Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

That afternoon, I finished my errands and was the first parent at the kindergarten. Her new teacher frowned when talking about Clara.

"Clara seems to be having trouble adjusting. She spent most of the day sitting alone in the corner, looking sad," the teacher said.

"Has she said anything to you?" I asked, worried.

The teacher’s frown deepened."She mentioned you took her to see her father yesterday. If you don’t mind me asking, are you and her father in a custody battle? From what Clara’s said, she seems afraid you’re going to send her to live with him. You saw how she was no light in her eyes until she saw you were the one picking her up."

I couldn’t answer. So that’s what happened when Clara had asked if Brett was her father, I hadn’t given her a straight answer. But apparently, she’d already figured it out herself.

"I promise, teacher Susan, I won’t let Clara worry like this again," I assured her.

Walking home hand in hand with my daughter, I suddenly stopped and knelt down on the sidewalk, pulling her into my arms.

"Clara, I promise you, as long as Mommy is alive in this world, I will be with you every day. We will never be separated."

I just didn’t know how long I could keep that promise. How many days did I have left? Weeks? Months?

Clara immediately relaxed, her smile brightening her entire face.

"Mommy, you’re so kind and gentle, you’ll definitely live to be a hundred years old! Then we can be together forever!"

Even though I’d told myself I wouldn’t cry in front of her anymore, hearing her talk about me living to a hundred when the doctors had given me months broke something inside me. Tears welled up before I could stop them.

Maybe it was because she finally felt secure, but the next morning, Clara gave me the sweetest smile before school.

"Mommy, I’ll be good at school. I’ll eat all my food, take my nap, listen to the teacher, and not be picky. I’ll wait for you to pick me up. You have to eat properly and work well too!"

She waved and bounced into school like a little rabbit. Halfway there, she turned back and made a heart shape with her fingers. "Mommy, I love you! I’m going to school now!"

As her small figure bounced away, pain twisted through my entire body—heart, liver, stomach, everything knotted together in agony. I could barely move.

That entire day, Clara behaved perfectly at school. Having my reassurance that I wouldn’t abandon her had made her happy and relaxed again.

How could I possibly leave such a sweet, wonderful child all alone?

Brett’s POV

It wasn’t until just before dismissal time that I spotted the tiny figure outside the classroom. The moment Clara saw me, her once bright smile froze, her entire demeanor becoming cautious and guarded.

From her gaze, I could read confusion and fear,that instinctive fear pups show when facing an unfamiliar Alpha.

"Alpha, hello," she greeted politely.

I crouched down,deliberately containing my Alpha aura, not wanting to freak out this pup who might carry my bloodline. Still, she took a step back.

"Alpha, do you need something from me?"

My hand, which had reached out, withdrew. Seeing her tension, I gave up any thought of embracing her.

"Clara, has your mother mentioned anything to you? About her... health condition?" I probed gently.

"No, my mom says she’ll live a long, long life," she answered honestly. "Alpha, did my mom tell you she’s sick?"

Her round eyes dimmed. I regretted mentioning this to a pup. By the Moon Goddess above, an Alpha shouldn’t frighten a young one this way.

I raised my hand to stroke her forehead and I couldn’t smell myself in her scent at all. Yet there was a strange familiarity that I couldn’t explain."That’s not true. Your mother is healthy, she will indeed live a long life. Would you like to play on the playground for a while?"

She hesitated.I could sense her guard up, and I wondered if she was afraid I might take her from her mother.

"Don’t worry, just for a bit. When your mother comes to pick you up, I’ll leave," I added.

"Okay," she agreed.

I extended my hand to hold hers. Her small hand tensed in my palm. At the slide, I made my voice as gentle as possible, "Go play. I’ll watch over you."

I simply wanted to see her,nothing more.To know how this small life, possibly carrying my blood, had fared these years.

After hesitating, Clara finally climbed up the slide. I stood, watching her small figure navigate the playground equipment.Playfulness is a pup’s nature;soon she was enjoying herself, repeatedly running, jumping, climbing, and sliding down. In those moments, she displayed the free spirit of a wolf pup in full run.

When she attempted to climb up again, she slipped from about a meter above ground.

"Careful!" I reached out to catch her, my Alpha instinct to protect the pup making my heart pound.

