Chapter 2
At that moment, every gaze in the grand hall was fixed on me. The auctioneer, a Gamma from the Blue Moon Pack, hesitated on the dais, clearly thrown by my unexpected bid. His sharp eyes flickered with doubt, no doubt questioning whether I, as Luna, had the authority or resources to challenge Julian, the Alpha. But the rules of the auction were clear—once a bid was raised, it could not be withdrawn.
Julian’s voice, laced with the commanding Alpha tone, cut through the air like a whip. “Luna Celine! Are you determined to defy me today?”
I turned my head slightly, my gaze locking onto Aleyna, his Beta, who stood beside him with her usual smug expression. My lips curved into a faint smile as I replied, “Absolutely.”
The room seemed to hold its breath as Julian’s eyes darkened with fury. He raised his paddle again, his voice booming across the hall. “Very well, Luna. Let’s see if you can match the resources of the Blue Moon Pack!” With that, he declared, “I bid two million!”
The murmurs that followed were a mix of shock and excitement. Auctions among werewolves were not just about wealth; they were displays of power and dominance. Julian, as the Alpha, was asserting his authority, and I, as his mate, was challenging him in front of the entire pack. There was no turning back now.
I raised my own paddle, my voice calm but firm. “Two million... and one.”
The tension in the room thickened, and I could feel the weight of their stares. They were witnessing a rare spectacle—a Luna openly opposing her Alpha. But they didn’t know the full story. Years ago, when the Blue Moon Pack was on the brink of collapse, Jerry Thomas, the former Alpha, had come to me with a desperate plea. He had offered me the position of Luna, mating me to Julian in exchange for saving the pack. I had agreed, out of duty and gratitude, but Julian had never valued me. He had belittled me at every turn, and now, he dared to flaunt his favoritism toward Aleyna in front of the entire pack. I refused to be humiliated any longer.
Aleyna stepped forward, her voice dripping with disdain. “Luna Celine, do you even have the resources to back this bid? This isn’t some petty pack dispute—this is an auction.”
I met her gaze evenly, my smile never wavering. “Beta Aleyna, whether I have the resources is none of your concern. Perhaps you should worry about your Alpha. He’s the one who can’t back down now.”
Julian’s face flushed with anger, and he slammed his paddle on the table. “Luna Celine, you dare to insult my Beta in front of me? You’ve always loved to challenge me. Let’s see just how far you can go!” With a dramatic flourish, he raised his paddle again. “I’ll raise my bid another two million! Four million in total!”
The whispers turned into gasps. This was no longer about the auction—it was a battle of wills, a public display of power between the Alpha and his Luna. The painting on the dais, a simple piece by a young pup, was now a symbol of their conflict.
I rose from my seat, my movements deliberate and graceful. “Alpha Julian, your generosity is commendable. On behalf of the pups in need, I thank you.” I paused, letting my words sink in before I raised my paddle once more. “But since this is a charity event, I suppose more resources are always welcome, aren’t they?” With that, I declared, “Four million... and one.”
The room erupted into murmurs, and I could feel the tension crackling in the air. Julian’s eyes burned with fury, but beneath it, I thought I saw a flicker of uncertainty. For the first time, he might have realized that I was not the weak, submissive Luna he had always taken me for. And this was only the beginning.
You may also like
