t a wall of Vargr interference, confirming the sabotage was an inside job. Kade sent token gifts for a swift recovery, each one a dr

tral-territory auction house, a place where p

ackwood was his choice, a move Elara understo

he tenth time, his tone a mix of boredom and suspicion. He looked hands

necked black gown. The color of mourning. The color of vengeance. The luminous v

ve energies from a wolf's body and spirit. Presenting it to her pack's elders would b

e item stuck in her memory: a rough, unassuming slab of stone etched with ancient, barely-legible markings. The catalogue descr

oft, internal light, and a palpable sense of peace radiated from

e fray with a calm, decisive bid that silenced several lesser competito

ra said, her voice

new voice cut through the air, dripping with arro

, one hundre

head sna

y against the railing. And clinging to

th the delicious scent of scandal. This was n

cking smile playing on his lips. The message was

she refused to let him see it. She calmly raised

ountered instantly, w

er. "Elara, stop. You can't win thi

mured, her eyes n

ure, far beyond the Tear's actual worth. This was about dominance. He

ctioneer. He looked down at Lila, his express

l price for a gift to the purest soul I know. Her

a, his Fated Mate. He was anointing his sister

ed at the display of devotion, the older nobles exchanged sharp, calculating glances. This was more than a gift; it was a public

joke. The spurned mate, the

her, waiting for her to break, to

one of th

ed her paddle. T

held it

iumphant smirk. Her gaze fell on the next item on the docket,

out, clear and co

For the next item, the Lycan ston

starting price was a mere fifty thousand. He

tears, not a tactical, incomprehensible counter-move. She had just publicly declared that her family's wea

touched glass of champagne, took a delicate sip, and met Z

not over. It had j