Claimed by My Ex Chapter 8 Busy

Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Busy

Victoria’s POV

I watched Scarlett’s hand rise toward my face.

She actually dares.

Before her palm could connect, I caught her wrist mid-swing. Even through the suppression bracelet, I could feel the Alpha strength coursing through my veins, demanding to be unleashed.

CRACK!

My own slap landed across Scarlett’s cheek with satisfying force, the sound echoing through the ballroom like a gunshot.

Gasps rippled through the crowd of guests. I could feel their shocked stares burning into us, phones discretely rising to capture the drama. Good. Let them watch.

Scarlett clutched her reddening cheek, staring at

with pure disbelief. "You actually hit !"

"That slap is the least you deserve," I said, each word precise as a blade. "Don’t assu everyone else collects garbage like you do. Ethan is trash I threw away—you’re welco to scavenge him from the dumpster, but that doesn’t an the rest of us want to drag filth ho."

I paused, letting a cold smile curve my lips. "And frankly? This particular piece of trash isn’t worth keeping anyway."

Without breaking eye contact, I pulled out my phone and hit play.

I’d started recording the mont I’d encountered Ethan tonight—years of navigating corporate sharks had taught

to always have insurance.

Ethan’s voice filled the silence, sickeningly familiar: ’Victoria! Don’t take what Scarlett said personally. She ans nothing to —it’s all for show. You’re the one I truly love. That woman is a nightmare, impossible to please. I promised I’d divorce her, and I will. Just wait for

a little longer, will you?’

Perfect.

I watched Ethan’s face drain of all color while Scarlett’s eyes blazed with murderous fury. Exactly the reaction I’d been hoping for—let them tear each other apart.

"Honey, let

explain," Ethan stamred, scrambling to appease Scarlett. "It’s not what you think. Victoria ca out of the bathroom looking disheveled, deliberately trying to seduce ."

Seduce him? I almost laughed at the audacity.

Scarlett hissed through clenched teeth, "I’ll deal with you later!" Then she whirled on , venom dripping from every word. "My husband says you were trying to seduce him."

"Ha." The sound escaped

like a bitter bark of laughter. So this is what five years of love gets .

A wave of pure disgust crashed over —not heartbreak, not betrayal, just complete and utter revulsion for the pathetic creature I’d wasted so much ti on.

Before I could think twice, my hand was moving again.

CRACK!

The second slap caught Ethan across his lying mouth, harder than the first. My palm stung, but the satisfaction was worth it.

"Disgusting," I spat, the word carrying five years of accumulated disappointnt.

I turned to leave, feeling lighter with each step. Behind , I could hear the chaos erupting—angry voices, cara clicks, shocked murmurs rippling through the crowd.

This is what freedom feels like.

But apparently, Scarlett wasn’t done with her public humiliation.

"Stop right there!" she shouted after , her voice cracking with rage. "Victoria! My father is a Beta in the Northstream Pack—no one has ever dared humiliate

like this!" she shrieked, her voice carrying an undertone of growl.

Before she could lunge at , Damian’s security team moved with practiced efficiency, restraining her with grips too firm for any ordinary person to break free from.

With a single, elegant gesture, Damian signaled to his team. They escorted Scarlett and Ethan out, effectively throwing them from the venue.

Every pair of eyes in the room watched their humiliating departure. By morning, this scandal would be circulating through every pack in the city, both through human gossip channels and the faster werewolf communication networks.

As the gathering returned to its calm state, Damian appeared beside .

"Little wolf," he said, deliberately emphasizing the title with provocative intent, "would you consider this another favor I’ve done for you?"

"What favor?" I asked, turning to face him.

"Having them thrown out. Don’t forget you forcibly kissed

earlier to make Ethan jealous. How do you plan to show your gratitude?"

I hadn’t expected him to be so shaless. My wolf bristled at his audacity.

"If we’re keeping score," I countered, "I helped you humiliate your brother, and I gave you a free piano concert. Shouldn’t you be thanking

instead?"

Damian pretended to consider this, then nodded thoughtfully. "You make a valid point. I should express my appreciation. What form of gratitude would my dear little wolf prefer?"

The way he emphasized "Little wolf" carried obvious implications.

I didn’t want to get further entangled with this man. If Ethan was bad news, Damian could be worse—mysterious and dangerous. This only strengthened my resolve to keep my Alpha identity hidden.

"We’re even," I said firmly. "I need to leave."

As I walked away, I could feel Damian’s gaze following . But I didn’t look back.

After leaving the gala, I called Grandfather to say, "I’m tired and want to go ho and rest."

Grandfather didn’t object. He said, "Fine, since you’ve already left, I don’t need to attend the gala either."

Once ho, I retreated to my room to rest. For the next several days, I went nowhere, which worried Grandfather considerably.

"Victoria, what’s wrong?" he asked, his concern evident in the deepening lines around his eyes. "You can tell

anything."

"Is it that Sterling boy? Tell , and I’ll give him a lesson he’ll never forget!" The threat from an Alpha of his standing wasn’t empty—his wolf might be aging, but William Lancaster’s power remained legendary among the packs.

I sat up, not wanting him to worry. "I’m fine, Grandfather. I’ve been naive before. You’ve always wanted

to take over the pack, haven’t you? Starting tomorrow, I’ll begin handling the pack’s internal business."

His face imdiately brightened. "Wonderful! My precious granddaughter has finally grown up." Then he added, "Since you’ve broken up with that Sterling boy, perhaps I could introduce you to soone else? He’s my good friend’s grandson—unfortunate in so ways, but a good young man. Though he’s also a Sterling, I believe."

"Grandfather," I said firmly, "I don’t want to date anyone right now, especially not soone nad Sterling. I’m still young—are you that eager to marry

off?"

"I just don’t want you wallowing in heartbreak," he explained. "They say the best cure for a broken heart is new love. I don’t oppose you dating, but I don’t want you wasting years of your life on soone unworthy."

Looking at this kind old man who cared so deeply for , I couldn’t help but embrace him. My wolf nuzzled against his affectionately, the familiar family bond comforting us both.

"Don’t worry about that kind of man," I assured him. "I won’t waste ti on him. I’m really fine. That relationship didn’t hurt !"

"Good," he replied, patting my back. I was his only granddaughter, his only heir, and he couldn’t bear to see anyone hurt .