Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

My brother Leo stood in the living room, his face twisted with accusation. The familiar scent of the Shadowpine Pack house,alpine wood and sage,filled my nostrils, but it no longer felt like home.

"Lilith, you can ignore me as your brother, but you can’t deny our father," Leo growled.

I could feel Thea bristling inside me. The pain in my chest had nothing to do with my illness and everything to do with the betrayal surrounding me.

"Dad raised you for more than twenty years, protected you like you were made of glass," Leo continued, his voice rising. "Even after learning you weren’t his biological daughter,that Mom betrayed him with another man,he still kept you in the Shadowpine Pack, cherished you as his own."

He stepped closer. "How can you not even call him ’Dad’? No wonder Brett despises you."

Leo’s eyes narrowed to slits. "Using terminal illness as a lie to manipulate everyone... aren’t you afraid the Moon Goddess will make your lies reality and take your life for real?"

The bitterness in his words stung, but I held my ground. Thea was howling inside me, urging me to defend myself, to fight back.

"Lilith, call him Dad. Now!" Leo demanded.

My father, Silas,sighed deeply. "Leo, enough. Lilith has suffered greatly these past years. It’s natural she harbors some resentment. I won’t hold it against her."

But Leo was determined to "save" me, to force me back onto what he considered the right path. His voice grew harsher.

"Think about it, Lilith. Remember how much Dad loved you? Grandfather and Grandmother are traditional pack leaders who wanted Dad to remarry.The Shadowpine Pack needed more heirs, more bloodlines."

I stared at the floor as he continued his lecture.

"But Dad feared a stepmother would mistreat you. He remained single for twenty years, playing both mother and father. He even let the Blood Moon Pack handle most of the pharmaceutical business affairs just to spend time with you."

Leo’s voice cracked with emotion. "Do you know how many times our grandparents argued with him about this? They called you a worthless female, and Dad fought with them, earning himself the reputation of a disobedient son. You know all this."

The memories flooded back, sharp and painful. Thea whimpered inside me.

"When Mom’s betrayal came to light, our grandparents became even more hostile, but Dad defended you more fiercely. His love never diminished." Leo’s face contorted in disgust. "And how do you repay him? Where’s your conscience? "

I could see he wanted to slap me.

Yes, Silas had once adored me, shielded me from the pack’s prejudice against females and those without pure bloodlines. But that was before Vanessa arrived, before she was welcomed into the family while I was sent to prison.

My voice came out stronger than I expected. "When Clara fell ill in prison, I begged you both to help get her medical attention. Do you remember what you said?"

Neither Leo nor Silas spoke. They remembered their callousness but were too proud to admit it.

"You said it was just a minor cold and wouldn’t kill her." My voice shook with suppressed rage. "I cried and told you she was burning with fever, and you said she was ’Finn’s bastard’ and would be better off dead."

Leo moved uncomfortably. "How could Dad and I have known a common cold would become so serious?"

I didn’t want to argue anymore. What was the point? The past couldn’t be changed.

"You think I’m heartless and despicable? Fine, let me be heartless and despicable," I said quietly, feeling Thea’s sorrow mingling with my own. "But please, don’t insult my mother. She never betrayed anyone."

I used to disbelieve that my mother would betray Silas for some old flame. Now, with Clara’s lineage test results, I finally saw the truth.Multiple facilities had simultaneously delivered false reports, all claiming she wasn’t Brett’s child.It was a familiar pattern. Years ago, Silas had insisted on testing whether I was his biological daughter. He’d gone to several centers, and all had claimed I wasn’t his.

This revelation strengthened my belief. My deceased mother had been framed, just as I had been.

In this world, I truly cared about only two people. My mother and my daughter Clara.

Vanessa might be Lexi’s daughter, but Leo was born from my mother Leona’s womb. How could he defame his own mother?

"Leo, if you dare slander my mother again, I’ll fight you with every ounce of strength I have left," I warned, feeling Thea trying to take control.

"After her shameless betrayal, I’m embarrassed she was even—" Leo didn’t finish.

SMACK!

I struck him with all my might. The effort left me breathless, my lungs struggling, but I glared at him fiercely. "Leo Hartwell, you don’t deserve to be Mom’s son!"

SMACK!

His retaliating slap sent me sprawling to the floor.

"Lilith, don’t think I’ll tolerate your behavior forever," Leo snarled, his eyes briefly flashing. "If you insist on this destructive path, trampling everyone’s patience and concern, fine. But I won’t let you harm Vanessa."

He towered over me, his fists clenched. "Vanessa and Brett are getting married in May. And here you are, showing up with claims of terminal illness, begging someone to take care of your child. Are you trying to ruin everything?"

"Couldn’t get the Aurora BioSciences pharmaceutical research secrets, so now you’re playing the dying card? Why are you determined to hurt the people who once loved you most?"

Though he’d already struck me once, I could see he was restraining himself from further violence. This was the brother who once adored me, his only sister.

But in his eyes, I deserved punishment. Though Leo and I shared the same mother, he shared a father with Vanessa. Despite us both being his half-sisters, he chose to protect her.

"Lilith," he said through clenched teeth, "Vanessa’s mating ceremony is coming. If you try to destroy her relationship with Brett, don’t expect any mercy from me, regardless of our past."

Silas, who had been silently listening, spoke after a long pause. His deep voice filled the room.

"Lilith, your brother’s warning is also mine. Leave Vanessa and Brett alone. And stay away from the Aurora BioSciences research secrets."

His eyes flashed red briefly, revealing his Alpha power. "Next time, you won’t just face five years in prison. If anything like this happens again, both the Shadowpine and Blood Moon Packs will ensure you never see freedom again."

Still prostrate on the floor, I had no strength left. Seeing their true faces at last, I found it almost a relief. Their previous pretense at family concern seemed laughable now.

As I struggled to stand, Silas watched me with mingled hatred and concern. "If you’re willing to return to the right path, your room in the Shadowpine pack house will always be waiting. I’m also willing to provide an excellent environment for Clara’s development and education."

Once on my feet, I nearly collapsed again.

Both men avoided looking directly at me, their expressions a complex mix of love and hate.

When I finally found my voice, it was surprisingly steady. "I don’t need your concern, Alpha Silas."

From this moment, I wouldn’t even call him father anymore. "From now on, I will never set foot in the Shadowpine pack territory again. Please don’t disturb Clara’s and my life."

I’d rather see Clara in foster care than have her enter the Shadowpine Pack house. Not after what they’d done to us. The thought of Clara being around Lexi and Vanessa terrified me. I couldn’t bear imagining how those two venomous women would treat my daughter.

"Where is Clara? I’m taking her home," I demanded.

Silas contained his anger, saying, "The maid has prepared dinner. Eat before you leave."

I responded from the depths of my broken heart. "Our life may not be wealthy, but Clara and I don’t need your charity meals."

"Lilith," Leo growled, "don’t be so ungrateful."

I met his gaze, feeling Thea’s sorrow and rage rippling through my weakened body. In that moment, I knew that whatever happened next, there was no going back.