Chapter 149
I paused, letting the silence build.
“You see, Lumora isn’t just another competitor. It’s a bridge–two forces working together. One is Moon Shadow. The other is Iron Claw. My company represents a collaboration that neither pack has ever seen before.”
His eyes widened, but I didn’t stop.
“The potential behind Lumora is immense. It’s proof that when rivals set aside their differences, they create something far more valuable than either could achieve alone. That’s why this tender belongs to us. Not you.”
Arman’s glare intensified, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. Around us, murmurs began to grow as others pieced together the implications of my words. The weight of my statement wasn’t lost on anyone.
“You think you can just-” he began, but I cut him off with a laugh.
“Oh, Arman, it’s not about thinking. It’s about knowing.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only he could hear.
“And I know you’ve been struggling. Your reputation, your business… they’re not what they used to be. The elders don’t trust you anymore, do they? This tender is your last grasp at relevance. But it won’t work. Not against us.”
His glare burned into me, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of faltering. Instead, I turned to Zane.
“Shall we?”
Zane smirked, his eyes glinting with approval. “Lead the way.”
That day I won the tender and we had an amazing time at the event. Winning the tender had been a turning point for me. The exclusive rights to Zahn’s patents had given my company an edge that others could only dream of, and since that day, everything seemed to fall into place.
Project after project landed in my lap, and the contracts I secured solidified my reputation. People in the business world treated me wit
a deference I had never known before. Their smiles were warm, their handshakes firm, and their words laced with respect.
was a far cry from my previous life, the one where I had struggled for recognition, where my
Chap 149
achievements were overshadowed by my pack affiliations. Now, I was no longer just a name attached to a legacy. I was my own force.
But with success came an unrelenting schedule. These days, I barely had a moment to breathe. So, when Lirian reached out to me telepathically, his voice slipping into my mind like a warm embrace, I couldn’t help but smile.
eas
“I miss you,” he said, his tone carrying a soft complaint. “It feels like we haven’t gone on a proper date in forever. There’s an auction tonight. Come with me.”
I agreed almost instantly. For all his grumbling, Lirian had a way of grounding me, and I knew I needed that.
On the way to the auction, I caught sight of a massive billboard flashing past the car window. Linda’s face stared back at me, exquisitely made up, her expression as poised and perfect as ever.
“What’s this about?” I asked my assistant, nodding toward the advertisement.
She looked up from her tablet. ‘Linda recently secured investment for a new film. It’s already causing a stir. Supposedly, the money came from Alpha Carden of the Black Ridge Gang. He’s been predictable in the stock market over the years, making big profits on several of his purchases, on par with the mysterious investor Sigma S.”
Her words sent a ripple of unease through me. Alpha Carden, that name was vaguely familiar. A few years ago, he had been an unremarkable figure in the werewolf world but a mediocre Alpha with little influence.
But recently, his investments had become legendary. Every move he made in the stock market seemed to turn to gold.
Sigma S is my pseudonym, and the ‘mystery investor‘ is a fictitious identity I use for my investments I had an advantage that my knowledge of the future allowed me to predict market trends with near–perfect accuracy. But how could someone like Caden, without the same foresight, achieve such consistent success?
My thoughts churned as the car pulled up in front of the auction venue. Snow drifted softly from the sky, and as I stepped out, an umbrella was immediately held over my head.
I turned to find Lirian beside me, his free arm slipping around my waist.
“You’re late,” he murmured, his tone light but edged with playful reproach.
“Tre been busy,” I said, leaning in to kiss him. The gesture softened his expression, his earlier
mplaint melting away only slightly.
We entered the building together, Lirian guiding me with a protective hand on the small of my back.
The room was already filled, the hum of conversation rising and falling like waves. As we stepped inside, a ripple of attention followed us.
I could feel the weight of their stares, their whispered conversations barely masked. Lirian and I represented a powerful alliance–Iron Claw and Moonshadow, two packs that had risen to prominence. Together, we were unstoppable, and the people here knew it.
“Let them look,They’re just jealous.” Lirian said softly, his lips curving into a smile. “Tonight, I’ll give you whatever you want.”
