Chapter 2

Right now, every pair of eyes in the room was on me.

Even the auctioneer on stage froze, clearly unsure of what to do next. His gavel hovered midair. Sure, he probably assumed I didn't actually have the money, but as a professional, he couldn't just dismiss my bid outright.

Then came Alpha Kennard's roar, loud enough to shake the chandeliers.

"Queenie! You're really set on going against me today, huh?!"

My wolf bristled at the sheer audacity of his voice, the deep growl in my chest barely contained. I turned my gaze toward him—then toward the woman practically clinging to his arm. Beta Joanna. Her smug little smirk made my fingers twitch with the urge to shift and show her exactly why a Luna was no one's punching bag.

I tilted my head and said, crisp and clear, "That's right."

The room collectively inhaled, as if I had just declared myself the new Alpha of the Silver Fang Pack.

Alpha Kennard's face twisted with disbelief before he bared his teeth. "Fine, fine, let's see how deep your pockets really go! I bid ten million!"

A stunned hush fell over the hall.

Now, anyone who's ever attended a high-stakes auction knows that once you make a ceremonial bid, there's no backing out. It's do or die—either you go all the way or declare financial ruin.

Alpha Kennard, in his infinite arrogance, was willing to gamble the entire Silver Fang Pack on Beta Joanna. So I figured—why not play along?

"Ten million... and one dollar."

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by muffled laughter. I could hear whispers:

"Is she crazy?"

"She's mocking the Alpha!"

"Does she even have that kind of money?"

The truth was, I was the Alpha King of the Blood Moon Pack. The real owner of the Silver Fang Pack.

Years ago, when Silver Fang's packhouse was about to collapse under debt, Old Alpha Tyrone had come knocking on Blood Moon's gates in the dead of night, clutching a marriage contract, begging for salvation.

And I owed him. When I was a starving rogue pup, alone and desperate, he had given me food, shelter, and a future. So, I handed over the Blood Moon Pack's business to my Beta, signed the marriage contract, and pumped enough money into Silver Fang to drag it back from the grave.

What I didn't expect?

That the moment I laid eyes on Alpha Kennard, I'd recognize him as my fated mate.

I thought the Moon Goddess had blessed me. That he would change. That he would see me as his equal.

But no. The man never took me seriously. He dismissed me in public, humiliated me in private—and now, in front of the entire pack, he was openly bidding on a necklace for another woman.

And that? That I couldn't forgive.

"Queenie, what the hell's wrong with you? You think this is a grocery store down the block?!" Alpha Kennard growled.

Beside him, Joanna's face twisted in irritation. "You better be careful," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper. "If you can't pay up, you'll be dragged straight to jail."

I turned my attention to her, meeting her gaze with a slow, saccharine smile. "Oh, Beta Joanna... whether I have the money or not isn't really your concern. You should probably worry more about your Alpha."

I leaned in slightly, voice dropping just enough for dramatic effect. "Because once you make a ceremonial bid, there's no turning back."

Her smirk wavered.

Alpha Kennard's rage boiled over. "Luna Queenie, are you seriously standing here and lecturing my people?! You wanna keep going? Fine! Let's see what you've got!"

His bidding paddle shot into the air. "I'm bidding another ten million. That's twenty million total!"

The crowd exploded.

I mean, this was just a charity auction. Sure, the items were nice, but nothing here was even remotely worth that kind of money. Especially not this ruby necklace—designed by a rookie, not even from a prestigious house.

I leaned back in my chair and clapped, slow and deliberate. "Wow, Alpha Kennard is so generous. On behalf of the orphans, I thank you."

Then, I rose to my feet, flashing the audience a sharp smile. "But since it is a charity gala, I suppose the more money, the better... right?"

And with everyone watching, their mouths hanging open, I calmly raised one finger in the air.

"Twenty million... and one dollar."