Claimed by My Ex Chapter 89 She bit her lip

Chapter 89: Chapter 89 She bit her lip

Damien’s POV

The house was quiet when I returned, an emptiness hanging in the air. The lower floor was silent too. Victoria had been staying with her grandfather for the past few days, not here with .

It shouldn’t matter. We rarely saw each other even when she was here. But her absence left the place feeling hollow, as if sothing essential had been removed from my space.

Arthur stirred within , my wolf restless and displeased. He had grown accustod to catching traces of her sweet scent in the hallways, that tantalizing fragrance that had first drawn

to her at the nightclub.

My phone rang, breaking the silence. Felix.

"What is it?" I answered, my voice sounding rougher than intended.

"What are you doing this late? If you’re lacking company, want to co out for a drink?" Felix’s voice was cheerful as always.

"You could have called earlier. I just got ho." Though honestly, the thought of sitting alone in this empty house wasn’t appealing.

"No problem. I’ll send soone to pick you up. Sa place as usual. See you soon!"

I found myself heading out again, back to the club where I’d first seen Victoria drunk and vulnerable. The private room Felix had reserved was next to the one where Victoria had ordered those male models that night—a mory that still made Arthur growl possessively inside .

Felix had already ordered drinks. He stood when I entered, grinning widely.

"Well, look who finally showed up! I’ve been trying to get you out for weeks. Haven’t seen you since the race. Have you forgotten about ?"

"Stop talking like a jilted lover," I said dryly, taking a seat. "It makes

sound like I’ve abandoned you."

Felix laughed. "How haven’t your own venomous words poisoned you yet? Co on, brother, I’ve just been hoping we could drink together, have so fun."

"What’s there to celebrate?" I glanced at the won pouring drinks in the corner, narrowing my eyes slightly. Arthur despised the scent of strange females these days, only interested in one particular sweet fragrance.

Felix caught my look. "They’re just here to serve drinks, not for entertainnt. They’ll be leaving imdiately."

He waved them away. "That’s all. You can go now."

The won left, closing the door behind them. But another female remained, seated near Felix.

"Let

introduce you," Felix said. "This is my cousin, Nina. She’s visiting for a few days and insisted on tagging along. I couldn’t say no."

Nina was already staring at , her eyes wide and unblinking. Her scent was too floral, too artificial. Arthur recoiled.

"Hi, I’m Nina Morgan, Felix’s cousin!" she practically chirped, leaning forward eagerly.

"Hmm," I responded noncommittally, which was more acknowledgnt than I usually offered strangers.

Nina seed even more excited by my dismissal. I could sll her interest pheromones from across the table—a common reaction I’d grown tired of long ago.

Felix ignored his cousin and settled into his chair. "So, did you really send Ethan to Africa?"

"That was Lawrence’s doing, not mine." I took a sip of my drink, the amber liquid burning pleasantly down my throat.

Felix made a disbelieving sound. "You expect

to believe that? I know you too well. Even if Lawrence arranged it officially, I’d bet my club you were pulling strings behind the scenes."

I didn’t bother denying it. The truth was more complicated—I’d simply presented Lawrence with evidence of Ethan’s incompetence, knowing exactly how he’d react.

"I hear the old Alpha of Crescent Dawn is ill," Felix continued. "And the Lancaster princess is officially taking over the company."

"Yes," I confird, thinking of Victoria stepping into her power. The sight would be magnificent.

"Don’t you have plans?" Felix pressed. "You know how massive Lancaster Industries has beco. People say the princess has never handled business before. She’s been playing around instead of learning the trade. Every major pack is eyeing Lancaster Industries, waiting for the old man to pass so they can carve it up."

I sat back, legs crossed, swirling my drink lazily. The dim lighting caught on the glass, casting fractured light across my hands. Arthur was amused by Felix’s assumptions.

"You’re underestimating the Lancaster princess," I said, unable to keep a slight smile from forming. "Lancaster Industries isn’t going anywhere."

My wolf purred in agreent. We’d both seen Victoria’s fierce intelligence, her strategic mind. The business world had no idea what was coming.

"So you’ve t her?" Felix looked curious.

I nodded. Not only had I t her—I’d claid her in the most primal way a wolf could claim a mate. Even if she didn’t yet accept what we were to each other.

Nina suddenly leaned forward, interrupting our conversation. "Damien, can I call you that? I was wondering if I could get your number?"

She waved her phone hopefully, her scent spiking with desire. It made Arthur curl his lip in disgust.

"I’m afraid not," I replied flatly.

Felix sighed. "Nina, don’t interrupt."

She persisted. "Why not? It’s just a phone number!"

