Kael remained standing. For several long seconds, he simply stared across the hall.
Four million.
The number rang through his mind like a curse. Around him, the auction hall exploded into whispers.
"Four million..."
"Has Damon gone mad?"
"No sword is worth that."
"I’ve never seen a bid like this."
Evelyn stiffened, her gaze snapping to the man in black who sat beside her. He’d taken off the shawl over his face now, revealing who he was.
Sophia’s ex-husband—and the one Kael had gone to war with for Sophia.
She glanced at the front row where Kael was and almost laughed, seeing him standing there, glaring at Damon like he wanted to rip his head off his neck.
Meanwhile, servants hurried onto the stage to secure the Red Wolf Sword while the auctioneer, still visibly stunned, composed herself enough to thank the bidders.
Kael heard none of the whispers. His eyes were fixed on Damon.
The Alpha of Bloodmoon finally turned his head, and their gazes met across the crowded arena.
Damon inclined his head ever so slightly. It was mocking.
Kael’s jaw tightened until it hurt.
That bastard. Of course it would be him. Who else would steal victory from him at the very last moment?
For years they had competed in everything that mattered—influence, trade routes, military strength, even Sophia—and now, this.
Aldric leaned closer. "Alpha..."
Kael ignored him, his fists clenched at his sides.
Four million.
There wasn’t enough liquid silver in Silver Creek’s treasury to justify matching that bid.
Even if there were, he couldn’t.
Not now. Not with thirty-eight percent of the Trading Guild threatening to disappear.
Every instinct screamed at him to raise his paddle anyway, but the Alpha in him knew better.
One reckless bid today could bankrupt his pack tomorrow. Slowly and painfully... he sat back down.
Across the hall, Damon finally looked away, his attention returning to the stage as if nothing remarkable had happened.
That indifference stung far more than any smile would have.
The auctioneer cleared her throat. "My congratulations to Alpha Damon of Bloodmoon."
Applause rippled through the auction grounds.
The Supreme Alpha merely watched as attendants carefully lifted the Red Wolf Sword from its case and carried it toward its new owner.
Lucien’s expression revealed nothing, but Kael felt the weight of his silence all the same.
He had failed—not just to win the sword, but to impress the one man whose opinion mattered most.
His nails dug into his palms. This wasn’t over yet, though. He still had Lord Eugene Ravenscott.
The sword had slipped through his fingers.
The Trading Guild would not.
As if sensing his thoughts, Aldric stepped forward once more. "Alpha."
Kael turned sharply. "The representative has sent word."
His heartbeat steadied. "They’re ready?" he asked.
Aldric nodded. "Lord Eugene is waiting."
At last. Kael rose immediately, smoothing the front of his coat. He looked toward Lucien, forcing confidence back into his voice.
"My Lord."
Lucien regarded him silently.
Kael bowed his head. "If you could spare just a few moments longer... I’d be deeply honored. I’ve arranged to meet the principal shareholder of Silver Creek’s Trading Guild. I believe his decision today concerns not only my pack, but the stability of one of the realm’s largest commercial enterprises."
There was a brief silence, then Lucien stood up. "I’ll observe," he said.
Relief flooded Kael so quickly it almost made him dizzy. "Thank you, my Lord."
This was enough. More than enough, even. Lord Eugene would walk into this hall, see the Supreme Alpha standing beside him, see that Kael still commanded the respect of the realm’s highest authority—and whatever concerns had prompted this foolish withdrawal would disappear.
He turned to Aldric and gave a curt nod to bring him here.
Aldric inclined his head before disappearing into the dispersing crowd.
The auction hall, once alive with frantic bidding, had begun to empty. Servants carried away the remaining relics while merchants gathered into small circles, discussing the astonishing price Alpha Damon had paid for the Red Wolf Sword.
Yet dozens of Alphas remained, wanting to know what the Supreme Alpha and Kael were waiting for.
Word traveled quickly. The Alpha of Silver Creek was meeting the mysterious investor who held nearly forty percent of his greatest trading concern.
Curiosity alone was enough to keep wolves rooted where they stood.
Lucien noticed it too—his sharp eyes swept over the gathering crowd—but he said nothing.
Kael clasped his hands behind his back, forcing himself to appear composed.
He had recovered from setbacks before, and this one would be no different.
A few moments later, Aldric emerged from the crowd. He stopped before Kael and bowed.
"Alpha."
Kael’s eyes moved past him immediately, searching. "Where is Lord Ravenscott?"
Aldric hesitated. "He is here."
Kael frowned. "I can see that. Where?"
"The Lord asked that we wait."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Kael’s face. Even so, he swallowed it. A wealthy investor was entitled to a few eccentricities.
"I’ll indulge him," he muttered. Behind him, murmurs continued to spread.
A movement near the middle rows caught Kael’s attention. Two figures stepped away from the seats.
One wore a silver mask, and the other... was Tristan.
Kael’s expression darkened instantly on seeing his former Beta.
"What are they doing here?" His voice carried enough irritation that several nearby Alphas turned to look.
Tristan walked with his usual calm, stopping a respectful distance behind the masked woman.
She, however, kept walking straight toward them.
Kael let out a short, humorless laugh once he recognised who it was under the mask.
"Unbelievable." His eyes narrowed. "So you’ve finally come to your senses."
The woman stopped only a few paces away and removed the mask, her gaze shifting to Lucien, whose jaw hardened imperceptibly.
Kael didn’t even bother hiding the contempt in his voice. "If you’ve come to beg, you’ve chosen a poor time. I told you before—you’d eventually realize how impossible it is to survive without me."
Evelyn remained perfectly still even as he spoke.
Kael looked straight through Evelyn as though she were an inconvenience.
"I don’t have time for this." He looked past her. "Aldric."
The Gamma immediately straightened.
"Bring Lord Eugene Ravenscott forward."
The Gamma glanced around, then his gaze settled on Evelyn.
That tiny movement did what no words could.
Lucien’s eyes narrowed as he followed Aldric’s gaze. It couldn’t be...
Kael noticed it a heartbeat later. His irritation deepened. "What are you waiting for?" he snapped. "I gave you an order."
Aldric swallowed. "Alpha..." His voice carried an uncertainty Kael had never heard before. "...Lord Ravenscott is here."
"I know he’s here!" Kael barked. "So where is he?"
He could feel dozens of eyes settling on him. Even Damon, standing several paces away with the Red Wolf Sword resting across one shoulder, was watching.
Finally—Evelyn smiled. She took a step forward.
"I believe... you’re looking for me."
Kael stared like she’d grown two heads. "What?"
"My name..." she said evenly, "is Evelyn Valemont—but you already knew that. My business name, though... is Lord Eugene Ravenscott." She smirked. "You’re looking at Lord Eugene Ravenscott."