Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

Brett held my test results, still skeptical.

"Alpha Brett, meeting you at the hospital today was pure chance..." I struggled to explain. Thea howled inside me, sharing my pain and desperation."These are fresh test results, I couldn’t have faked them. I really am terminally ill. It wasn’t this severe two weeks ago, but now it’s reached the late stages."

I took a deep breath and continued."I don’t have much time left. I won’t be able to raise Clara to adulthood, that’s why I’m begging you to do another lineage test with her, please?"

Brett gripped the reports tightly, his face a mix of hatred and something else I couldn’t read. "Lilith, I warned you before. Karma always catches up. This is your punishment!"

He clenched his jaw, his brow furrowed. "Lilith, this really is your karma..."

His voice suddenly became strangely weak as he spoke.

Each word cut into my heart like a knife. But it didn’t matter,let it be karma! As long as Clara had a chance at life, I didn’t care how cruelly Brett wounded me.

"I don’t care if I die. I know you hate me, and my death will give you peace. But before I die, couldn’t you just do one more lineage test with Clara?"

My throat tightened, but I had to finish. "She really is your daughter. Can’t you show her some mercy?"

"No matter what, she’s your child. If there’s no one to care for her after I’m gone, she won’t survive..."

Clara’s soft little face appeared in my mind.She was such a sweet child, always carefully watching my expressions. Every time I saw her like that, my heart ached with guilt. At just five years old, she’d paid too heavy a price for the mistakes between me and Brett. A child her age should be enjoying a carefree childhood under her parents’ care.

"Brett, if I’m lying about any of this, may I go to hell after death. I swear to the—"

"Lilith, I don’t care if you go to hell or not," he cut me off harshly. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore. As for Clara, I’ll arrange another test."

He studied me for a long moment, and I knew he was assessing my condition. I’d deliberately applied makeup to hide my illness.

"If you’re really sick, focus on getting treatment instead of scheming. The Moon Goddess is watching or your karma will be even worse!"

I didn’t want to explain anymore, focusing only on one thing. "So you’ll do another lineage test with Clara?"

"I’ll arrange it," he answered curtly.

I finally felt some relief, though the tension didn’t completely disappear. Nothing was settled yet until Clara was secure, I couldn’t rest easy.

In the afternoon, I went to pick up Clara from kindergarten. Before going, I touched up my makeup,adding extra blush and lipstick to mask my sickly appearance.

I stood at the front of the parents’ line, waiting to be the first to greet my angel. The moment Clara saw me, she ran for a hug. I bent down to lift her up, and she immediately wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Mommy, did you go to the hospital today? You can’t let your cold get worse," she asked.

"Of course, how could Mommy not listen to Clara?" I kissed her forehead. "Mommy saw the doctor, and he gave Mommy medicine. I’ll get better soon."

Another lie. Since my terminal diagnosis, I’d told Clara so many lies.

"Did Clara have a good day at school?" I forced a smile.

"Yes!" she answered. "Mommy, you’re sick.Put me down. Clara’s a big girl now, I don’t need to be carried."

"It’s okay, let Mommy hold you a little longer." I tightened my arms around her. How many more times would I get to hold her? Each time was one less remaining.

Just a month ago, I could carry Clara’s forty-some pounds without any strain. I’d even thought she was too thin and needed to gain weight. But now, holding her felt impossibly difficult.

After just a few steps, my arms started trembling, and my whole body felt weak. Still, I gritted my teeth and managed to carry her to the car.

"Mommy, are you very tired?"

I shook my head. "No, it’s just a little cold. Mommy will feel better after taking the medicine."

I knew this wasn’t just a cold, but a terminal illness that would take my life. Thea whimpered restlessly inside me, and I soothed her as I tried to soothe myself. For Clara, we had to stay strong, had to hold on,at least until Brett acknowledged and accepted her.

Brett’s POV

At 6:30 PM, I entered Aurora BioSciences’ laboratory in my white research coat, looking for Vanessa. She was so absorbed in recording pharmaceutical research data that she didn’t notice my arrival.

As Blood Moon Pack’s Alpha, my presence usually commanded immediate attention and respect from any werewolf. But Vanessa was different, especially when immersed in her research.

I remembered the high hopes Silas Hartwell once had for Lilith. That was before the revelation about Lilith’s mother’s affair. After her mother died in childbirth, Silas transferred all his love for his late mate to Lilith, showering her with affection. Everything in Shadowpine Pack was meant to be hers.

And Vanessa, the illegitimate daughter, initially had no chance at all. Silas wouldn’t even acknowledge her existence or let her return to the Shadowpine Pack. Only after Lilith’s true parentage was discovered did Vanessa get her opportunity.

Vanessa’s medical aptitude was nowhere near Lilith’s.When Lilith worked at Aurora BioSciences, she led the breakthrough solutions for werewolf genetic disease challenges,even I couldn’t match her expertise.

Our current experiments still built upon Lilith’s research direction and findings.

But Vanessa worked at Aurora BioSciences with such dedication and focus that she didn’t even look up when I came to take her to dinner.

"Vanessa, it’s time for a break. I made reservations at your favorite restaurant."

"Never mind, I’ll just order takeout later. I want to work a bit longer," she replied without looking up.

"You skipped lunch. You need a proper dinner." I forcefully took the lab equipment from her hands, unconsciously using my Alpha command. Jacob, my wolf spirit, approved of my decision. As Alpha, it was my responsibility to care for every pack member, especially Vanessa. She’d stood by me during my darkest times.

Vanessa couldn’t refuse me. "Fine, but let’s make it quick. I need to get back to the lab later."

"Go change first!" My tone softened slightly.

Vanessa smiled, "Give me two minutes, I need to use the restroom too."

"You’re always so pressed for time once you’re in the lab," I chided affectionately.

"I just want to make breakthroughs soon! I was also devastated to hear about your mentor’s diagnosis. Don’t worry too much, Brett. Our specialized anti-werewolf genetic defect medication might show results soon, and then we can help him."

She always knew how to comfort me in my most vulnerable moments.

"Go change," I urged, watching her leave the lab.

After Vanessa left, I hesitated for a moment before pulling out my phone and dialing a number,Lilith’s number. This was the first time I’d initiated contact since returning to the city. Despite my hatred for her, for her betrayal, seeing her test results today and her concern for Clara...

My hand grab the phone firmly as Jacob restlessly stirred within me. The mating bond between us, even when rejected, never truly disappears.

The phone rang only three times before she answered,she must have seen the caller ID. I could almost picture her surprised expression; she certainly hadn’t expected me to contact her.

The silence on the other end was deafening. I knew she was waiting for me to speak, and I suddenly realized I wasn’t sure what to say. Damn it, what was I doing? Seeing her so weak at the hospital, hearing her beg for another lineage test... Could that girl really be my blood?

I took a deep breath, catching Vanessa’s faint vanilla scent still lingering in the air. I needed to make a decision. Regardless of what Lilith had done in the past, if that child really was mine...

"Lilith," I finally spoke, "we need to talk."