As Felix began to respond, I cut him off with words that surprised even : "My girlfriend wouldn’t approve."

Felix choked on his drink, spraying alcohol. "What? Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

"Wait, what?" Felix looked up at

with widened eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Getting hard of hearing at such a young age?" I replied coolly, swirling the amber liquid in my glass.

"No, my hearing is perfectly fine. But you? A girlfriend? Since when?" The disbelief in his voice was almost amusing. Arthur huffed inside , equally entertained by Felix’s reaction.

Felix leaned forward, his eyes scanning my face for any hint of deception. "I’m your best friend. How could I not know about this?"

I kept my expression neutral, my scent steady and controlled. "It’s personal. Leave it alone."

In reality, I’d simply wanted to shut down Nina’s advances. The young female wolf’s eager pheromones were irritating Arthur, making him restless beneath my skin.

"Who is she?" Felix persisted, unable to let it go. "Is it Catherine? Your Beta? No, that can’t be right. You’ve never shown the slightest interest in her all these years."

"Then who?" he continued, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Your inner circle barely includes any females."

He snapped his fingers suddenly. "Wait—is it Victoria? But that doesn’t make sense either. She was completely devoted to Ethan until recently. Why would she suddenly look your way?"

I remained silent, though Arthur growled softly at the ntion of Ethan’s na. The mory of Victoria’s scent intertwining with mine that night was enough to make my wolf pace with possessive energy.

"Or could it be..." Felix’s eyes widened dramatically. "The Lancaster princess? Damien, tell

you’re not entering a business arrangent with Crescent Dawn Pack? A mating for alliance purposes?"

"Drop it," I said firmly, my voice carrying just enough Alpha command to make him pause.

Nina, who had been quietly fuming across the table, suddenly interjected. "It’s just a phone number, Damien. Would your girlfriend really be so controlling? Don’t you think that’s problematic, being on such a tight leash?"

She bit her lip in what she clearly thought was an enticing manner, her jealousy and dissatisfaction filling the air with a sour undertone that made Arthur curl his lip in disgust.

"Excuse ?" My voice dropped dangerously low, and I felt Arthur rising closer to the surface. "You think you have the right to judge soone you’ve never t? My mate can be whatever she wants to be, and if I choose to indulge her wishes, that’s between us. You’re nothing but a stranger, and your opinion ans less than nothing."

Though Victoria wasn’t officially my mate—yet—the protective instinct flared instantly. Arthur was practically preening at the defense of our chosen female, even if she didn’t know her position in our life.

Nina’s eyes imdiately filled with tears, clearly unaccustod to being spoken to with anything less than adoration. "Felix!" she whimpered, turning to her cousin for support.

Felix sighed heavily. "Enough, both of you. Nina, what you said was out of line. You don’t get to comnt on soone’s relationship like that. If there’s nothing else, I think it’s ti I had soone take you ho."

"Damien, my little cousin is sowhat spoiled. Raised with everything she ever wanted," Felix attempted to smooth things over. "Sotis she speaks without thinking. Don’t take it personally. She doesn’t an any harm."

I nodded once, not particularly concerned. Nina’s opinion ant nothing to

or to Arthur.

"I’m not leaving!" Nina protested, her voice rising with indignation. "And I’m not spoiled, Felix, stop saying that!"

Felix looked increasingly uncomfortable, clearly worried that his cousin might further antagonize . With good reason—I wasn’t known for my patience with disrespect.

Eventually, he managed to convince his driver to escort Nina out, despite her protests. The room felt instantly clearer once her scent had dissipated.

After she left, Felix leaned in conspiratorially. "So, Damien, who is this mystery girlfriend of yours? You can tell ."

"There isn’t one. I made it up," I admitted, taking another sip of my drink. After all, Victoria hadn’t officially accepted

yet. Arthur whined with disappointnt at this acknowledgnt.

Felix’s jaw dropped. "Seriously? You were so convincing! I almost believed you’d been seeing soone behind my back. I should have known better—soone like you doesn’t just suddenly get a girlfriend. You had

worried for a minute!"

I rotated the glass between my fingers, watching the light catch in the amber liquid. My thoughts drifted to golden eyes and a fierce, unafraid expression. To the one woman who had ever dared to challenge , who showed no fear in my presence.

"Maybe soon," I murmured, more to myself than to Felix. Arthur rumbled in agreent deep in my chest.

But for several days I did not see Victoria again.

I heard she had a lot of trouble at work.

She was so good at it that she solved it all.

A few days later, I learned that Victoria had gone on a business trip

I can’t control my longing, I want to go and see her.