Chapter 21: I Have Logic

I scoffed and dropped my hand, stepping back onto the floor and folding my arms across my chest. "How can an Alpha like you be so petty?"

Edgar straightened his collar with effortless grace, a low chuckle vibrating in his chest. "What? Alphas aren’t allowed to be petty, but Omegas get a free pass to be daring?"

He took a step toward the center of the room, pouring two fingers of amber liquid into a heavy glass on his desk before turning back to face me. The suffocating, predatory edge had eased, replaced by a quiet, calculating focus.

"You just drained forty thousand dollars off my high-stakes floor, humiliated my regular high-rollers, and held an elbow to my throat," Edgar said, taking a slow sip. "And now you want a formal backing."

"I don’t want a handout," I corrected, my tone sharp. "I want resources—access to training grounds, high-grade recovery supplements, and information network access. In return, whatever I gain, whatever territory or influence I seize in the upcoming Tournament of Power, you get a direct cut."

Edgar paused with the glass halfway to his lips, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The Tournament of Power? The Grey Moon preliminary trials are a bloodbath for unawakened wolves. You’re walking into a slaughterhouse."

"No, I’m walking into an arena full of targets," I replied flatly. "And I intend to walk out as the victor. I can accomplish it without your help, but... I want to take the easy route, that’s why I’m asking you to do this."

Edgar stared at me for a long, heavy moment. Slowly, a dark, wicked smirk spread across his face, and he set his glass down on the mahogany desk.

"Forty thousand dollars is a decent down payment," he murmured, his voice smooth as silk. "Let’s see if you can survive week one, little cat. If you make it to the inter-pack preliminaries... we’ll talk about giving you access to proper resources."

"Wait, down payment?" I snapped, my eyes widening in disbelief as I pointed a finger at him. "You’re not taking my money. I won that fair and square during the game! You investing in me is just a bonus."

Edgar tilted his head, staring at me in stunned silence for a second before letting out a rich, booming laugh that echoed off the high ceilings of his office.

"Oh, really?" he purred, resting a hand on his hip. "You are absurdly shameless."

"Of course I am," I replied, completely unbothered, tucking my arms back across my chest. "How is it an investment if I have to pay for it with my own winnings? An investment means you put up the capital, and I bring in the returns."

"You used my black chip to open a tab on my floor," Edgar pointed out, a sharp, amused smirk playing on his lips as he took a step closer. "Technically, every cent of that forty thousand dollars belongs to the house."

"And technically, your dealer accepted the wager and dealt the cards," I countered smoothly, not backing down an inch. "If you can’t honor the bets made on your own floor, what kind of casino are you running?"

Edgar shook his head, a low rumble of amusement vibrating in his chest. "You really have a mouth on you, don’t you, little cat?"

"I have logic," I corrected flatly. "I need that cash to buy decent food and basic gear. If you want a cut of my future, you provide the backing. The forty grand stays with me."

For a long moment, Edgar just watched me, his golden eyes gleaming with that dangerous, intrigued light. He reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a velvet pouch, and tossed it casually onto the sofa beside me with a dull clunk.

"Your forty thousand is downstairs being converted into high-denomination credits," Edgar said, his voice dropping into a smooth, commanding register. "That pouch contains a pass to the private training facilities in the lower district, along with a requisition token for high-grade recovery serums. Consider it your actual investment."

I looked from the pouch back up to his face, my lips curving into a subtle, satisfied smirk. Yes!

"See?" I said, picking up the pouch and weighing it in my hand. "Was that so hard, Edgar?"

He let out a dry scoff, leaning back against his desk. "Get out of my office before I change my mind and let my guards throw you into the alley."

"You wouldn’t," I dared to say, taking a slow step toward his desk instead of making for the door. "After all, you need your investment to stay safe and sound, right?"

Edgar leaned in, crossing his arms over his chest until our faces were barely inches apart. The overwhelming heat radiating from his massive frame made my skin prickle, but I didn’t back down an inch, meeting his burning golden gaze head-on.

He let out a dry cackle, his breath brushing against my cheek. "You truly are shameless, little cat. But you won’t run, right? I doubt you’re stupid enough to try and run away with what I gave you. No one can run from me."

"Don’t worry," I murmured, tilting my chin up slightly so the shadow of my cap didn’t block his view of my eyes. "I’m not stupid. Only an idiot would finally secure a backing of this caliber and run. I’m no runner... but I can be a killer if you’d like."

Edgar stared at me for a beat, clearly taking my threat as a joke, before tossing his head back with a sharp smirk.

He leaned back, pushing off the desk to sink lazily into his high-backed leather chair. He reached into his vest, pulled out a sleek black card with gold-embossed lettering, and flicked it across the dark wood toward me.

"Here’s my contact," he said smoothly. "Contact me whenever you need something—but nothing basic, or I might actually start rethinking this little deal of ours."

"Don’t worry, like I said, I’m not stupid," I replied, swiping the card off the wood with practiced speed and pressing the sharp edge playfully against my chin. "Edgar, this investment will definitely take you far."

"That’s for me to decide," Edgar countered, lacing his fingers together over his stomach. "I expect to see results in a week. Anything is fine... it’s not like I’m asking you to awaken a wolf or become a shifter overnight. Just..." He swept his golden eyes down my weak, oversized-hoodie-clad frame, his lips twitching, "...anything."

I wasn’t entirely sure what specific ’results’ a wolf of his standing was holding out for, but it didn’t matter. Whatever standard he had in mind, I planned to shatter it.

"I’ll be taking my credits as I leave," I said, spinning on my heel toward the double doors. "Bye, Edgar."

I left his office with my head held high, leaving him with the lingering taste of an attitude he likely hadn’t encountered in his entire life. Ahem. Time to collect my forty thousand dollars and start building my future plans.