Chapter 6: A auction for a new deal.

Rowena's POV

"An auction!" I interrupted grandmother's yoga session early the next day.

"Oh dear, what are you on about?" She signaled to the yoga instructor to help her up from the weird position she was in,

My lips curled in a smile, but I quickly straightened my face; I remember the first time I witnessed her session. There were a lot of bone-cracking and weird positions, and I decided this form of yoga wasn't for me.

"Thank you." She gave a nod to the instructor, and the slim lady exited the room.

"I would like to host an auction" I took a seat by the window and observed as she pulled the shawl tightly around her shoulders, I must admit it was eerily cold this early in the morning but it didn't bother me, years on the street and three years on the prison's cold floor would do that to anyone so I shrugged and settled in my chair.

"Why?" Her lips pursed, expecting an efficient answer.

"The alpha of the Silvermoon pack invited me to lunch" Her gasp was loud,

"Did you just say?" Her eyes grew round in her face. I shrugged, trying to appear calm even though her reaction crippled my mind with fear again.

"Since he wanted to meet over lunch, I thought I would invite him instead; that way, he'd be forced to make a negotiation in our territory." I laid back in the chair and watched her face change from surprise to an unreadable emotion. A mischievous light danced around in her eyes and I wondered if she had a plan in mind.

"But what would we auction off?" She took the seat opposite of me and stared out of the window, a slight frown graced her features. If she doesn't like the cold, why open the windows early in the morning and torture herself in the form of yoga? I mused quietly.

"Everything and nothing," I replied to her question and let a smile out; her plan was simple: draw the attention of one powerful man but sell him nothing.

"Isn't that silly? Or do you have a plan you're reluctant to share with me?" The naughty smile spread over her face slowly and it made me feel smug. She understood me better than anyone I've met in my entire existence.

"Tell me about everything about the Silvermoon family" I pulled my legs under me and settled in my chair.

*

"Thank you for coming on such short notice" I shook the old alpha's hand at the entrance. If Nana's story was accurate, then he shouldn't look that old, but somehow, he looked even older than I imagined he would.

The man might be old, but his gaze was unnerving. He stared at me with an intensity that made my wolf shrink away in fear, but I stared back in determination. To be honest, I didn't think he would come; the thought that everything I planned might go to waste freaked me out as much as the age-coming ceremony.

"I'm sure you've met my grandson?" He motioned with his hand, and I faced the young man standing tall and unbothered beside him.

My blood ran cold.

"You?" I could barely get the word out as he stared at me with those steely gray eyes; my heart raced as I remembered where I saw him for the first time: the mall. I had collided with him moments before Damian found me and somewhat forced me to face my reality and responsibilities.

I felt a sudden flush of emotions, anger and gratitude. If it wasn't for him, I might have escaped, but him being there at that particular moment somehow brought us to this moment.

"You're the gentleman at the party" I forced a smile and extended my hand to shake him, Ignoring the small voice at the back of my mind that screamed danger.

Nana said the Silvermoon pack had an heir, and since there was a rumor of the old alpha wanting to step down, that meant the man who was staring at my hand like it was some sort of insult was the next alpha.

He took my fingers in his as I was about to withdraw my hand but dropped it almost immediately like it burned him. I stared up at him with a confused expression but his eyes gave nothing away. His face lacked any expression and I wondered if he disliked me because of my behavior the previous night.

He moved away from me and joined his grandfather, who was now surveying the items for sale; I felt a strong urge to go after him and explain or even apologize but snapped out of it when another guest arrived.

"Rowena!" A familiar female voice greeted me warmly; Luna of the Nightfang pack, we met at the gala.

"Hello! Thanks for coming on such short notice." I embraced her.

The auction was going without a hitch, with the decoy bidders I planted in the crowd bidding insane amounts to secure the items until it got to the pendant; I held my breath, hoping the alpha recognized it.

"This is insane; you're allowing her to sell valuable property," Lucien glared at me. I rolled my eyes when Vespera placed her hand over his and whispered something to him, and they both chuckled.

"Oh hush, both of you." Grandmother waved a finger in their direction; they stopped laughing, but her hand remained on his. Soon, I'll have to separate them; I can't have Vespera influencing him further in the wrong direction.

I refocused my attention on the alpha and noticed his grandson giving his security guard something.

The man walked towards me and my heart raced faster. The bid for the red stone pendant went on but my mind was on the man now approaching.

"The alpha instructed me to give this to you" He handed me a note.

"Look at that, she just got here and she's already destroying our pack's alliances." Vespera snickered.

I ignored her comment and unfolded the paper.

He requested a private moment with his grandfather.

I took a deep breath and made the arrangements.

*

I took another deep breath and let myself into my father's private library. I had asked Nana to arrange some sort of entertainment for the rest of the guests after I halted the auction, while I attended to the most important guest of the day.

"Alpha Silvermoon," I acknowledged the old man and sat myself on a chair opposite him; his grandson wasn't anywhere around, which suited me fine; his presence had a way of making the air feel tight.

"What do you want?" The old alpha went straight to the point. I stared blankly at him, his mass of white hair distracting.

"You clearly want something; the pendant was a threat." He looked somewhat annoyed, and I felt like a schoolgirl being scolded by the school principal.

I cleared my throat.

"The pendant was a reminder," I said softly but firmly; the pendant belonged to the old alpha's father, the previous Alpha who gifted it to my grandmother as a token of affection and protection when her own father died, and she was left to protect the pack before my father took over.

"Our packs have shared an alliance since the days of Alpha Taren, your father but it has gotten weaker over the years and even more so now that my father has passed away"

"So you want to break the alliance by selling the symbol of bond?" My fingernail dug into my palm while he talked, it could all go wrong so fast if I stayed on the lane I pursued.

"On the contrary, I want a new alliance; no, that doesn't mean I want to break the former alliance," I explained quickly when I saw his brows go up in a frown.

"Think of it as renewing a deal" I bit into my cheek.

"And why would you want to do that?" The alpha's stare grew more intent.

"I discovered that we have no business relationship even though your father swore to protect the Ironfang pack's territory and interest. You've refused every business deal my father proposed," I said calmly, unfolding the ribbon bind around the stack of papers I brought with me; I felt more confident when he asked his next question.

"And what makes you think I'll agree to them now? How do you intend to change my mind when your father, experienced as he was still couldn't?" His smirk transformed his wrinkled face completely, he was definitely popular with the girls in his younger years.

"I have no intention of selling you the dreams my father sold to you. In fact, you need us now more than ever." I saw the confusion on his face and hid a smile.

"I took the liberty of researching your companies and discovered a recent company your grandson created and to be quite frank with you alpha, without us, that company will go bankrupt very soon"

"That's a very bold statement, young lady". His jaw was set in a hard line, but his voice held a hint of amusement.

"My grandson has created many companies that are thriving and have given us the largest share of the market, you might want to choose your words carefully"

"I understand your sentiment, but after an extensive research and a look into our own production, I found out that we've been quite successful in the tech chip your grandson is trying to create" I pushed the papers to his side of the table.

"We'll look into that but what are you proposing?" He leaned forward in his chair, I had successfully gotten his interest hooked

"That we sign a partnership, you have the resources, and we have the experience, best brains, and a success rate that hasn't been matched. And a 70/30 profit gain of course. 30 for you and 70 for us." I smiled to soften the last blow.

"70/30?" A deep voice asked suddenly, my head whipped round to where the voice came from. I squinted and found him sitting with his jaw resting on his knuckles in the dark part of the room.

I could hear my heart beating louder by the minute; he had been sitting there the whole time?!