Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 55

I laughed, "I'm not, but this isn't a waste. I've purchased a club in Midnight and I am looking to stock it with the best. Blooming Vibes is my first choice."

He glanced at Renda before his gaze dropped to the table, "A club, you said?"

"Yes."

"I don't suppose you are also here on behalf of your brother?" Walter asked. His eyes hardened, "Or your father?"

My lips twitched, "What Ben and his son get up to have nothing to do with me."

He met my gaze, seeming to search for some answer, but the tension in him didn't ease.

"You must know that I am... planning to auction the rest of the stores." His lips twitched, "To pay the employees and close business finally."

Auction for Blooming Vibes just meant that he was looking to get out faster than he could be assured of if he just kept supplying his goods, or there were sanctions up against his goods.

I frowned, "How odd. Blooming Vibes is a popular brand. How soon were you looking to close down? The market hasn't waned enough to need to auction."

His lips twitched, "It was made clear to me by Alpha Cortez that I shouldn't expect to sell much of anything in the next month."

"Cortez... Enrico Cortez?"

He nodded.

I almost rolled my eyes. Enrico Cortez was the alpha of Green Bow. Everyone knew he was little more than Mordecai's puppet.

"Is Blooming Vibes a domestic company of Green Bow?"

"It will be until noon."

"Noon?"

He nodded, "I have not renewed my registration as my wife and I are planning to move as soon as possible. The covenants binding Blooming Vibes will be over at noon today."

He checked his watch, "Alpha Cortez is upset about it. The auction was meant to be a... peace offering."

It sounded more like a distraction.

"Have you agreed to the auction?"

"No," Walter said. "I was hoping to have my wife out of the territory before then."

I narrowed my eyes as Renda went stiff beside me. How surprising. She knew him as well.

Was she from Green Bow then? But how would she have gotten into Luftmensch custody? Maybe she had been trafficked for longer than I first thought.

"You fear for your safety."

He sighed and sat back, "You are asking me to tell you things that I cannot tell you."

I chuckled, "You don't have to tell me how badly Mordecai wants Blooming Vibes. The second you leave, Enrico will hand it over on a silver platter. Whatever you put up for auction will be bought by anyone under Mordecai's thumb." His eyes widened and he nodded gravely, "Then you can understand why I want to get my wife out of the territory as soon as possible."

"I can, and I can offer you a much smoother exit than the one you're planning," I smiled. "If you're interested."

Walter narrowed his eyes and sat back. He glanced at Renda then at Grace thoughtfully.

"Tell me... why you brought these two women with you."

"I'm on a mission, Mr. Gunning. These two are my accomplices."

His eyes narrowed, "What... sort of accomplices?"

"Vicious, cunning, devious accomplices who have just as much reason to frustrate Mordecai, Uriel, Ben, and several other alphas across the continent as you have to escape Green Bow as soon as possible."

He seemed frozen and he looked at Renda as she finished her cup of hot chocolate.

"...what did you have in mind?"

"I could but your stockpile," I said, "At whatever price you think is enough. You could get in my private plane and have them take you wherever you like. That's your first option."

Walter lowered his gaze, "Tempting."

"You could sell me your company at exactly 12:01 pm and still have your getaway, or you could stay."

"Stay?" Walter frowned.

"I have a Midnight pack profile as well as a Warhammer profile," I told him. I felt Renda turn and stare at me in shock.

I was only a little surprised that Grace didn't react and wondered if she knew.

"You sell me the company, I register it under my Midnight profile, and you have all the protection you need from Enrico and Mordecai without having to go anywhere." I grinned, "I'll even gladly keep you on to manage Blooming Vibes." Walter's eyes widened as he stared at me.

"Would you like to hear your third option?"

Walter took a deep breath, seemingly bracing for what he would say next, "You are... turning out to be truly terrifying and nothing like the tabloids make you out to be."

"I aim to keep an element of surprise if I can. Third option: if Enrico and his cowardice haven't exhausted your ambition, you could be the next alpha of Green Bow."

The man seemed floored and I smiled watching him. The idea intrigued him. I'd looked into Walter's history. He was well-educated and seemingly came from nowhere. His company was one of the first to have a steady, exclusive deal with Fluorite for use of their agricultural exports, and the only that still existed aside from Perfect Face.

The make-up company didn't have as much of a hold as Blooming Vibes due to its medical-grade products and the wide use of them across the population.

"You know the sort of blow that Blooming Vibes' crash will cause the west coast's economy, but what you don't know is how easy it would be to leverage your position to cut through the layers of bullshit that have kept you from using your political science background for anything useful."

Walter's lips twitched, "You've done your research."

"I like to be prepared. Grace, what are your thoughts about Mr. Gunning's potential as an alpha on Midnight's coast?"

Walter frowned but looked at Grace. I could only hope that Grace had caught on to my scheme as I was coming up with it in the moment, but Grace had yet to disappoint me in that arena.

"I think, with a little work, Mr. Gunning could easily expand Green Bow to formally border Midnight."

Lucas howled, What a second-in-command! She's perfect.

I had to agree. This little pack I was forming was shaping up well. I had never considered becoming alpha of anything, but it was becoming obvious to me that having a pack was a path to ensure Renda's safety and her revenge as there were things I couldn't do without one, not even an informal one.

He shook his head, "There is no way that I could go against Alpha Asra."

He covered his mouth as if the thought made him sick. I couldn't blame him. Mordecai could be terrifying to anyone who didn't have protection against him.

"I'm not asking you to," I said, "I said, you'd be on his coast. Sharing a border with Mordecai isn't a death sentence, it's an opportunity."

He frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Midnight's covenants hold that packs that share formal borders with it are eligible for lessened trade tariffs," I smirked. "I plan to make my club the highlight of Midnight, so we'll be doing a lot of business in the future if you take the deal. Mordecai is a greedy man. He'll want the direct connection to Blooming Vibes more than the tariffs since an exclusive trade agreement will guarantee more tourist income. Eventually, Mordecai will push Enrico out because you and I have a relationship." "You mean... I'll be his puppet."

Matt shook his head, "No. You'll be protected because Mordecai needs me."

"But if you take Blooming Vibes," Walter said, "Under your Midnight profile... won't it be considered a domestic entity for Midnight?"

"Not so long as headquarters are in Green Bow, and they will be. Until it can be proven that this office is more a satellite of my enterprises than its own company, Blooming Vibes will still be subject to foreign tariffs, but I'm not worried about it. It's just bait." Walter shook his head, "I can't afford to get involved with a scheme against Midnight."

"I think Helen would disagree," Renda said. Walter stilled and looked at her. "And Aubrey is from Midnight, isn't she?"

He nodded shakily, "She is."

He let out a shuddering breath before looking at me, "There is the matter of... Alpha Gunning."

I frowned, "What about Uriel?"

He huffed, "We're cousins. It's not a largely known thing, but if Alpha Asra finds out he'll be suspicious."

I chuckled, not believing my luck, "You let me worry about Uriel, Mordecai, and Ben. I just need to know if you're interested."

He worried his lip before his jaw tightened, "I want your word that my wife will be safe. A-Aubrey means everything to me. She's my mate. If something happens to her..."

"Walter," I cut in. He met my gaze. "I understand your fears, and what I am asking of you, but you have my word, your mate will be safe."

He frowned, narrowing his eyes at me. He glanced towards Renda then back to my face and I watched the understanding bloom in his eyes. His eyes went wide as he stared at me. "We have a deal, Mr. Wallber."