Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother-Chapter 222 Not tight enough
Victoria’s POV
"What are you in the mood for tonight?" Damien asked, his voice carrying that deep timbre that always made my wolf Nora stir beneath my skin.
I considered for a moment, my stomach making the decision for me. "I’m craving French cuisine."
"Done," Damien replied without hesitation. My mate pulled out his phone and with a few swift taps, secured us reservations. The smooth efficiency with which he handled everything still amazed me after two months together.
He returned to his work with the same focus and determination that made him such a formidable Alpha, finishing everything quickly so we could leave together. Our routine might seem mundane to outsiders, but this peaceful rhythm felt like heaven after the storm I’d weathered with Ethan’s betrayal.
We parked at the entrance of our gated community rather than using the underground garage. I loved these walks home with Damien, our fingers intertwined under the moonlight. The night air carried the scent of approaching autumn, crisp and clean.
"Damien, you’re holding my hand too tight," I winced as his grip made my fingertips tingle. My wolf Nora, however, loved the possessive gesture.
"Not tight enough," he growled playfully, tugging me closer until our shoulders brushed. His cedar and midnight rose scent enveloped me, making my inner wolf purr with contentment.
I surrendered to his possessiveness and tilted my head back to gaze at the stars scattered across the velvet sky. "The night is gorgeous. Tomorrow’s going to be beautiful."
A sudden breeze swept through the trees, and I involuntarily shivered. Before I could even register the chill, Damien had slipped off his suit jacket and draped it around my shoulders.
"I’m not cold," I protested. "We’re almost home anyway."
"Cold or not, wear it," he insisted, wrapping the jacket more securely around me. "The weather’s changing. I won’t have my mate catching a cold."
His jacket engulfed me completely. Despite my own height, I felt small wrapped in his clothing, surrounded by his intoxicating scent that made Nora restless beneath my skin. The jacket carried his body heat and that distinctive aroma that was uniquely Damien - smoky cedar with midnight rose undertones. My wolf reveled in being covered in his scent.
Damien recaptured my hand, and we continued toward our building. Though this path was actually quite long, tonight it felt like we’d barely walked two minutes before we reached the entrance.
"When did this path get so short?" I pouted, genuinely disappointed our moonlit stroll had ended so quickly.
"If you haven’t had enough, we could take another couple of laps around," Damien suggested, his thumb tracing circles on my palm.
"Better not. It’s been a long day of work, and it’s getting late. We should head up and rest."
"Fine," he agreed with a slight smirk. "I’ll give you a full body massage when we get upstairs."
At the mention of his "massages," my mind immediately wandered to all the not-so-innocent places those hands would inevitably travel. Nora howled in anticipation inside me, eager for our mate’s touch. Every "massage" Damien had ever given started professionally enough before evolving into something far more primal.
"I think I’ll pass," I said, though my body screamed otherwise.
"What, you doubt my massage skills?" His eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Not at all." I couldn’t deny his skills had improved drastically. His massages genuinely relieved tension and left my body feeling rejuvenated. The problem was they also led to activities that kept us occupied for hours into the night.
We stepped into the elevator, continuing our casual banter as we ascended to our floor. I remained blissfully unaware of what awaited us above.
When the elevator doors parted, our fingers were still tightly intertwined. The sight that greeted me, however, turned my blood to ice.
I yanked my hand from Damien’s grip and gasped, "Grandfather."
William Lancaster stood outside my apartment door, his imposing Alpha presence filling the hallway. My heart hammered against my ribcage. How long had he been waiting? He’d definitely seen us holding hands. I’d been trying to convince him to accept Damien as my mate, but without success. Now it seemed our secret was completely exposed.
"Maybe you should go home," I murmured to Damien, my voice barely audible.
"No need," Damien replied firmly.
"Stay right where you are!" Grandfather commanded at the same moment, his Alpha authority rolling through the hallway.
One refusing to leave, the other forbidding it. The tension crackled between them like electricity before a storm. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"A real man takes responsibility for his actions," my grandfather growled, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared at Damien. "Are you capable of that, or just sneaking around behind my back?"
The accusation hung heavy in the air. To dare court the granddaughter of the Alpha of Crescent Dawn Pack without proper permission was a serious breach of wolf protocol.
"Grandfather, that’s not his intention at all," I interjected quickly, trying to defuse the situation. "How long have you been here? You could have called first. Why don’t we all go inside and talk about this?"
Despite my outward confidence, guilt gnawed at my insides. We weren’t teenagers caught in some forbidden tryst—we were consenting adults forming a mate bond. Yet I couldn’t help feeling like I’d betrayed my grandfather’s trust by keeping Damien a secret.
"Hmph!" Grandfather snorted dismissively.
I took his arm and guided him toward my apartment door. Over my shoulder, I caught Damien’s eye and silently signaled for him to let me handle this and to speak as little as possible. My grandfather might be furious, but he would never harm me. Damien, on the other hand, had no such protection.
Once inside, Grandfather took a seat on the sofa, his face etched with disapproval. Damien and I stood before him like scolded pups. Nora whined anxiously inside me, sensing the tension between two dominant males.
Grandfather fixed his gaze on me, then shifted to glare at Damien. The tension in the room was suffocating.
"Grandfather, maybe you could say something?" I ventured when the silence became unbearable.
"You be quiet!" he snapped, making me flinch. He cleared his throat and demanded, "How long has this been going on?"
"Grandfather, it’s only been a short while. We—"
"Did I ask you?" he interrupted sharply. "Can’t he speak for himself? Or doesn’t he have a tongue?"
I bit my lip and glanced at Damien, who appeared remarkably composed despite the hostility directed at him. His calm demeanor soothed both me and my wolf.
"Sir," Damien began respectfully, "Victoria and I have been together for two months. Not telling you was my responsibility, and I apologize. Don’t blame Victoria for this. If you’re not satisfied with me right now, I’ll work to prove her judgment wasn’t wrong—but I will not break up with her."
"You have the nerve!" Grandfather’s eyes flashed with anger. "If I hadn’t come to Victoria’s apartment tonight and discovered you two, how long were you planning to keep this secret? Someone like you, dishonest and full of sweet talk, only knows how to deceive young women. Do you think I’d believe anything you say? No one from Sterling family is worth trusting. I do not consent to this relationship!"
"Grandfather!" I protested, shocked by his harsh words. Why was he dragging the entire Sterling family into this? Our relationship had nothing to do with family politics!
Damien touched my hand gently, silently asking me not to argue with my grandfather. Despite everything, he maintained his respect for the older Alpha. William Lancaster had earned his reputation as one of the most powerful Alphas in the country, and Damien clearly recognized that.
"Sir," Damien spoke with measured control, "The Sterling family is one thing, I am another. Not visiting you properly and not clearly explaining my relationship with Victoria was my mistake. That makes me less than forthright. But I have never deceived Victoria with sweet talk or lies. I swear this on my life and my honor as an Alpha."
