Auctioned to the Cruel King - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Kayla’s POV
Lance hadn’t asked his question for clarification. He already knew. He’d made it clear yesterday.
He knew where I came from. Who I used to be. Maybe even what Landon and I once were before the auction. And yet, he still asked—out loud, in front of Landon.
Why?
What was he after?
Beneath the table, my fingers curled into a fist, the sharp bite of my nail against my thumb the only thing keeping me tethered. A single breath could shatter the porcelain mask I wore. I could still taste the wine on my tongue, still feel the echo of Lance’s earlier kindness, the way he had touched me, looked at me, but now, all of it felt like some carefully plotted performance.
I’d gotten so caught up that I’d forgotten what a cruel man the Lycan King could be.
“I’ve had no past Luna,” Landon said, voice stiff, brittle as old bones.
Those words surprised me too.
But Lance just chuckled, low and leisurely, “That’s ridiculous,” he said, accent thick. “You are an Alpha, are you not?”
The wine turned to vinegar in my mouth. My wolf stirred uneasily.
I wanted to be anywhere but here.
“Yes, I am.”
“Then let me put it this way—” Lance paused, the corners of his mouth curling upward like he enjoyed playing the fool, “—wait, forgive me, my language. This way, it is. Is that the right way to say it?”
The men at the table nodded politely, even stifling chuckles.
“Have you had any other Luna aside from her… your Luna?” The Lycan King gestured lazily toward Miranda, who sat beside Landon in a dress that sparkled too brightly, her smile too sharp.
My palms dampened.
“Oh, mind our manners, dear,” Lance cooed suddenly, turning his full attention to Miranda. “We don’t even know your name.”
A smile. Too charming. Too perfect. It didn’t belong to a man with hands that had promised to kill me should I ever dare try to run again.
“Miranda, my king,” she said, trying to sound sweet but failing to mask the irritation behind her eyes.
“That’s a beautiful name.”
Then, back to Landon. “So… have you had any other bride or Luna aside from dear beautiful Miranda sitting next to you?”
Landon swallowed and forced a grin. “No, Your Majesty. None that I remembered.”
He didn’t look at me. Not once.
If Lance continued, I might explode. If this was his plan—to bring it all to the surface, to parade the truth in front of everyone—I didn’t know what I’d do.
“I find that hard to believe,” Lance said, laughing softly. “Don’t be shy, Alpha. It’s not like anyone here can judge you. We’re all masters of our fields, aren’t we? Occasionally, we partake in… questionable conquests, like you formerly briefed us. It helps us channel frustration. And I won’t lie—we hurt people sometimes. But at least we can admit it. At least we can say our actions were driven by impulses—ones we couldn't control—but still, still… it’s our responsibility to own them.”
Landon’s jaw clenched. He was cornered.
“Yeah… no, I was one of those little cubs with strict parents. Lost my mother young. I can’t even remember her face. From a young age, it’s only been duty. My father drilled it into me—being Alpha, training, surviving. No time for…such conquests.”
The laughter around the table was slow at first, then erupting like thunder as Lance leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
“So, you’ve only had your dick played with one person, eh? That's what you’re saying?”
The room burst into another round of howls and jeers.
I had never seen Landon look so small. Not even when he’d stood beside his late father.
He smiled—or tried to. It looked more like he was grinding his teeth into dust. And beside him, Miranda gave me that look. The same one she used to give me back in the pack house. That ‘you never belonged’ look. That venomous, petty glare, like I’d stolen something from her that was always meant to be hers.
But none of them could lash out at Lance. Not openly. He was the King here. And he’d said it all like it was some harmless joke among Alphas.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Lance said, cocking his head. “Did I go too far?”
Landon raised his glass. “You’re quite funny, Your Majesty. Great jokes.”
“Hahahahaha! It’s nice to have a sense of humor sometimes. Great that you do. I respect that.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I didn't realize how badly I was shaking until I felt Lance's hand slide beneath the table, his fingers threading between mine and stroking my palm with surprising gentleness. He was practically outing me in front of everyone, and now…now he was... I couldn't fathom what he was after.
“There’s no need to thank me…,” Lance murmured, while drawing a small circle in my palm. “You know, before this dinner… before we took our seats and so on… my Luna was telling me that you looked especially familiar.”
The room went dead silent.
At this moment, I was ready for everything and anything.
“She—?”
Lance continued, stroking my palm again. Each movement sent a tremor up my arm but I didn’t dare pull away.
Landon loosened. “I… I don’t know what you mean, Your Majesty.”
“You don't?” He sighed. “Well, if you insist. I'll just have to ask her later. Maybe I heard wrong." He turned to look at me, his dark eyes finding mine and I waited for him to out me, rather, "I should pay more attention next time, darling."
His lips brushed the side of my face.
“Don’t get angry with me now, okay?” he whispered against my skin, voice low enough though others probably still heard.
I exhaled when his scent wrapped around me. In a way, it helped and relaxed my wolf.
He straightened as if nothing had happened. “We’ve had so much fun tonight, haven’t we? Let’s continue tomorrow. I’m glad we had this talk.”
That was when Alaric stepped into the room and came straight for Lance. He bent to his Alpha and whispered something into his ear. Whatever it was, the King’s demeanor didn’t change, he just smiled.
“Well,” Lance said, rising to his feet. “I'm afraid I must cut our evening short. Seems I’ll have to go first.” He then gestured toward the entrance. “The guards will show you to your appointed rooms once you're finished here."
He turned to me, and without shame, pressed a lingering kiss to my temple. “I’ll come find you later, my love.”
He shook Landon’s hand, nodded to Miranda, and left the room with Alaric close behind.
Just like that, the storm walked out and I was left standing in the wreckage with Landon and his perfect, poisonous Luna.
Miranda sneered when I turned to leave. She must’ve gotten her energy back since the other two had vacated too.
“Since your name didn’t change, you’re still the same Kayla—”
“Miranda,” Landon said, voice tight. “Not here.”
She blinked, stunned.
“Leave us.”
Her mouth opened, closed, then opened again. “You’re kidding, Landon—”
“Now.”
With a hiss, she veered around and stormed out.
I turned, pulse racing, and met Landon’s gaze. His expression was no warmer than hers. If anything, it was worse.
His hatred for me had grown. I could feel it—smothering, irritated. Still, he was doing a good job at still keeping calm. The Landon I knew wouldn’t have waited a moment before hitting me. It was something he couldn't allow…being humiliated by his Luna, he would have put it were I still under him.
“Eventful night,” he said bitterly. “Or fulfilling. Depending on your point of view.”
“Luna,” a voice called softly from the doorway. And I looked to find Moira standing there.
She must’ve been made to call me that.
“It’s alright, Moira,” I said gently. “I’ll be fine. Wait outside.”
She hesitated, then nodded once before disappearing through the doorway.
And then… it was just me and Landon.
And whatever he planned to say now, I knew it wouldn’t be kind.