Chapter 10

～Grace～

“The rare moonstone earrings are sold to the Lycan King!” The auctioneer announced.

“Hand-crafted from the finest moonstone, they are the only pair of their kind in the world! A suitable prize for the Lycan King,” he continued.

Alex gracefully walked down the aisle, heads turning to watch him as he passed. He bought it at such an incredible price, nobody but the Alpha King could hope to keep up with him.

But the Alpha King had stayed silent.

I watched Alex with pride. I knew Liam didn’t have a chance against him.

After collecting the earrings, Alex made his way back toward me. Liam stared him down with daggers for eyes.

Everyone but Liam bowed their heads in respect as he passed, their wolves understanding his power and dominance.

I lifted my head as Alex stopped in front of me, and my eyes widened in surprise. The earrings sat in the palm of his hand, which he held out to me.

He had bought them for… me? I had assumed this was all a game to humiliate Liam. I hadn't actually expected him to get them for me.

“They match your necklace perfectly,” Alex said, voice low and gentle, as if we were the only two in the room.

I couldn't help but feel special when the Lycan King spoke to me that way. But did he actually mean it, or was it all for show?

He was right about the necklaces. They looked as if they were cut from the very same moonstone, even the small details in the gems matching up.

I hesitated to take them, but Alex took my hand, softly turning my palm upwards. He placed the earrings in my hand.

“This is how I show my gratitude. Thank you for being my partner tonight,” he said, amusement in his eyes. I couldn’t help but smile. I knew he was teasing me about earlier, when he asked me to express my gratitude.

Liam could have burnt a hole in the back of Alex’s suit with the look he was giving him.

Alex finally glanced toward him, letting Liam know he noticed him, but quickly returned his gaze to mine.

He raised his voice, so the room could hear him as he spoke, “Since the Alpha King couldn’t afford a nice gift for his Luna, I thought I’d do him a nice favor and get them for you, instead.”

I closed my hand around the earrings, smiling at Alex. This partnership was working out perfectly so far. If he kept this up, Liam would be humiliated in no time, and he’d be forced to allow me to divorce him.

To further mock Liam, I took my current earrings out and put the moonstone earrings in.

“Enjoy the rest of your evening,” Alex said to me, gently taking my hand. He raised it to his lips, and I felt the soft warmth of his skin brush against mine.

My heart fluttered, and I couldn’t help but stand frozen to the spot. I never knew the Lycan King could have such cordial manners.

Alex bowed slightly to me before confidently leaving the room. I stared after him.

This had been the most amazing night. He treated me better than Liam ever had, and I wasn’t even his Luna. But deep down, l knew this was just an act to get under Liam'skin.

Gossip began between the crowd members, growing louder and louder. They all questioned Liam’s role as Alpha King, and his inaction in the face of the Lycan King’s taunts.

Voices filled the room, and I noticed Liam trembling behind me.

Just as I turned to look at him, he snapped.

“Enough!” He shouted, with enough ferocity to stop a bear in its tracks. The voices stopped.

People lowered their gazes, some seeming guilty for forgetting their place, others casting judgemental looks his way.

I decided there was nothing left for me to do here, Liam’s reputation had already taken quite a beating.

I quickly left the room, hearing Liam hot on my heels. Of course, he wanted to confront me.

“Grace, let me take you home,” he asked breathlessly as I passed through the dance hall.

Did he think he was going to get me to go home with him? Even if I hadn’t made a deal with Alexander to stay with his clan, I wouldn’t sleep anywhere near Liam ever again.

“I have my own ride,” I stiffly told him, continuing out the doors. Cold air blew my hair back, and I drew my arms up around myself.

“Do you want gifts? I can buy you things-”

“I don’t want anything from you,” I cut him off, turning around.

He looked like a mess. Clearly, the stress from tonight was a lot harder on him than I thought.

“Spend the rest of your wealth on Sophia, since you seem to want to put yourself into debt for her,” I continued.

Liam pursed his lips, giving me a dirty look. He must have realized that I wasn’t going to crawl back to him, even if he bought me all of the jewelry in the world.

He whirled around, raising a finger in the air as he snapped for Samuel, his Beta, who quickly rushed to his side.

Samuel bowed. “Yes, Alpha King?”

“Triple our warriors, starting today,” Liam spat at him, as he angrily strode back toward the building.

~Third Person~

Driving back to the Black Lycan clan, Enzo glanced at Alex, who sat beside him in the car. Alex stared out the window, a faint smile on his lips. He tapped a finger against his leg to a tune that seemed to play inside his head.

Enzo smiled to himself. He’d rarely seen his king in such a good mood, and especially never after attending a public event.

He cleared his throat softly, curiosity eating at his mind. He couldn’t help but ask, he had to know.

All of the things Alex had done for Grace–allowing her to stay with the clan, buying her a nice dress, and even attending a public event–it all must have meant something.

Enzo couldn’t even remember the last time Alex went out for something that wasn’t for business.

“Your highness, do you have feelings for Luna Grace?”

Other than the gentle hum of the engine, the car was silent. Alex stopped tapping.

“I simply wanted to humiliate the Alpha King, nothing more,” Alex responded icily.

Enzo stayed quiet, nervous. He had definitely crossed a line.

“Her necklace–was it you who gave it to her?” Alex asked, voice just as cold.

Now Enzo felt himself start to sweat. Nothing got by the Lycan King.

He had noticed how much Alex had changed since Grace came into his life–how much happier and warmer he seemed. He simply thought it would be a kind gesture, to make her feel welcome.

Enzo had given Grace the moonstone necklace without Alexander’s permission.

Clearly, that was the wrong move.

Gripping the steering wheel hard, he took a deep breath. “I did.”

Enzo readied himself to hear his punishment, but heard a rich laugh next to him. Enzo looked over in shock.

Alex smiled at him. “Well done. I’ll add a bonus to your pay.”