Chapter 200

Ella

“Just open it, Ella. I promise you’ll understand everything in a minute.”

With the little box in my hand, I gave him a sideways look, suspicion creeping into my mind. After all the extravagant gifts he had given me tonight, I couldn’t help but wonder what this one would be.

But, with a deep breath, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and slowly lifted the lid of the box.

My breath caught in my throat as I saw what was laying inside. It was a beautiful handmade pen, its body made of polished wood, and my name elegantly engraved on it. I ran my fingers over the smooth surface, marveling at the craftsmanship. It was exquisite, the perfect gift for someone like me. I would take this over diamond jewelry any day.

“Logan, this is…” My voice trailed off; for the first time that night, I felt as if I was at a loss for words.

Logan smiled warmly, his eyes fixed on my reaction. “I know it’s not as extravagant as the dress or the jewelry,” he began, “but I thought you might appreciate something more personal. You work so hard, and I wanted to get you something you can use every day. Do you like it?”

I couldn’t help but smile, and I nodded vigorously as I gingerly took the pen out of the box and felt how light and smooth it was in my fingers. “I love it,” I said. “It’s the perfect gift. Logan, I…”

Suddenly, it felt as though all of those feelings, all of the things that Ema and the housekeeper had said came rushing back. My heart seemed to swell, and I felt my wolf begin to tug at me. And for the second time that night, I allowed her to pull me and I didn’t resist.

Without thinking, I threw my arms around Logan’s neck, the pen clutched tightly in my hand. “Thank you,” I murmured.

However, my impulsive action was met with an unexpected reaction. Logan cringed slightly and gently pushed me away, his blue eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite read.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and I quickly took a step back. I felt my wolf whine in the back of my head, just as perturbed and dejected as I felt. “I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, my heart racing in my chest. “I didn’t mean to get so close.”

For a moment, Logan just stared at me, and I felt as though I might cry. My wolf growled inside of me, agitated and confused.

“That was unlike him,” Ema hissed. “Does he not want us anymore?”

But then Logan laughed before I could make sense of everything, his demeanor lightening up out of nowhere. “No need to apologize, Ella,” he reassured me, taking the pen from my hand. “I just didn’t want you to accidentally poke me with that pen. It has a little surprise.”

I blinked in confusion as Logan pushed a hidden button on the pen’s cap, and to my astonishment, a small, sharp knife slid out from the body of the pen. My eyes widened as I watched the blade gleam in the moonlight.

“It’s a concealed knife,” Logan explained, a mischievous grin on his face. “I thought it might come in handy for you.”

Now, I was even more confused. I took the knife out of Logan’s hand and looked at it, my brow furrowed. “So this is what tonight is all about?” I asked. “What does this mean?”

“Let me explain,” Logan said. Placing my hand on my lower back, he gestured for me to follow. We made our way over to a nearby fountain and sat down on the edge. I was still staring at the knife, admiring how clean and shiny the blade was. It seemed razor sharp, too; one wrong move and I was certain I would slice my finger.

“So,” Logan said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “that meeting with the ‘creepy’ guy you saw earlier… It was a meeting about our… predicament.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay… And?”

“And,” Logan continued, “we’ve got a plan set in place. A plan which, Ella, I still can’t tell you about until it’s over. But a plan nonetheless.”

“But it still doesn’t explain why you threw this whole party,” I said as I pressed the button to resheath the knife, turning the weapon back into a regular pen. “Was it all just a diversion?”

Logan nodded. “Basically, yeah,” he said. “Well… Mostly. I did want to throw a party that I thought you would enjoy. I wanted tonight to be special with the holidays coming up. But business had to be done. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but when it comes to the mafia, sometimes…”

“It’s best to be left in the dark,” I said, a hint of bitterness lacing my tone.

“Yeah,” Logan said with a sigh. “I’m sorry about that. But…” He paused, and his eyes lit up ever so slightly. “We’ve got a plan. A bloody good one. And I’m confident that this will all be over soon.”

“And the knife?” I asked, holding the pen up slightly in the light.

Logan chuckled. “I figured that, with everything going on, a woman should always have multiple ways to defend herself,” he said. “Don’t you agree?”

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the unexpected revelation. “I’m flattered, Logan,” I said, “but I just took you down with my bare hands. I’m not sure if I really need a knife to protect myself.”

Logan chuckled, his eyes filled with amusement. “True,” he admitted, “you’re certainly capable. But a pen is a discreet weapon, easily disguised. And besides,” he added with a sly grin, “I let you win in that fight just now.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his challenge. “Oh, you let me win?” I echoed, a competitive spark igniting inside of me. “Well, I’ll have you know that I can hold my own in a fight. I spent years in Alpha training. I don’t need a concealed knife to keep myself safe, and I certainly don’t need a man to ‘let’ me win.”

Logan’s grin widened as I spoke, and he leaned a little closer, his gaze locked onto mine. “Is that so?” he asked, his voice low and teasing and maybe even a little alluring. “I’d love to see you prove it one of these days, Ella.”

A thrill coursed through me at the prospect of a challenge. I couldn’t deny the adrenaline rush that came with the idea of testing my abilities against Logan, but it wasn’t just that. The thought of tumbling around on the floor with him, our limbs locked in hand-to-hand combat, was thrilling in more ways than one. The very thought of it sent a shiver of excitement down my spine.

With a playful glint in my eye, I nodded. “You’re on, Logan,” I said, my voice filled with determination. “One of these days, we’ll have that fight, and you’ll see that I can fight just as well as any man.”

Logan’s expression turned thoughtful, and he nodded in agreement. “I look forward to it,” he said, extending his hand. “How does tomorrow sound?”

I grinned, taking his hand and shaking it.

“Tomorrow sounds perfect.”