Chapter 4

Only six hours remain until the coronation and the rejection ceremony.

My first priority today is securing the Moon Crown.

It is the exclusive crown for the Luna of North America's top pack. It is also my trophy, earned through ten years of blood and battle as the Blood Moon Pack's lead female warrior.

I step inside. The blast of premium air conditioning mixes with the heavy scent of old money and luxury.

Before my eyes even adjust to the dim lighting, a sickeningly sweet vanilla scent assaults my nose. The smell drips with obvious provocation. It is the specific pheromone an Omega releases only when flaunting their absolute protection.

I follow the scent, my gaze turning ice-cold.

In the VIP front row, Lily leans bonelessly against Caleb's chest. This is the same girl who screamed bloody murder last night over a "severe" silver injury. Her forearm is wrapped in thick, dramatic bandages, yet she has zero trouble holding a glass of champagne.

And my fated mate? He abandoned the crucial preparations for tonight's coronation just to sit here and look at her with utter devotion.

"Oh my, Elara."

Lily spots me immediately and raises her voice. "Are you here for the auction too? Caleb told me last night that if you didn't show up at the Hollowthorn Clan today with an expensive gift to beg for my forgiveness, he would strip you of your pack status."

"Since you are about to lose everything and become a rogue, do you even have the money to buy a souvenir?"

Her mocking pheromones flare, pressing heavily against me.

I march straight up to them. My inner wolf lets out a low, murderous growl.

"Reign in your scent, Lily." I stare her down, my voice ice-cold. "Let it drift my way one more time, and I will shove that precious arm of yours, bandages and all, right down your throat."

Lily flinches and shrinks deeper into Caleb's chest. Her eyes instantly well up with tears.

"Elara!" Caleb shields Lily behind him. His pupils snap into Alpha slits. "You tore her arm open with silver last night, and now you are threatening her in public? Do my orders mean absolutely nothing to you?"

I watch him protect her like she is some priceless treasure. The sight makes me sick. My mind flashes back to his sheer arrogance last night, how he forced our mind link just to demand an apology.

Pure rage boils in my chest, nearly burning away my last shred of self-control.

I do not back down an inch. Instead, I drop into the empty seat right next to him and scoff. "Keep protecting your little pet, Caleb. I just hope your wallet is deep enough today to match your cheap devotion."

The auction begins.

The first few lots are high-end jewelry designed specifically for Omegas. To comfort the pouting girl in his arms, Caleb raises his paddle again and again without batting an eye.

"Three million, sold! Congratulations to Mr. Caleb on winning the diamond necklace!"

"Five million, sold! The pink diamond bracelet set also goes to Mr. Caleb!"

The auctioneer's gavel slams down again and again. I watch as Caleb personally fastens each piece of priceless jewelry onto Lily. And with every new diamond, she turns her head just enough to shoot me a smug, gloating look.

Ten years. I bled and fought for this man for ten straight years. My reward was a cheap, tarnished necklace reeking of another woman's perfume. Yet this pathetic Omega, who literally fakes injuries just to frame me, gets him to burn millions without a second thought.

"Next, we have the finale of tonight's auction. The ultimate symbol of our kind's glory. The Moon Crown!"

The auctioneer pulls back the red velvet cloth. The spotlight hits the crown, its rare moonstones glowing with a brilliant, commanding light.

"Starting the bid at ten million!"

"Fifteen million." I raise my paddle.

Low murmurs ripple through the crowd. Every wolf in the room knows this crown is the mandatory centerpiece for the Blood Moon Pack's future Luna.

But the second I speak, Lily grips Caleb's arm. "Caleb, that crown is so beautiful. If I wear it, do you think people will finally stop hurting me with silver?"

Caleb hesitates, his brows furrowing. "Lily, that crown belongs to the Luna..."

"But Elara was so cruel to me last night. My arm still hurts so much." She forces a few tears to fall and shoves her bandaged arm into his line of sight, burying her face into his chest.

Caleb's expression instantly softens.

The very next second, Lily snatches Caleb's paddle and holds it high. At the same time, her other hand slams down on the red button built into his armrest. The button that signals absolute financial dominance.

The venue lights flash, and a blinding red siren lights up the auction stage.

An infinite bid!

The crowd erupts. It is the most arrogant, ruthless move you can make in an auction. It means no matter what the opponent offers, the system will automatically raise the bid by one million. It doesn't stop until the opponent goes bankrupt or backs out. A low-ranking Omega with zero background actually dares to trigger a malicious price war inside the Lycan King's own auction house!

"Twenty million." I force down the urge to burn this whole place to the ground and raise my paddle again.

"The red light is active! Twenty-one million!" the auctioneer shouts.

"Thirty million!" I grit my teeth.

"Thirty-one million!"

"Enough, Elara!" Caleb grabs my wrist, slamming my paddle down. His tone is hard, demanding absolute obedience. "You tore her arm open last night. Consider this crown your apology to her. Back down and stop embarrassing us in public."

My apology? He expects me to hand over the ultimate symbol of my glory to a liar who mutilated herself just to frame me?

I rip my hand out of his grip. "Are you completely out of your mind, Caleb? You want me to step aside for this pathetic snake? Does she look like she deserves to wear a Luna's crown?"

"Watch your tone, Elara!" Caleb's Alpha aura flares, trying to crush me into submission. "My word is final. I am backing her with the entire pack's treasury. You have nothing left to fight her with."

He really thinks cutting off my funds will force me to my knees. He honestly believes that just because he is an Alpha, he holds all the power and wealth in the world.

I let out a dark, bitter laugh. I stand up, locking eyes directly with the auctioneer, who is currently sweating bullets under the pressure of the infinite bid.

With hundreds of eyes burning into my back, I slowly raise my right hand.

I press my thumb against my palm and press my index and middle fingers together. Moving with ancient, absolute authority, I tap my left collarbone twice.

It is the Royal Veto. A gesture recorded only in the highest, most sacred texts of our kind. It can only be used by the core members of the Lycan King's bloodline, or someone granted absolute immunity by the Royals themselves.

Once invoked, it overrides every bid. It kills the infinite raise. The item unconditionally goes to the one who makes the gesture.

Clack.

The wooden gavel slips right out of the auctioneer's trembling hand, slamming violently onto the solid wood podium.

Dead silence drops over the entire room. Hundreds of sharp gasps echo through the hall. It feels like every ounce of oxygen has just been sucked out of the room.

"Elara! Are you out of your damn mind?!"

Caleb has no idea what the ancient royal privilege means. All he sees is me breaking the normal rules. He shoots up from his seat, pointing a finger right in my face, screaming for the whole room to hear. "What the hell kind of gesture is that? Are you throwing a tantrum now? Have you completely lost all sense of class? You are embarrassing the entire Blood Moon Pack!"

I completely ignore his furious barking. I hold the gesture perfectly still, my posture straight and unbroken, keeping my cold, dead stare locked directly on the auctioneer up on the stage.