?Chapter 52:

“Ryder, darling, I was just trying to exin to Jasmine that she needs to know her ce,” Isabelle said, her voice sugary sweet with a stic smile on her face. “She seems to be getting a bit toofortable, overstepping her boundaries.”

Ryder shuffled his feet before letting out a deep breath. He’d clearly heard part of the exchange, and I could tell he was struggling to keep his temper in check.

“Leave us,” Ryder said, his voice deep andmanding.

Without sparing me a nce, Isabelle turned away, scampering off immediately, leaving me alone with Ryder. Rolling my eyes, Izily turned around to face him. He looked rxed in a pair of ck sweatpants and a grey shirt, his hands dipped into its pockets.

He didn’t say a word, only staring at me with those ocean eyes, an intensity that made goosebumps spread down my neck. Pulling his hands out of his pockets, he pulled out a card. It was dark and unlike anything I’d seen. Stretching it toward me, I stared at it suspiciously before taking it.

“There’s a dinner party tonight,” he said, his voice not giving away the slightest hint of how he felt, as if I hadn’t pped him a few days ago, as if everything was perfect. I watched his features, trying to read his expression, but it remained neutral and gentle. “This is my card. I figured you wouldn’t have much in your closet, so tell Seraphina to take you out and get you some nice dresses.”

My thumb caressed the stic card, and I could only stare at him. Maybe if I kept staring, he would say something. He’d heard parts of our conversation, yet he wasn’t clearing the air. Neither was he admitting anything. And now, instead of an apology or exnation, he was going to act like nothing mattered, like everything was fine? After what Isabelle had just revealed?

“Others?” I spat out, my gaze narrowing questioningly at him. If he was going to ignore the elephant in the garden, well, I wasn’t.

Furrowing his brows, his tongue swept over his teeth, his eyes moving to the screen of his watch before ncing at me with a nk stare, his expression dismissive. “I have really important things to attend to. Make sure you get the dress soon,” he said, and then he walked off, leaving me staring daggers at him while I brewed with anger. The fuck! Thank God Isabelle was gone, or she would haveughed her head off at how he’d ignored me.

Watching him go, my mind raced with questions. What was going on? Why was he acting like this? And what did she mean by “others”? I felt like I was drowning in confusion and frustration. No one was willing to give me real answers, and the one person who should have done so was acting like he was on his damn period.

My gaze flickered to the card in my hand, feeling a surge of anger. Did he really think a fancy dress and a dinner party would make everything okay? I shoved the card into my pocket, a sense of determination flooding over me. I was going to get some answers, no matter what it took.

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A small smile formed on my lips. I was going to buy the most expensive outfit with this card—my own little revenge.

Jasmine’s POV

I had barely taken a step from where I stood after Ryder left when Isabelle reappeared, just like the busy bee that she was. Her sudden presence made me wonder if she’d been eavesdropping on our conversation. Her cat-like green eyes were nted as she stared directly at my hands.

“I don’t think that card was meant for someone like you,” she said, her gaze shamelessly flicking over my hands, eyes shing with greed. “In fact, you should hand it over.”

I chuckled. For real? Hand it over? What was I? A naive little girl who would obey her every goddamn order? Or her servant?

Her tone wasmanding, her Roman nose tilted up as if she was too good to even breathe the same air as me.

I blinked, stunned by her audacity. Was she serious? I turned my head slightly, looking around to see if maybe she was talking to someone else. Nope. It was me she was addressing. The nerve of this girl. Maybe it was because I was a werewolf and she was a Lycan, or maybe because I had no one backing me up—but the insult was crystal clear. Did she really think she could just bully me? Stephanie had tried, and failed miserably. And Isabelle? She was even further from seeding. ncing at her slightly shorter frame, I realized the only thing she had over me was her Lycan status.

“Excuse me?” I let out a sharp, bitterugh, my voice rising in pitch. “You must be joking.” My eyes met hers challengingly.

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