Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

"I agree,but with conditions.We can get engaged now, but the actual mating ceremony happens no sooner than three months from now."

In three months, according to the Moon Goddess’s vision, I would be dead. By then, I would have found a loving home for Clara.

This was merely buying time.

Silas looked surprised at my quick capitulation. Leo seemed equally stunned.

"I’ll marry Grant," I continued. "But I want half of my mother’s inheritance at the engagement ceremony. The other half can wait until the official mating."

"Agreed," Silas said immediately.

"Dad—" Leo started to protest, but Silas silenced him with a raised hand, seemingly willing to trust me on this.

"The engagement should happen as soon as possible," I added. "This week, if possible."

Silas nodded. "Of course. Grant has been asking for your hand since you were in high school. He’ll be thrilled to hear you’ve agreed and will certainly treat you well."

I had no interest in further conversation. "Just notify me when the engagement date is set. I’ll be there on time. And please ensure that half of my mother’s inheritance is ready for transfer to me that day."

With that, I left the study.

Behind me, I heard Leo’s worried voice: "Dad, aren’t you concerned she might take the money and disappear? She’s always been manipulative."

Silas sighed deeply. "The pack won’t miss that small amount. Besides, she’s still your sister. Let’s trust her one more time."

I had no desire to see anyone else at the party or taste any of the gourmet food. My only thought was getting back to Sabrina’s home to collect Clara.

As I headed toward the exit, Brett suddenly appeared, blocking my path. Under the dim evening lights, his face was dark with rage, his eyes blazing with hatred and fury that seemed capable of tearing my frail body apart.

"Lilith," he growled,"are you really that desperate for a man? You’d actually consider someone like Grant,that overweight widower who’s buried four mates and has five kids in tow?"

My wolf, Thea, stirred anxiously within me.

"Or is it just about the money?" he continued, venomously. "You’ll spread your legs for anyone who pays enough, is that it?"

Once, I had been his,his alone, his precious mate that no other male was allowed to even look at. The thought of me marrying Grant, a man he’d once beaten bloody, was clearly tearing him apart with jealousy, even though his hatred for me remained undiminished.

"Are you deliberately trampling your own dignity, Lilith, or are you doing this to spite me?" he demanded.

What dignity did I have left? My dignity had been crushed into the mud by Brett, by Silas, by Leo—by all of them. I was trapped in the mire they’d created, with no chance to escape.

I hated the Hartwell men, but I hated Brett Lancaster most of all. "You have no right to question my choices, Alpha Brett."

All this pain would end with my death. Only my love for Clara kept me going. My thoughts turned to my daughter, still waiting at Susan’s house. I looked away from Brett and tried to leave.

A strong arm shot out, yanking me backward. "You cannot marry Grant. I forbid it."

"What right do you have to forbid anything?" I challenged.

Leo strode forward, pulling Brett away from me. The garden lights illuminated the fury on his face.

"Brett, you’re Vanessa’s fiancé. Your responsibility is to her alone. Stay out of Lilith’s business and show some sense of propriety and responsibility."

Brett violently shook off Leo’s hand, his face murderous with rage.

"Leo, you know damn well Grant is a cheapskate who makes his mates sign away their financial rights and become unpaid nannies to his children. The man is forty years old! You’re pushing Lilith into hell itself. I get that she’s not Silas’s biological daughter, but she’s your half-sister just as much as Vanessa is. How can you be so cruel to your own blood?"

"How am I being cruel?" Leo protested. "I’m doing what’s best for her."

"This is all her own doing. If she hadn’t done those things, she would have been my best sister, an angel sent from heaven. The old Lilith deserved the best man in the world."

"But now that you think she’s not your biological sister, you want to marry her off to Grant?" Brett laughed sarcastically.

"She’s been to prison and has a hearing-impaired child. She should be grateful any Alpha is willing to accept her," Leo’s voice was impatient. "Besides, only after she’s married can your mating ceremony with Vanessa proceed without any complications."

"Shut up!"

"What, can’t handle the truth?" Leo glared at him warningly. "Don’t forget who stayed by your bedside when you were critically injured. Who helped manage your pack and worked tirelessly in the lab on medical research? Have you forgotten everything Vanessa has done for you?"

A complex emotion flashed in Brett’s eyes. "I won’t forget Vanessa’s kindness. The mating ceremony will proceed as planned. But you can’t destroy Lilith like this."

"It’s not destruction, it’s her redemption."

"Bullshit!" Brett threw a punch.

Leo angrily fought back, "You’re about to have your ceremony with Vanessa, yet you’re still interfering in Lilith’s affairs?"

I stood aside, watching them fight, unsure whose side to take.

Then Vanessa rushed out.

"Brett, Leo, please stop fighting!"

Seeing Vanessa come to stop the fight, I quickly left. I needed to pick up Clara.

As I walked away, I could still hear their argument: "The ceremony will proceed as planned, Vanessa, don’t worry. But I won’t let Leo force Lilith into a desperate situation."

"I never forced her," Vanessa said plaintively.

"This was my father’s and my idea," Leo quickly explained.

Third Person POV

Brett didn’t say anything, he just ran after Lilith.

Vanessa watched Brett disappear into the darkness.

"Do you think the mating ceremony will still happen in May?" she asked Leo, her voice trembling with emotion. "I’m terrified he might change his mind."

Leo squeezed her shoulder. "Don’t worry, Vanessa. I’ve got your back. If he tries to back out, I’ll drag him there myself. But he won’t ,not after everything you’ve done for him."

Vanessa’s eyes went cold for a moment before she forced herself to look vulnerable again. The ceremony had to happen. She hadn’t come this far to fail now.

She’d spent years keeping Brett and Lilith apart, planted fake evidence to get Lilith locked up, and even staged that "accident" so she could play the hero and nurse Brett back to health. Everything had gone according to plan.

Every night she dreamed of becoming Luna of Blood Moon Pack. The position should have been Lilith’s, would have been hers if Vanessa hadn’t stepped in. But now it would be hers instead. Who cared about Brett and Lilith’s mate bond? She’d worked too hard, hurt too many people, and pulled too many strings to give up now.

If Brett ever found out she was behind his attack five years ago, or that she’d faked the evidence against Lilith, or messed with Clara’s lineage test to make him think the kid wasn’t his... No, she couldn’t let anything ruin her plans. She would be Luna, no matter what it took.

"I can’t lose him," she whispered, already planning her next move.