But she had already gotten up on her own, dusting herself off and looking at me with a bright smile. "Alpha, I’m fine. Mom always says when you fall, just get back up and you’ll be okay."

Something struck my heart. How had Lilith managed all these years, raising a pup alone? She had taught this child to be so strong and brave. Clara looked exactly like Lilith as a child, delicate and lovable, though her clothes were somewhat worn, albeit clean.

A bitter sensation rose within me.If Clara truly carried my blood, had I wrongly accused Lilith five years ago?

I noticed the hearing aid on Clara’s ear and froze. "What happened to your ear?" Werewolves almost never have such defects, unless...

"This one can’t hear anymore! Alpha can speak into my left ear," she pointed to her right ear.

A rage ignited within me, Jacob letting out a low growl. What kind of mothering had Lilith been doing?

"How has Lilith been as a mother?" My voice rose, carrying a hint of Alpha command.

Clara’s entire body tensed at my tone.I recognized my mistake and withdrew my dominance. "I’m sorry, I’ll speak more softly."

"It’s not my mom’s fault," Clara unhappily retorted. "When we were both in prison, I got a high fever that damaged it. We couldn’t get to a hospital in time. Don’t you dare criticize my mom."

Prison? Those cold silver bars and forced labor... Painful images flashed through my mind. Lilith giving birth to her in prison, in that harsh environment where a sick pup couldn’t receive timely medical care? If Clara truly is my pup, then this is the sin I’ve committed.

"What are you doing here?"

I turned to see Lilith standing there. Before I could react, Clara had already rushed into her arms.

"Mom, you finally came to pick me up! I’ve been waiting for you for so long."

"Sorry, sweetheart. Mom got held up," Lilith gently stroked her daughter’s hair.

"Lilith, let’s find a place to talk," I said, trying to avoid any Alpha command tone."

"Here is fine. This place works," she replied.

"Alright."

Lilith sent Clara back to play on the slide. We both watched her departing figure, neither of us taking our eyes off her small form.

Silence enveloped us. Once we had endless conversations, nonstop chatter. Just being together, even when sick, our faces would be adorned with sweet smiles. My wolf Jacob would cuddle against Thea, both softly whimpering to express affection.

Finally, I broke the silence, "Is Clara truly my pup?"

I moved my gaze from Clara to Lilith, "Tell me the truth,are you playing games with me again this time?"

These past two days, I’ve been thinking.Lilith dared entrust Clara to me, even confidently giving me hair for a lineage test.Was I wrong to blame her five years ago?

I just needed one honest answer from her.

Lilith didn’t respond directly but countered, "Alpha, have you done the lineage test?"

"Lilith, I just need one truthful word from you. If what you’re saying is true, I can overlook your past actions and make amends for the pup. But if you dare deceive me again—" My voice carried a hint of suppressed anger, Jacob restless inside me.

She cut me off decisively, "Alpha, just do the lineage test. We can decide what to do after the results come back."

Her attitude told me she no longer cared if I believed her or not.

"Alpha, I never intended to disrupt your current life. Even after the lineage test results come back, I don’t want to change your relationship with Vanessa. I only ask that you help look after Clara."

Her detached tone created distance between us.

"Lilith, are you blaming me?" I asked directly.

She drew a deep breath. "Let the past remain in the past... I only hope Alpha will inform me of the test results soon."

Lilith left with Clara. Watching their retreating figures, I made up my mind.

The most reliable person by my side has always been my Beta, Cassian. But this time, to leave no room for error, I didn’t ask for his help. Instead, I personally sent mine and Clara’s hair samples for lineage testing.

I told no one.

The results would take five days. Those five days felt like five years to me. Two consecutive days of strong winds only intensified my anxiety.

On the fifth day, my wolf Jacob paced restlessly within me.

Sitting in the president’s office at Aurora BioSciences, I received that call.

"Alpha, your lineage test results are ready. You can come to get them, or we can mail them to you."

The sea breeze swept wildly outside the window, but even more turbulent were the complex emotions surging within me. The truth from five years ago... the curse upon me... everything could be rewritten in this moment.

I stood up immediately, not even bothering to grab my coat."I’ll come get them myself."