Claimed by My Ex's Half-Brother

Brett’s POV

I hated Lilith with every fiber of my being.

But when I couldn’t find her at the engagement party, my wolf Jacob howled with anxiety inside me, pushing me to search even harder.

Then I saw her,crawling across the carpet, her movements slow and desperate. She froze the moment she noticed me and the others entering the room.

My blood ran cold. Her dress was torn to shreds, exposing scratched skin beneath.

Without thinking, I rushed to her, removing my coat and wrapping it around her fragile form.Her body felt weightless as I helped her up.

Leo Hartwell burst in behind me, and upon seeing his sister’s condition, charged at Grant with unbridled fury. He delivered a savage kick, then another, and several more. Hatred had stripped him of all reason as he yanked Grant up by his collar and landed several punches to his face.

"You promised you would treat my sister well," Leo snarled,"What the hell did you do to her? You fucking animal!"

Leo seemed beyond control, ignoring Grant’s swollen, reddening face as he threw him to the ground and continued the assault with more punches and kicks.

Silas,normally the peacemaker who disapproved of his son’s violent tendencies, shocked me by joining in.He delivered several fierce kicks to Grant, growling, "You beast!"

Then he approached Lilith, crouching down with concern across his face.

"Lilith, sweetheart, are you alright? Did he hurt you?"

Grant, collapsed on the floor, cried out, "I didn’t do anything to her! You burst in and attacked me! I’ll call the enforcement! I’ll sue all of you!"

Leo clenched his jaw."Go ahead, call them. Let the enforcement see what kind of monster you really are behind that businessman facade. My sister isn’t even married to you yet,and you used such despicable methods to force her.That’s attempted rape,it’s a crime!"

As I held Lilith, disgust filled me at the hypocrisy of these two Hartwell men. Weren’t they the ones who had forced her into this engagement with Grant in the first place?

I prepared to lift her into my arms and carry her away from this nightmare, but Lilith, having regained some strength, stubbornly pushed me away. That refuse stung more than it should have.

"Lilith," I said coldly, masking the turmoil inside me, "I warned you Grant was no good. Do you realize how stupid this was?"

Leo delivered another kick to Grant. "What did you give my sister? Tell me now! Are there any side effects?"

When Grant remained silent,Leo continued his assault until the man finally confessed.

"It’s a colorless, tasteless compliance drug I bought from overseas," he admitted. "There are no side effects,it just makes her completely weak. She’ll be fine in half an hour."

Everyone sighed with relief, though my wolf remained agitated, wanting to tear Grant apart for touching what was once mine.

Silas thundered, "This marriage is canceled! My Lilith will not marry you!"

The self-righteous display made me sick. This was the same man who had practically sold his daughter to this creep. Now he was acting like the protective father?

Together, we helped Lilith, who still couldn’t walk properly, back to the Shadowpine Pack house.

Lilith’s POV

I had finally regained my strength.The water Alfred brought me,I’d already downed several large gulps, yet still felt parched.

Silas, sat beside me, looking guilty. "Lilith, I’m sorry. I had no idea Grant was such a despicable person. We’ll cancel this engagement. I’ll find someone better for you, okay?"

Leo chimed in, "Lilith, I’ll choose someone more dependable for you. Someone who’ll make you truly happy."

I looked at father and son with pain in my heart. Despite the humiliation I’d just suffered, they hadn’t abandoned their obsession with marrying me off.

Setting down my water glass, I asked through the pain, "Is it absolutely necessary that I marry someone?"

Brett, standing nearby, cut in sharply. "None of the men you’ve chosen for Lilith are trustworthy. Not a single one."

Leo glared at him, anger radiating off him in waves. "You have no right to interfere. Just focus on preparing for your mating ceremony with Vanessa."

My father pushed a photograph toward me. "Lilith, look at this man. You met him when you were little. He’s Marcus Bennett’s son..."

But my mind was filled with thoughts of Clara. I interrupted him. "No need. I’ll just marry Grant. We’ll get the mating ceremony in three months."

After all, I’d already received half of the heritage my mother had left me. I wasn’t greedy. What I had was enough to provide many necessities for Clara.

Meeting another man would just waste precious time and create new complications. Besides, my father and brother were so eager to marry me off before I could "ruin" Vanessa and Brett’s mating ceremony,how could they possibly find me someone genuinely reliable?

I had no strength left to fight. "I’ll marry Grant," I stated flatly.

The little time I had left, I wanted to spend entirely with Clara.

I stood up, desperate to leave. "I need to go pick up Clara. We can discuss the mating ceremony in three months."

By then, if they wanted to see me, they’d only be able to visit my grave.

Brett grabbed my arm from behind. He couldn’t understand why I insisted on marrying Grant of all people.

He looked at me with disappointment clouding his eyes. "Why are you so determined to marry Grant?"

I pushed his hand away and spoke directly. "What if I told you I’m actually dying? That by agreeing to marry Grant, I can get half of my mother’s heritage that was left for me? That I need this money for Clara, to secure her future? Would you believe me then?"

Even now, I still hoped Brett might believe me. That there might be some chance he would take in Clara.

But Brett scoffed coldly. "Lilith, you’re acting again, aren’t you?"

Hearing this, I gave up trying to explain. "Since Alpha Brett doesn’t believe me, please stay out of my business."