Louisa's POV
That was the first auction I had ever attended in my life.
I felt extremely nervous when I walked into Ragnar's Hall. It was the most famous place for royalties from the North to go on a spending spree. Every auction held in this place is strict by invitation only. That's why only the richest of the rich were allowed to step into the famous gold Falcon's Gate of Ragnar's Hall.
The giant gate, made of iron and gold, had been shielding poverty and misfortune outside for centuries while harbouring tremendous wealth and fortune inside. It provided the old and new money with a great venue to proliferate and socialize.
My stepmother Rosalie used to brag about this place to everyone whenever my father took her to this place. She said everything in Ragnar's Hall was made of gold and diamonds. Even the doormat was woven with thousands of gold threads.
At that time, I thought she was just talking nonsense. But today, when I stepped on the gold-woven doormat in front of the Falcon's Gate, I realized that she was just telling the truth.
Ragnar's Hall literally looked like a grand palace, where everything was either made of gold, diamond, coral, or pearls.
I felt a bit dizzy by the bouncing light coming off the Falcon's Gate.
Lucian held me from the back.
"Welcome to the extravagant splurge of the month," he said.
I looked around and saw Lucas chatting with someone.
"Could you please walk me inside?" I asked Lucian nervously.
"I can't go into the main entrance. Only Alphas and their Lunas can," Lucian replied.
"So... Could you please walk me to the side entrance? I guess I've got an allergy attack," I said.
"Really?" Lucian checked on me up and down, "What are you allergic to?"
"Money," I replied.
"Very funny, Miss She-wolf," Lucian smiled faintly.
"My name's Louisa," I looked up at him and said.
"Leo would be so happy if he found out your real name starting with an L," he said.
"Who's Leo?" Will asked in Lucian's arms. He was playing with the tassel in Lucian's suit. But apparently, our conversation was more interesting than clothes.
"Leo's Lucian's younger brother. He's about the same age as you," I said.
"Really?" Will looked interested. The afternoon sun was almost gone. Lucian had already helped him to take off the linen and dressed up in a little black tuxedo.
"How old are you?" Lucian frowned and asked Will.
"I'm like, seven." Will looked very serious.
"Are you sure?" Lucian asked.
"Yeah. I've been seven for over nine hundred years now." Will replied proudly.
"OK. In that case, Leo is 14. So he'll be your elder brother," Lucian said.
Will looked overwhelmed and said, "Wow! That's so cool! Can I see him? Can I play with him?"
"You sure can when you see him next week," Lucian said. "But please don't bite him or drag him around."
"Is Leo coming next week?" I asked with excitement.
That was definitely cheerful news. I missed that boy.
"Yeah, he'll be coming with Gianna. Lucas had already sent someone to pick them up." Lucian said.
His icy blue eyes melted when he was talking about his mate's name.
I asked, "When is her due date?"
"In two weeks, hopefully," he replied.
"I've helped a lot of women to deliver babies back in Crimson Pack. I can be there and give her a hand," I said.
Then, I realized how inappropriate my offer was.
Of course, he wouldn't want me to be there with his mate. There would be professional midwives, Shaman doctors, and...
"It's OK. I appreciate your help," Lucian said. "Gianna will be happy to see you."
I melted immediately. How could a person be so hot and cold at the same time?
Lucian was such a nice and kind gentleman. I wished he could spare some of his kindness and empathy to Lucas, so he wouldn't be an asshole to leave me aside and talk to a man with such an extravagant floppy hat.
It must have been a wonderful feeling to have such a considerate and mature husband like Lucian.
I guessed the admiration in my eyes made him a bit uncomfortable.
He shifted his sight away from me to look at Lucas.
Will struggled in Lucian's arms and stretched his arms to me.
I tried to take him from Lucian and said, "It's OK. I'll hold him."
Lucian didn't want to let go of Will.
"Lucas might want to take you with him into VIP Lounge," he said. "Children are not allowed to get in there. The decor inside might not be age-appropriate for a seven-year-old."
I frowned and looked at Lucas, who was walking toward me. I thought he was about to grab my arm and walk me inside, with everyone watching and talking about us.
But he didn't.
He walked right past me while talking and laughing with other dignitaries.
That scene was very familiar.
I, once again, was ignored by people I cared about.
What was on my mind? That main entrance was reserved for Alphas and their rightful Lunas.
He might not want to reject me temporarily, but that didn't mean that I would become his Luna.
Looking at those beautiful women who were wearing all kinds of jewels and walking past me in their husbands' arms, I felt so stupid and ashamed.
My stepmother Rosalie once said, "Women wore jewelry. Men wore women."
I guessed what she meant was when a man wanted to marry a woman, he would buy her the most expensive jewelry he could afford to show his affection to her. He would decorate her because that would make him look good in front of others.
But now, standing among the rich and the adored, I felt like a complete idiot.
The only jewelry on me was Alpha Zackery's ring.
Since it was too big, I used a thin silver thread to go through it and wore it like a necklace.
I did this to keep Lucas from feeling the constant pain I went through.
I wasn't qualified to be his Luna. I wasn't even close.
I took Will from Lucian's arms and said, "Forget about it. Let's just get out of this place. I can't breathe."
Having said that, I walked towards the side entrance at the back of the building, holding Will in my arms.
Tears were swirling in my eyes.
Then, I felt someone tapping on my shoulder from the back.
Would that be Lucas chasing me up and taking me back? I wondered to myself and turned back.