Claimed by My Ex Chapter 172 What else could it be?

Chapter 172: Chapter 172 What else could it be?

Victoria’s POV

"You can’t joke about sothing like this, Damian." I averted my gaze from his burning stare, my heart hamring against my ribs. I tried to push myself up from the bed, but his powerful arms held

firmly in place. My white wolf, Nora, stirred restlessly within , seemingly reveling in his presence.

Damian’s smoky cedar scent enveloped

as his midnight-blue eyes darkened to the depth of a moonless sky. "Do you think I’m joking?" His voice carried a dangerous edge that sent chills racing down my spine.

"What else could it be?" I shot back, though my voice trembled slightly. "There’s nothing particularly likable about . Unless you’re just attracted to my face, which would make you pretty shallow." I tried to sound dismissive, but my wolf howled in protest at my denial.

He leaned closer, his warm breath ghosting across my ear. "Never mind why I like you. You said it yourself—that you feel the sa way about

as I feel about you. Doesn’t that an you love

too, Victoria?"

His piercing gaze swept across my face, as if demanding an answer I wasn’t ready to give. Sothing in his expression told

this was more than just a ga to him. His wolf, Arthur, seed to peer through Damian’s eyes, watching and waiting.

My tongue felt heavy and useless. "I..." The words simply wouldn’t co.

"So," he pressed, his thumb tracing lazy circles against my wildly pulsing wrist, "how exactly do you feel about ?"

My emotions churned like autumn leaves caught in a hurricane—confusion, attraction, and the paralyzing fear of being hurt again after Ethan’s betrayal. I’d deliberately avoided examining these feelings, terrified of what conclusions I might reach.

Especially since our relationship involved the thorny issue of pack independence.

I desperately wanted to ask how he viewed the situation between our two packs.

But I didn’t dare.

Because I was afraid his answer would be the sa as before.

I was terrified of learning a brutal truth.

The phone beside us stopped ringing and went to voicemail, only to start up again seconds later.

"Let

go," I said, my voice steadier than I’d expected. The brief interruption gave

a mont to collect my scattered thoughts.

Damian’s grip loosened slightly, allowing

to reach for my phone. Grace Mitchell’s na flashed across the screen.

"Grace," I answered, grateful for her intervention.

"Victoria? You’re not ho this early? Where are you?" Grace’s voice ca through clearly. I could practically see her standing in my empty living room, looking puzzled.

"You’re at my place?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

"Yeah! Brought breakfast and everything," she confird cheerfully.

Relief flooded through . "I’ll be right there!"

I’d found my escape route. In this mont, Grace was my savior.

I turned to Damian, who watched

with those sharp eyes, as if seeing through all my excuses. "My friend’s at my place. I need to go."

I scrambled off the bed, feeling his laser-focused gaze tracking my every movent.

"Fine," he conceded in that low, steady voice of his. "I’ll give you ti to think. I’ll wait for your answer."

Even as I beat my hasty retreat, I noticed he wasn’t being pushy. Damian Sterling wasn’t the type to corner soone needlessly—he preferred letting his prey co to him willingly.

I practically fled ho, slamming the door behind

with such force that Grace jumped up from the couch.

"Good God, Victoria!" she exclaid, nearly spilling her coffee. "What’s gotten into you? You look like you’ve been chased by a rival Alpha!" Her eyes widened as she took in my disheveled appearance. "How did you get here so fast?"

My hair was a ss, my clothes hopelessly wrinkled, and I could only imagine how frazzled I looked. I felt completely exposed and vulnerable.

"Nothing happened!" I gasped, rushing to the kitchen to pour myself a large glass of water, which I drained in one gulp. "Want so water?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.

"I’m fine," Grace replied, studying

like a detective. After a mont, she asked, "You didn’t sleep in your own bed last night, did you?"

"What?" I startled, nearly choking on my second glass of water.

How did she know that?

"Just a hunch," Grace smirked, her wolf-like curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "But look at you—clearly didn’t check a mirror this morning. You don’t look like soone who got dressed to go out, more like soone doing the walk of sha. Plus, I can sll alcohol on you. So spill it. Where were you last night? Did you hook up with so young stud?"

I rolled my eyes at her teasing. "He’s hardly so young hottie—more like aged whiskey. I ran into Damian on my way ho, went to his place for drinks. Had too much and accidentally fell asleep."

"So that’s why you went to Damian’s," she said thoughtfully, leaning forward eagerly. "How did things go with that whole situation?"

The question made my cheeks burn. I poured another half glass of water, buying ti. "What situation? Nothing happened."

"Bullshit," Grace snorted, her wolf instincts sharp enough to cut through my lie. "Your face is redder than a tomato. Did you two finally confess your feelings for each other?"

"No! I told you, I was drunk!" I protested, unable to et her eyes. "But..."

"But what?" Grace leaned forward, practically vibrating with excitent. "Don’t leave

hanging!"

I bit my lip, hesitating before admitting, "He said he loves

and asked how I feel about him."

Grace’s expression turned triumphant. "I knew it! And then what?"

"My mind went completely blank. Thank God you called—it gave

an excuse to escape."

Grace dramatically clutched her chest. "You’re telling

my call interrupted your courtship mont? Worst timing ever!"

"No, it was perfect timing!" I insisted. Without Grace’s call, I would have been trapped in that mont, forced to confront feelings I wasn’t ready to face.

"So," Grace settled back against the couch, "how do you feel about Damian?"

I shook my head, genuine confusion washing over . "I honestly don’t know. It’s complicated."

"How can you not know? You didn’t outright reject him, did you?"

I nodded, rembering how stunned I’d been.

"Exactly!" Grace exclaid triumphantly. "If you really didn’t like soone, you’d reject them imdiately. Hesitation doesn’t an disinterest—it ans you’re overthinking because you’re scared to start sothing new."

"Grace, stop," I groaned.

"I’m not making this up! If any other guy confessed to you, would you hesitate? If Patrick told you he liked you and wanted to be with you, would you say ’let

think about it’?"

"Absolutely not," I admitted. Patrick had actually confessed yesterday, but I’d rejected him without hesitation. I felt nothing for him.

"See?" Grace’s smile grew brighter. "Face it—you’re already in love with Damian. Looks like after all this ti, you still can’t escape falling for a Sterling. Make sure you save

the best seat at your wedding!"