Chapter7 You spend at least ten thousand dollars daily using my card
Nessa's POV
I stared at my phone until the screen went dark, then hurled it across my cramped apartment. It hit the wall with a satisfying crack.
Damn it. Damn her. Damn everything.
I pressed my palms against my eyes, fighting tears and the voice in my head that sounded like Slade: She thinks she's better than you now.
"How'd it go?"
I jerked around. Slade stood in my doorway, moving like a predator despite his limp—silent, deadly, wrong.
"She wouldn't tell me where she is." My voice came out small. "Said some man's helping her."
Slade's expression went flat and terrifying. "A man."
"She didn't give details. Just said he's letting her stay somewhere and she doesn't want to cause him trouble."
"Cause HIM trouble." His laugh was ice and broken glass. "After everything I did for her."
He moved closer. I fought the urge to back away—showing fear only made it worse.
"You said you could find her." His voice dropped to that dangerous quiet. "You said she trusted you."
"She does! But whoever this guy is—"
"Then convince her otherwise." He pulled out a sleek black card. "One million dollars, Nessa. That's what she's worth to me. All of it goes to getting her back."
One million? I thought bitterly. So that backward pack isn't as poor as I thought. Slade's willing to throw away a million dollars for her? Is Silver really that special?
I stared at the black card. Enough to buy designer clothes and bags, enough for the most expensive spa treatments.
One million dollars! Novi hissed, her voice dripping with vicious excitement. She doesn't deserve it—we do! Take it, Nessa. Take what should've been ours. She'd do the same if our positions were reversed.
"What do I have to do?"
Slade's smile was all teeth. "Whatever it takes. Find out where she is. Who's helping her. Then call me."
He set the black card on the counter like a dare. My hand shot out, snatching it up and clutching it tight in my fist. But I didn't look at it.
I just stared at Slade, then at my cracked phone screen lying against the wall.
Silver had always been the special one. Even terrified and bruised, that silver hair and those eyes made people want to protect her. She looked like something from a fairy tale, even in Blackwood Ridge's hell.
And me? Just Slade's sister. The plain one nobody noticed.
But now she had some rich guy taking care of her, probably living in luxury while I scraped by, spending nights flattering spoiled human rich kids.
As a wolf in the human world, my best shot was attaching myself to royal bloodlines—the werewolf elite like the Vaughns. But those elites were impossible to reach. I'd tried everything. None of them looked my way.
It's not fair, my wolf Novi whispered. She escaped. And you're still here, still under Slade's thumb, still nothing.
"I'll need time," I heard myself say. "But I'll succeed. After all, I'm her most trusted friend."
"You have one week." Slade's gaze dropped to the black card clutched tight in my fist, and he laughed—cold, mocking. "Find her, or I'll find other ways to make you useful."
The threat hung in the air after he left.
I sank onto my couch, staring at my phone. At "Silver 💕"—the only person who'd ever looked at me like I mattered. Who'd held me when Slade's rages got bad.
My best friend. My only friend.
I didn't want to admit I was betraying the only warmth I'd ever known. So I told myself the money mattered more. Had to matter more.
I started typing: I'm sorry for getting upset. I'm just worried about you. Can we talk again soon? I miss you. 💕
The response came immediately: I miss you too. I'm sorry I can't tell you more. But I'm safe, I promise.
That's all that matters. Love you.
Love you too.
I set the phone down. My hands were shaking.
Just one week. One week to figure out where she is. Then I can take the money and finally climb out of this hell.
Friendship? It was nothing compared to finally being seen.
Silver's POV
By evening, I'd cried myself empty. Nessa's message glowed on my phone: Love you.
A soft knock. "Miss?" The housekeeper's voice filtered through. "Mr. Vaughn asked if you'd like dinner in your room or the dining room?"
I scrubbed my face. "I'll come down. Thank you."
In the bathroom mirror—red eyes, blotchy cheeks, tangled hair. I washed up and braided my hair the way Nessa taught me. The memory made my chest ache.
The dining room was enormous, dark wood with moonstone accents and wrought iron fixtures shaped like twisted branches. Rhydian sat at the head of a table for twenty, laptop open, looking every inch the powerful Alpha.
He glanced up. "Please, sit."
I took the chair closest to him, suddenly aware of how small I felt.
"Are you alright?" His voice was careful. "You look upset."
He closed his laptop. "What happened?"
I shouldn't tell him. But the words spilled out anyway.
"Nessa called. She said Slade is in Manhattan. Looking for me."
Rhydian went very still. "Did you tell her where you are?"
"No. But she asked. Wanted to help. I couldn't tell her. She got angry. Said I didn't trust her."
"You did the right thing."
"Did I? She's my only friend. The only person who cared about me there. And I lied to her."
"You protected yourself. Alphas will use anyone to find someone. Including friends."
"Nessa would never—"
"Think about it," he said quietly. "This isn't malicious hiding or distrust, is it? You're protecting her. If Nessa knew where you were and didn't tell Slade, what would happen to her?"
My chest tightened. Slade's rages. His threats. The way he made examples of anyone who crossed him.
"She'd be punished," I whispered.
"Exactly. By not telling her, you're keeping her safe from that choice."
I nodded slowly, the weight lifting slightly. "You're right. I'm protecting her too."
Dinner was quiet, surprisingly comfortable. Rhydian asked about my day, listened when I talked about the gardens.
After we finished, he leaned back. "I have something for you. Two things."
He produced a sleek phone and papers. "The phone is yours. And these—our arrangement. What we each need from this bond."
I reached for the papers, staring at the dense lines of text. I rubbed my neck, embarrassed. "I'm not very good at reading."
Surprise flickered across his face. "Your pack didn't have schools?"
"They did. But my father wouldn't let me go. And Slade said I didn't need to learn since I'd be his mate."
Rhydian went still for a moment, something dark flickering in his eyes. "Do you want to learn?"
I nodded hard. "Yes! Nessa goes to college here in Manhattan, and whenever she'd come back to the pack on breaks, she'd tell me stories about school. I loved hearing them. And I learn fast—I really do."
A warm smile softened his features. "Then we'll make sure you do."
He took the papers, reading aloud. "Four main points. First, I ensure your safety. Second, starting today, daily temporary marks to cover Slade's mark until it's fully removed. Third, you spend at least ten thousand dollars daily using my card. Fourth, our relationship remains confidential."
My face burned. The second... I glanced at Rhydian's sharp features, powerful frame. Slade's mark had hurt, sharp and brutal. Would Rhydian's be the same? I twisted my fingers together, nervous.
The third point made me frown. Ten thousand dollars a day? I had no idea how much that was or how to spend it. That seemed hard.
