Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Lilith’s POV

That evening,when I arrived at Sabrina’s house to pick up Clara, she was already sitting on the couch waiting for me.

"Clara fell asleep," she said softly. "She played so much today, she wore herself out."

I sat down beside her. "Thank you for watching her."

Sabrina looked at me, her gaze steady. "Cassian told me."

I knew exactly what she meant,about me agreeing to become Grant’s mate.

I let out a sigh."Sabrina, I don’t have a choice. Marrying him is the only way I can reclaim my mother’s inheritance."

"I get that you have your reasons," she said quietly. "But Grant... he’s been harassing you for years. That was never courtship,it was sexual harassment.Still, it’s your decision, and I’ll respect that."

I leaned over and hugged her. "Thank you. That means a lot to me."

"Just be careful around him," Sabrina warned. "Keep your guard up."

"I will," I murmured.

Then she looked me in the eye and said, "If you can’t find a proper adoptive family for Clara...I promise you, Cassian and I will take care of her. We’ll raise her as our own. You can trust us with her, completely."

Gratitude flooded my chest, my eyes stinging with tears. "Thank you," I whispered.

Thursday arrived sooner than I expected.

Today was my engagement day to Grant Ellison. I asked Sabrina to watch over Clara while I was away.

As I arrived alone at the Grand Hotel, I couldn’t help but feel like I was walking toward my execution rather than an engagement ceremony.

Grant, a new energy mogul in the upper echelon of werewolf society, had spared no expense. He’d rented the entire hotel and invited countless guests to witness our engagement. The extravagance made me sick to my stomach.

The formal dress I wore wasn’t my choice,Silas had specifically selected it. As the makeup artist applied heavy blush to my cheeks, she frowned with concern.

"Miss Hartwell, have you been overworking yourself? Your face is so pale... it doesn’t look healthy."

I wasn’t overworked. I was dying.

My father stood nearby, letting out a sigh that sounded almost sympathetic.

"Lilith, raising a child on your own has taken too much out of you. Once you marry Grant, you won’t have to struggle anymore. You can finally focus on getting your strength back."

I didn’t respond.

Only I knew the real reason for my pale skin and rapid weight loss.

Inside me, Thea whimpered softly, already sensing our body was beginning to give out.

When Grant saw me after the makeup was finished,thin but ethereal in the formal dress,his eyes locked onto me and didn’t budge.

He had wanted me since I was eighteen, back when my face was still full, my skin unmarked, and my eyes still carried the light of youth and innocence.

Even now, at twenty-nine,no longer that naive girl, not after prison, not after motherhood, not after being hollowed out by sickness,his desire for me hadn’t faded. If anything, it had only grown stronger.

I felt sick seeing the hunger and greed in his eyes instead of love. He looked at me like I was just a doll he’d bought with money.

"Lilith," Grant reached for my hand, his voice quivering with excitement, "let’s go announce our engagement to everyone."

I pulled my hand away and turned to my father.

"Alpha Silas," I said coldly, refusing to call him ’Dad’ anymore, "we had an agreement. Half of my mother’s heritage was to be returned to me at the engagement. No heritage, no announcement."

My father signaled to my brother Leo with a glance.

Leo handed me a small box. Inside were my mother’s gold jewelry and a bank card.

"The PIN is your birthday," my father said, then added, "The rest will be returned when you and Grant are legally mated."

Grant couldn’t contain himself. "Sweetheart, why wait? Let’s get engaged today and marry tomorrow. I promise I’ll love you, cherish you, and protect you."

I knew what awaited in Grant’s home. If I married him immediately and moved in with Clara, his five spoiled sons would torment my daughter mercilessly. And after I died, my precious cub would be left with a stepfather who didn’t truly care for her.

I said firmly."The engagement is today.The mating ceremony will be in three months. Otherwise, there won’t be a marriage at all."

I needed those three months to find a suitable adoptive family for Clara. I knew Sabrina would help me if I asked but unless it was my last resort, I didn’t want to burden her.

Brett’s POV

Grant had invited every werewolf elite in Ravendale City to their engagement party,everyone except me. He’d even given security my photo with strict orders to keep me out.

We’d been bitter rivals for years, fighting countless times over Lilith.Now he thought he could keep me away from her engagement party?

When I forced my way in, I couldn’t find her anywhere. All I saw was her father and brother, drinking and laughing with the other guests.

I overheard someone kissing up to her father: "Alpha Silas, your adopted daughter stole research secrets from Blood Moon Pack and leaked them to your rivals at Greystone Heights pack.Yet you’ve forgiven her and arranged such an excellent marriage. You truly have the heart of a Alpha."

He sighed. "A family misfortune indeed. Lilith strayed from the right path because I spoiled her too much. It’s my duty to guide her back."

"You truly are an exemplary father," the guest replied.

I clenched my fists, disgusted by the familiar flattery and hypocrisy of high society. They thought marrying a piece of shit like Grant was a good outcome for Lilith? My face darkened.I didn’t know what made me angrier: that she would agree to marry just anyone, or that her family would arrange this.

I strode over, cutting into her father’s conversation. "Where is Lilith?"

Surprised by my presence, her father and brother exchanged glances. "Grant didn’t invite you. How did you get in?"

I hardened my expression. "I asked where Lilith is."

Leo glanced toward the crowded ballroom. "She was just there. Grant probably took her to discuss their mating ceremony plans."

Lilith’s POV

I awoke in a hotel suite, my head spinning, my limbs heavy and unresponsive.

I hadn’t eaten anything at the engagement party. The only thing I’d consumed was my pain medication, washed down with bottled water brought by a server.

Had the water been tampered with? I tried to get up but found I could barely move. It had to be Grant’s doing. I needed to escape immediately.

As panic rose in my chest, the bathroom door opened. Grant emerged wearing only a white towel around his waist, his corpulent upper body exposed. With each step he took toward me, my revulsion intensified.

"Tonight, you’ll finally be mine, Lilith," he said, his eyes roaming over me like I was a prized possession.

My disgust grew, but I could barely lift my hand, let alone escape. The rest of my body refused to respond.

Grant dropped his towel and lunged toward me. "I’ve wanted you for so long, Lilith. So, so long."

He yanked away my wrap, pinning my frail body beneath his bulk. With a tearing sound, both the hem and neckline of my dress ripped open. His repulsive, meaty hands reached for my legs.

In that moment, I managed to grab the small canister from my hidden pocket and sprayed directly into his face.

"Psssst! Psssst!"

The unexpected liquid hit Grant’s eyes, and he immediately clutched them, howling in pain. "Ahhh! My eyes!"

The air filled with the acrid, eye-watering scent of pepper spray. I always carried it,a habit formed from years of raising Clara alone. I worried that if something happened to me, no one would be left to care for my daughter.

While Grant rolled around screaming, I tumbled from the bed. Even with the thick carpet, pain shot through my weakened body as I hit the floor.

With no strength left, I still had to escape. Thinking of Clara waiting for me at Sabrina’s house, I used my fragile arms to drag myself toward the door.

Suddenly, the door was kicked open with tremendous force.

Someone rushed in, and I saw it was Brett, veins bulging at his temples, eyes blazing with fury.