CHAPTER 4: The Price of Arrogance

Hundreds of pairs of elite eyes suddenly focused on the small commotion. For conglomerate business mafia, this spectacle is much more interesting than a bottle of wine worth millions of dollars. 

Seraphina still puffed up her chest, feeling that the support of her husband and her status as a Luna Pack would protect her. "You'll never be Luna, Chloe. These fancy clothes and this fake status...none of it will change the fact that you're an outcast Omega!"

The hiss of insults from the woman in the red dress echoed in the hall. Julian wanted to stop his wife, but his ego as the Alpha who once ditched Chloe held his tongue. In the darkest corner of his heart, he felt insulted because the former "trash" was now standing far above him.

Chloe didn't show anger like a village person. He raised one hand gracefully. Just one small gesture. 

The old butler, Arthur, stepped forward. Without hesitation, a deafening slap landed absolutely on Seraphina's left cheek! 

PLAC!

The sound of the slap was like an iron whip. Seraphina's body flew backwards, her heels broke, and she fell to the marble floor embarrassingly. Fresh blood suddenly dripped from the corner of his lips, and a bright red five-finger print was clearly printed on the face he had always been proud of.

"Sarah!" Julian roared, his wolf growled angrily seeing his mate being attacked. He took a stance and prepared to jump towards Arthur.

However, before Julian could move even half an inch, a dozen red lasers from the automatic weapons of the Vanguard guards lodged right in Julian's heart, forehead and knees. Cold and silent, like the shadow of death gripping his neck.

"This isn't your junk territory, Blackwood," Chloe interrupted calmly. He folded his arms across his chest, his eyes looking down from an absolute height. "That slap was a small fine for polluting the sterile air around me with the smell of your wife's lies."

Seraphina crawled up, her neatly styled hair now messy like crazy. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, hoping Julian would protect her. "J-Julian! Kill them! They humiliated Bloodmoon!"

"Shut up," Julian grumbled, his teeth chattering. He knew for sure, one wrong move, these pure silver bullets and wolf shell bullets made by Vanguard would turn him into a paste.

Chloe chuckled softly. His laughter was melodious yet chilled the spinal cord. "You are here to seek loan funds to save Bloodmoon which is on the brink of bankruptcy, right, Alpha Julian?"

Julian's face grew stiffer. Discussing the company's financial problems in public is a form of stripping one's self-esteem. 

"That's none of your business!" 

"Oh, of course that's my business." Chloe glanced at Arthur, who quickly took out a crystal tablet and projected the data into the air. Bloodmoon's giant red numbers, crushing downward curve, and trillions of dollars in debt were on display in front of hundreds of elite investors.

The guests started whispering, looking at Julian with disgust and wariness. Those who previously wanted to invest are now regularly withdrawing.

"Sixty percent of your board of directors sold their shares secretly yesterday afternoon," Chloe's voice sounded like a celestial judge's verdict. "And guess who bought it? Vanguard Group. In other words, the life of your pack, the ground you walk on, right down to the dining table where your wife dresses, is now mine."

The earth seemed to swallow Julian whole. His body froze. His trembling brother couldn't support his arrogance.

"You're lying! Vanguard couldn't possibly invest in rubbish!" Seraphina screamed hysterically.

"You guys are crawling here begging for alms. Didn't you see the main auction board tonight?" Chloe pointed towards the giant screen in the middle of the hall. There, it was written in big letters: BLOODMOON ASSET ACQUISITION AUCTION - MAIN SPONSOR: VANGUARD GROUP.

"You... you planned it. You made our stock prices plummet?!" Julian's eyes reddened, realizing his fatal stupidity. Three years ago he dumped this girl, feeling strong without ties. And now, his revenge far exceeds the torment of hell.

"And this is just the beginning, darling," Chloe whispered, deliberately emphasizing the last word with a note of sharp irony. "I will not kill you. Death is too merciful. I will make you watch your kingdom crumble slowly, cut your nails one by one, drain your blood, until you kneel begging at my feet to be deprived of your life."

Chloe turned around, swishing her black dress with all the grace of a queen who had just crushed a nuisance ant. 

"Enjoy the party, Wild Dog," said Chloe before walking towards the VIP room, surrounded by the incomparable honor of all the attendees.

Behind him, Julian's knees finally buckled and hit the floor. His heart was crushed by two things: The destruction of his empire, and the mad regret that tore at his wolf because he realized how brightly the diamond he had once thrown away shone.