Chapter 9

Vanya's POV

I remembered that there was an ordinary obsidian at this auction.

It looked gray and unpolished, with a rough and uneven surface, so no one paid much attention to it.

But in reality, it was an obsidian blessed by the Moon Goddess.

If placed within a pack, it could influence the pack and the surrounding area.

It could even strengthen the protective barriers of the pack's territory.

Now that I've decided to leave Cliff, I need to secure my own future.

This blessed obsidian is a great opportunity. I must find a way to get it. I can't afford to miss it.

I turned my head, watching Cliff and Melinda talking and laughing together, and then quietly averted my gaze.

Melinda indeed had some skills, which was one of the reasons Cliff was attracted to her in the future.

Recalling my past life, Melinda had once helped Cliff identify a great piece of land.

The land itself was excellent, and there were real estate developments built by the Silver Moon Pack's companies around it.

Melinda didn't hesitate to raise the price with Cliff's money.

It increased the value of the land and the surrounding properties.

Even without Melinda's interference, Cliff would have definitely taken that land.

It was part of his plan.

Sure enough, as soon as the auction began, Melinda immediately started bidding.

She successfully acquired the first three prime pieces of land.

Cliff sat beside Melinda like a formidable bodyguard, his face stern.

He looked particularly calm, as if everything was under his control.

"A newly mined obsidian rough, starting bid at one hundred thousand dollars," the auctioneer's voice echoed through the venue.

My heart suddenly raced, my gaze tightly locked on the seemingly ordinary obsidian on stage.

Despite its rough and uncarved appearance, I was confident, based on my past life's memory and an inexplicable intuition deep within, that this rough stone contained tremendous energy.

It could very well become the key to changing my fate and the future of the pack.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down, and slowly raised my bidding paddle.

I crisply shouted, "Five hundred thousand dollars."

This bid instantly caused a stir in the venue, breaking the previously quiet atmosphere.

People looked at me in shock, gasps filling the air.

Then, a wave of whispers surged.

"Is she crazy? Spending five hundred thousand dollars on a piece of worthless rock?"

"This rock seems valueless. Has she been deceived?"

"Our pack has plenty of obsidian. It's said that obsidian is a mineral favored by the Moon Goddess, but I think it's utterly useless."

I ignored these comments.

Cliff conveyed his displeasure and warning to me through the Mind-link, "Vanya, what are you thinking? This thing is not worth the price at all!"

The value of this stone was only gradually revealed after the auction. Cliff, of course, didn't know its true value.

I didn't respond to Cliff's Mind-link but focused on the auction.

Pretending not to hear, the auctioneer's voice rang out, "Five hundred thousand dollars once..."

"Five hundred thousand dollars twice..."

From not far away, Derrick's astonished murmur came, "Has Vanya gone mad?" His voice was soft, but to my werewolf's super hearing, it was clear.

Before I could react, Theodore's calm and mysterious voice followed, "One million dollars."

Derrick hissed in a low voice, "Theodore! Are you insane too?"

My heart tightened. I really didn't expect Theodore to join the bidding suddenly.

I frowned slightly, my gaze sweeping towards their direction, my heart full of doubts.

In my past life, I didn't remember Theodore participating in the bidding for this obsidian.

Why did he show interest in this obsidian?

Could he also sense the stone's uniqueness?

"1.5 million dollars!" I raised my paddle firmly again, outwardly calm but determined to increase the bid.

Cliff roared through the Mind-link, "Vanya, stop it! Don't do such foolish things!"

I cut off the mental connection with him without hesitation.

"Three million dollars," Theodore's voice clearly carried a hint of provocation.

I felt my teeth almost grinding, my heart burning with anger. "Alright, want to play this game with me?" I took a deep breath, mustered my courage, and shouted loudly, "Five million dollars!"

This shout caused an instant uproar in the entire venue.

Derrick couldn't help but scream in a low voice, "She's insane! She is absolutely insane!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Cliff stand up, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

In his perception, this obsidian was utterly worthless, yet I had bid so high.

Theodore looked at me, stunned briefly, before a smile of admiration appeared on his face. He then made a very gentlemanly gesture of concession.

"Five million dollars once..."

"Five million dollars twice..."

"Five million dollars three times! Sold!" As the auction hammer fell, I let out a long breath, relieved.

But thinking about the extra 4.5 million dollars I had to pay because of this bidding war, I couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

It's all Theodore's fault!

I glared at him fiercely across the crowd.