Chapter 170 The Auction Trap

The bidding opened with six paddles in the air.

Once the price passed one million dollars, most of them dropped out.

A few bidders tried to stay in, only to get an elbow from the wolf sitting beside them.

Two paddles remained.

One belonged to Jordan. The other belonged to Kate.

They raised the price in $50,000 increments, each refusing to back down.

Jordan raised the bid to $1.05 million.

Kate answered with $1.1 million.

At $1.5 million, Jordan leaned toward Alpha Sebastian. "Alpha, we should stop. She’s only driving up the price."

Sebastian’s jaw tightened. "What are the odds Alpha Killian actually wants the chance to meet Dr. Shaw? Give me the honest answer. Business and personal."

"Business-wise, Sterling has the deepest pockets on the West Coast. Its territory is secure, its borders are well protected, and it has more than enough funding. The chair itself means nothing to them."

Jordan lowered his voice.

"Personally, Alpha Killian wants Eira. He’ll block you whenever he gets the chance."

"So?"

"Fifty-fifty."

Alpha Sebastian raised his own paddle.

"One point six million."

He could not afford to lose his chance with Dr. Shaw. His position at Hale Group was already unstable, and he had planned to visit Dr. Shaw in person on Friday with a gift in hand.

He needed access to that patent.

Kate looked back at him and gave him a bright, poisonous smile.

"One point seven."

In the private box upstairs, Alpha Killian watched Eira finish her third glass of water. She stared at the auction floor as if she were watching a hostage negotiation.

Apparently, getting a meeting with Dr. Shaw cost millions.

Alpha Killian let out a quiet laugh.

Eira turned toward him. "Are you trying to meet Dr. Shaw too?"

"Are you offering to introduce me?"

She paused. "Someone with your reputation shouldn’t need an introduction."

"You’d be surprised."

He leaned back in his chair.

"I don’t care about the chair. It’s just an ordinary antique. Not my style."

Downstairs, the bidding passed two million dollars.

"Two point two," Kate called.

Jordan’s forehead began to shine with sweat. A few million dollars had once meant nothing to Hale Group. After Alpha Sebastian’s recent spending spree, the company’s cash reserves were under serious pressure.

"I want Sebastian’s accounts drained," Alpha Killian said.

Eira looked at him. "Why?"

"When you win the asset case, will Sebastian still be responsible for Serena’s expenses?"

"He will be."

The plan clicked into place.

Alpha Killian’s smile turned cold. "Then he needs money to pay those expenses. Once his accounts are empty, Serena is on her own. I doubt she can support herself for long."

Eira studied him. "Thank you, Killian."

"Deliver the project on schedule, and we’re even."

He glanced at her.

"Although, dinner only covered the first favor. You owe me one now."

Behind them, Natalie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Alpha Killian was working awfully hard for a man who claimed he wanted nothing from Eira.

"How do you know Sebastian will keep bidding?" Eira asked.

"Without Dr. Shaw’s patent, he may lose his position at Hale Group. He knows this auction is a trap, but he can’t walk away."

The bidding climbed again.

"Two point six," Kate said.

Alpha Sebastian’s face went dark. He raised his paddle one final time.

"Two point eight million."

The room fell silent.

The auctioneer glanced toward Sebastian, then brought the gavel down with a crisp smile.

"Congratulations, Mr. Hale."

Sebastian’s face darkened. Alpha Killian had dug into his finances, set the trap, and forced him to pay millions for something Killian had never wanted in the first place.

He scanned the auction room but could not find the private box where Alpha Killian was hiding. His eyes landed on Kate instead.

She only smiled.

Of all the wolves to cross, Alpha Sebastian had picked the young Alpha who always thought three moves ahead.

Today, Alpha Killian had taken his money. Next, he would come for his position and territory.

Call it clever if you were being generous. Ruthless was more accurate.

Eira watched Alpha Killian, quietly impressed by how quickly he had read the situation.

Alpha Killian straightened in his seat. "Do you have enough left for another bid?"

"Yes."

A few minutes later, a small antique French mantel clock was brought onto the stage. Its brass details and dark walnut case gave it a classic nineteenth-century look.

The auctioneer opened at $20,000.

Eira’s eyes brightened.

Alpha Killian noticed. "You want it?"

She nodded.

He glanced at Natalie. She immediately signaled Kate.

Kate raised her paddle. "Thirty thousand."

No one else dared to compete. The message was clear. Let Sterling have the clock and stay on Alpha Killian’s good side.

A staff member carefully wrapped the clock and carried it up to the private box. Kate handed it to Eira.

"Nineteenth-century French craftsmanship," she said. "It’s perfect for an old professor. Thoughtful and elegant, but not so flashy that it looks like you’re trying to buy his favor."

Eira examined the clock’s brass trim. "Where do I pay?"

"Just settle it with the Alpha. I put it on his card."

Eira turned to Alpha Killian. "Card or bank transfer?"

Alpha Killian opened his banking app and handed her his phone.

A moment later, the payment went through.

$30,000 transferred.

"Let’s go, Eira."

She was still studying the clock. "Coming."

Downstairs, Alpha Sebastian caught sight of a familiar figure.

"Eira..."