria! Don’t take what Scarlett said personally. She means nothing to me—it’s all for show. You’re the one I truly love. That woman is a nightmare, impossible to please. I promised I’d divorce her, and I will. Just wait for me a little longer, will you?’

Perfect.

I watched Ethan’s face drain of all color while Scarlett’s eyes blazed with murderous fury. Exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for—let them tear each other apart.

"Honey, let me explain," Ethan stammered, scrambling to appease Scarlett. "It’s not what you think. Victoria came out of the bathroom looking disheveled, deliberately trying to seduce me."

Seduce him? I almost laughed at the audacity.

Scarlett hissed through clenched teeth, "I’ll deal with you later!" Then she whirled on me, venom dripping from every word. "My husband says you were trying to seduce him."

"Ha." The sound escaped me like a bitter bark of laughter. So this is what five years of love gets me.

A wave of pure disgust crashed over me—not heartbreak, not betrayal, just complete and utter revulsion for the pathetic creature I’d wasted so much time on.

Before I could think twice, my hand was moving again.

CRACK!

The second slap caught Ethan across his lying mouth, harder than the first. My palm stung, but the satisfaction was worth it.

"Disgusting," I spat, the word carrying five years of accumulated disappointment.

I turned to leave, feeling lighter with each step. Behind me, I could hear the chaos erupting—angry voices, camera clicks, shocked murmurs rippling through the crowd.

This is what freedom feels like.

But apparently, Scarlett wasn’t done with her public humiliation.

"Stop right there!" she shouted after me, her voice cracking with rage. "Victoria! My father is a Beta in the Northstream Pack—no one has ever dared humiliate me like this!" she shrieked, her voice carrying an undertone of growl.

Before she could lunge at me, Damian’s security team moved with practiced efficiency, restraining her with grips too firm for any ordinary person to break free from.

With a single, elegant gesture, Damian signaled to his team. They escorted Scarlett and Ethan out, effectively throwing them from the venue.

Every pair of eyes in the room watched their humiliating departure. By morning, this scandal would be circulating through every pack in the city, both through human gossip channels and the faster werewolf communication networks.

As the gathering returned to its calm state, Damian appeared beside me.

"Little wolf," he said, deliberately emphasizing the title with provocative intent, "would you consider this another favor I’ve done for you?"

"What favor?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Having them thrown out. Don’t forget you forcibly kissed me earlier to make Ethan jealous. How do you plan to show your gratitude?"

I hadn’t expected him to be so shameless. My wolf bristled at his audacity.

"If we’re keeping score," I countered, "I helped you humiliate your brother, and I gave you a free piano concert. Shouldn’t you be thanking me instead?"

Damian pretended to consider this, then nodded thoughtfully. "You make a valid point. I should express my appreciation. What form of gratitude would my dear little wolf prefer?"

The way he emphasized "Little wolf" carried obvious implications.

I didn’t want to get further entangled with this man. If Ethan was bad news, Damian could be worse—mysterious and dangerous. This only strengthened my resolve to keep my Alpha identity hidden.

"We’re even," I said firmly. "I need to leave."

As I walked away, I could feel Damian’s gaze following me. But I didn’t look back.

After leaving the gala, I called Grandfather to say, "I’m tired and want to go home and rest."

Grandfather didn’t object. He said, "Fine, since you’ve already left, I don’t need to attend the gala either."

Once home, I retreated to my room to rest. For the next several days, I went nowhere, which worried Grandfather considerably.

"Victoria, what’s wrong?" he asked, his concern evident in the deepening lines around his eyes. "You can tell me anything."

"Is it that Sterling boy? Tell me, and I’ll give him a lesson he’ll never forget!" The threat from an Alpha of his standing wasn’t empty—his wolf might be aging, but William Lancaster’s power remained legendary among the packs.

I sat up, not wanting him to worry. "I’m fine, Grandfather. I’ve been naive before. You’ve always wanted me to take over the pack, haven’t you? Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin handling the pack’s internal business."

His face immediately brightened. "Wonderful! My precious granddaughter has finally grown up." Then he added, "Since you’ve broken up with that Sterling boy, perhaps I could introduce you to someone else? He’s my good friend’s grandson—unfortunate in some ways, but a good young man. Though he’s also a Sterling, I believe."

"Grandfather," I said firmly, "I don’t want to date anyone right now, especially not someone named Sterling. I’m still young—are you that eager to marry me off?"

"I just don’t want you wallowing in heartbreak," he explained. "They say the best cure for a broken heart is new love. I don’t oppose you dating, but I don’t want you wasting years of your life on someone unworthy."

Looking at this kind old man who cared so deeply for me, I couldn’t help but embrace him. My wolf nuzzled against his affectionately, the familiar family bond comforting us both.

"Don’t worry about that kind of man," I assured him. "I won’t waste time on him. I’m really fine. That relationship didn’t hurt me!"

"Good," he replied, patting my back. I was his only granddaughter, his only heir, and he couldn’t bear to see anyone hurt me.