Sam's face twisted with rage as he stared at me in disbelief. The audacity of my demand—that he should kneel and apologize—seemed to have broken something in his brain.
"You pathetic bitch!" Miranda snarled, her expensive perfume enveloping me as she leaned in. "Do you have any idea who you are messing with?"
"Yes, I am messing with the woman who sleeps with my husband," I replied calmly, feeling strangely detached from the entire situation. "And I think it's time you learned that underestimating others is never a wise choice."
Sam's shoulders shook as a fit of laughter erupted from his chest. "Goddess, Amelie. Do you really think that this is going to work on us? Come to your senses. You were nothing when my family picked you up from the gutter, and you are nothing still."
I didn't feel offended at all. On the contrary, something deep inside me stirred impatiently, itching to burst out of my system and devour both of them at once. At first, it almost felt like I finally got my wolf, and she was about to pounce on them, but it wasn't quite that.
Miranda's patience, on the other hand, began to waver as she watched my expression getting darker.
With an animalistic roar, she lunged forward, her claws aimed directly at my face. Three years ago, I would have crumbled at such a display of someone's power, but now...
I dodged her attack with ease, the movement feeling like I was gliding through water rather than air.
Before Miranda could register what had happened, I delivered a sharp, open-handed slap right to her overdone face. The crack echoed through the quiet neighborhood as she flew backward, crashing into the side of Sam's car hard enough to dent the door.
"Miranda!" Sam shrieked, his eyes wide with shock.
I stared at my hand in daze. I didn't have my wolf, yet I was strong enough not only to dodge Miranda's beast, but also deliver a hit so strong, that it actually overpowered her.
It was amazing. I was amazing.
Miranda scrambled to her feet, blood trickling from her split lip. Her new designer dress was ruined, dust and dirt covering the expensive fabric in patches she couldn't cover.
She looked back at me, her eyes wide with both confusion and murderous glare.
"Sam," she gasped, leaning heavily against his arm, "do something!"
"With pleasure," Sam grunted, letting his wolf hover just below the surface.
Somehow, I knew exactly what he was about to do. He wanted to twist me around and trap my arms behind my back – painfully enough to make me fall to my knees right before his beloved mistress.
But once again, my strangely sharpened instincts wouldn't let him do that. As soon as he raised his right hand at me, I grabbed him from underneath it and slammed his body against the pavement, hearing a satisfying crack as his back collided with the polished stone.
"What... what did you do to him?" Miranda demanded, genuine fear in her widened eyes.
"Nothing compared to what I could do," I said coldly, drinking in the exhilaration this unexpected achievement had brought to me.
I walked over to where Sam lay sprawled on the pavement, still struggling to breathe. Crouching beside him, I brushed his disheveled hair away from his forehead and whispered,
"This could have been worse, Sam. A lot worse. So I want you to listen to me and make a big-ass mental note: don't ever come to me again. Don't come, don't send your mistress, your guards, or your alpha friends. Because I can deal with them and then... I will come to deal with you."
He managed a weak nod, fear replacing the arrogance in his eyes.
Standing up, I turned to Miranda. "You will be pleased to know that I won't ask anything of your future mate. Not because I wouldn't get it, but because..." I threw a careless glance back at Sam, sprawled pathetically on the ground like a dying bug. "I don't want anything that would remind me of this moron."
Without waiting for her response, I walked away, feeling lighter than I had in years. The power thrumming through my veins was real, but I knew it was just the beginning.
---
A few hours later, I found myself in the largest pharmacy in the area, staring at the herbs available on display. Everything I saw was useless to me. I was only starting to understand the healing powers my grandpa had bestowed upon me through that pill, but I could already see that whatever was offered to an average customer was not enough for what I actually had in mind.
"What a shame," I muttered to myself, examining the measly herbs labelled "premium". They were not only low-graded but also ridiculously overpriced.
Even if I wanted to try them out, the money I had on me would not buy me anything in here.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Sam's name flashed on the screen, making me let out a long, disappointed sigh.
"What now?" I asked flatly, frowning as I brought the phone to my ear.
"Did you really think you could just humiliate us like that and walk away?!"
"Got a second wind?" I stepped out of the shop, waving back at the annoyed pharmacist.
"You broke my ribs, you bitch!" Sam shrieked, his voice rising to a comedic pitch. "I won't let you get away with this, Amelie. Whatever the fuck you're playing here... I will make you pay!"
I hung up without responding. Broken ribs? What was he panicking about? He had always boasted about his superior alpha blood – he would be back on his feet in no time.
The phone rang again almost immediately. With a resigned sigh, I answered.
"You don't get to hang up on me!" Sam's voice was lower now, more controlled, which somehow made him sound more dangerous. "You told me not to send anyone, but don't ever think that your empty threats can actually scare me. I have contacted Darren Daxx. I'm sure the name rings a bell or two!"
My blood ran cold, instantly freezing me in place.
Yes, I knew who he was. The King of rogues. He was a ruthless, violent, and merciless beast who tore through people like ragdolls. He didn't care who he was dealing with – if he was hired to kill, he always got the job done.
"I don't care," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh yeah?" He somehow sounded pleased by my reaction. "Well, let's see how you sing after Darren deals with you then. Ain't no way a pathetic bitch like you can threaten me without consequences!"
The call ended with Sam's triumphant laugh ringing menacingly in my ears.