"I understand why this might seem tempting to someone like you," the man pressed on. "The Blood Moon pack is the most powerful pack in this country," he continued, his voice dripping with disdain now. "They have connections to every major business, political office, and military organisation. Mr. Grant does not have a mate, which makes him the most desirable mating candidate, too."
I stood in my doorway, clutching the package of herbs, feeling smaller and smaller with each passing second. The secretary's eyes swept across my shabby appearance, his lip curling slightly.
"I truly can't see what Mr. Grant sees in you exactly," he then said. "But let me give you some advice – stay away from him. People like you don't belong in his world. You'll only bring him trouble."
With that one final barb, he turned and walked away, his heavy footsteps firing like gunshots in the quiet hall.
I closed the door slowly, leaning my forehead against it as his words echoed in my mind. The Gran family of the Blood Moon pack. Everyone knew those names. They were legendary – not just wealthy, but influential beyond measure.
And they were all akin to royalty.
Setting the package on my table, I stared at the premium herbs packed inside. To me, they were like unattainable treasures. To Logan, they were just something bought with his pocket change.
"The Alpha Prince," I whispered, a bitter smile on my face.
For a moment, I felt like I was about to explode – that's how overwhelming the despair was. It all made sense to me, too. I was the woman who didn't have anything, and he... He was the man who could have anything he wanted.
It was weird that he wanted anything to do with me.
My eyes drifted to the gold locket hanging around my neck. It pulsed with a soft aura, as if responding to my emotions.
"I am pathetic. One little interaction, and here I am, crumbling once again."
I had to pull myself together. I got this extraordinary power left to me by my ancestors and, perhaps, the Moon Goddess herself, so who was I to waste it on self-pity?
If Logan Grant was so high above me, then I would need to rise up to his level. I would never let anyone think that I wasn't worthy of something or someone. I would become their equal.
With renewed purpose, I cleared my workspace and laid out the herbs. According to the knowledge settled in my head, I could use these ingredients in many ways, starting from the healing tinctures and pills, and ending with the potions that could actually help my powers grow.
Time seemed to lose all meaning as I worked. With steady hands, I crushed, blended, and refined the herbs, my confidence growing with each attempt. The first batch was a disaster – turning pitch-black and releasing a nauseating stench. The second looked promising for a moment but collapsed just before completion.
Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I refused to admit defeat. "Third time's the charm," I murmured, meticulously preparing another set of ingredients.
Hours slipped by. On the fifth try, the mixture finally solidified into tiny, luminous purple pills. I stared in disbelief – I'd done it. I had actually created power-enhancing pills!
Without a second thought, I swallowed five of them. The reaction was instant and overwhelming. Energy flooded my veins like molten fire. I fell to my knees, breath hitching as raw power surged through me, shattering my limits and pushing my strength to new heights.
When the sensation finally subsided, I felt... different. Stronger. More solid.
A smile spread across my face. This was just the beginning.
***
The next morning, a knock at my door pulled me from my morning trance. I opened it to find Logan standing there, more radiant than I remembered. He was dressed in simple black jeans and a loose white shirt that still failed to hide his impacable figure.
Behind him stood a man – tall, burly, with the watchful eyes of a professional bodyguard.
"Good morning," he said with a warm smile. "May we come in?"
I stepped aside, suddenly conscious of my humble appearance in a way I hadn't been before. Now that I knew everything about him, I couldn't help but feel acutely aware of everything I owned.
"Thank you for the herbs," I said as they entered. "They were... extremely helpful."
Logan's eyes widened slightly as he looked at me, and I wondered if he could see the change in me – the new strength that vibrated beneath my skin.
"You look... different," he said softly.
"I feel different, too," I admitted with a nod.
The bodyguard remained by the door, his eyes constantly scanning the room, body tense like a coiled spring.
Logan jerked his chin in his direction. "This is Collin. He works for my family. After what happened with Darren, I thought... well, I thought you might want protection."
Collin gave me a curt nod, his expression neutral but his eyes sharp and assessing.
In the past, I might have been grateful for such consideration, but now... I wasn't so sure anymore.
"Thank you," I said, calmly meeting Collin's eyes, "but I don't think I need protection anymore."
Logan frowned. "How so? Aren't you scared of Darren's minions? The danger might not come from him directly, but––"
"I get it, but..." I said, surprising myself with my calm confidence. "But I've made some progress of my own recently. I might even be a match for your bodyguard now."
Collin's eyebrows shot up, and a small, challenging smile played at the corners of his mouth. He turned to Logan.
"Mr. Grant," he said in a deep voice, "would you care for this claim to be tested?"
The tension in the room thickened. Logan looked worried for a while, contemplating the question silently, but then, he looked at me again, tilting his head to the side.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he said at last. "Even if Miss Gilmore feels confident, I would never forgive myself for putting her into danger."
"Very well, sir," the bodyguard agreed without arguing.
I suddenly felt strangely irritated. I knew his concern was coming from a good place, but I really didn't appreciate the excessive coddling.
Before Logan could say anything else, I stepped forward. "I think it's a great idea after all. And if you don't want me fighting anyone else... How about... I fight you?"
Logan's eyebrows shot up to his hairline, and Collin looked back at me with the same level of shock. "What? You want me to fight... you?"
"Well," I started awkwardly, "not fighting per se... But maybe I could hit you, and then you can see my power for yourself."
Logan's expression shifted from utter confusion to surprise, then to something harder. Collin's mouth fell open at my audacity.
"Hahaha!" Logan suddenly burst into laughter, covering his face with both hands. "Goddess, you really are something, Amelie Gilmore!" He then exclaimed, pushing his dark hair away from his eyes. "Sure, let's do that."
He then walked up to me, eyes glistening with the fire of challenge inside. "Hit me, Amelie. As hard as you can."