Shunned By An Alpha, Cherised By A Lycan

Chapter 53:

“The card, Jasmine,” Isabelle repeated, extending her hand like she was some queen expecting tribute. “Ryder meant it for me,” she added, her pride practically dripping off her words.

I gave her a slow once-over, my stomach churning with disgust. If she were a man, I’d say she had balls, I thought, suppressing a smirk.

“Oh, really?” I said, my tone overly thoughtful as a plan started forming in my mind. If she wanted the card that badly, I’d make her work for it.

Dipping my hand into the pocket of my sweater, I pulled out the card slowly. I stretched my hand toward her, but at the last second, I waved it high in the air, just out of her reach. I couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction, towering over her.

My gaze met hers, mocking her height, and she fumed.

“If you’re as special as you say, wouldn’t Ryder have given you the card himself?” I taunted, the truth of my words settling in. Confidence surged through me. I was right.

Isabelle’s eyes narrowed, her lips pressing into a tight line as her face flushed with anger. “You think you know your place?” she scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder and stepping closer. “You think you can take what’s mine?” Her face twisted into a scowl, but I held my ground, unbothered.

“Oh, I know exactly where I stand,” I shot back, my tone cutting. “And I know Ryder trusts me. If he didn’t, I wouldn’t be the one holding this card, now would I?”

Her laughter was cold and humorless, her eyes brimming with hatred. “You wouldn’t dare try me,” she hissed. “You’re nobody. This pack? It’s mine. I’ve spent years earning my place. Do you really think anyone’s going to take kindly to some nobody like you making threats in my territory?”

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I swallowed hard, refusing to let her see any weakness. “I’m not afraid of you, Isabelle,” I said, my voice firm, unyielding. “And I’m certainly not going anywhere.”

I saw a flicker of doubt in her eyes, despite the fury she tried to mask. She knew what the card represented. Ryder’s trust. And right now, I had it. For now, that gave me the upper hand. For now, I reminded myself.

“I’d rather throw pearls to swine than waste any more time with you,” I said, my voice dripping with disdain as I clicked my tongue and gave her a long, mocking look.noveldrama

𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓬 𝗮𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼 ⓯𝓻𝗼𝓶 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫷𝖼𝗈𝗺

With that, I turned on my heel, leaving her seething in my wake. The card—though I knew it was important—was something I intended to return to Ryder as soon as possible. I couldn’t afford to get tangled in whatever game Isabelle was playing.

It didn’t take long to spot Seraphina near the garden, close to the entrance of the pack house. She looked up as I approached, her eyes widening as if she could sense the tension still clinging to me.

“You look upset, miss,” she said softly, concern etched across her face. “What happened?”

I relayed the whole encounter with Isabelle, watching as Seraphina’s eyes grew wider with each passing detail, particularly when I mentioned the black card.

“Ryder’s black card?” she whispered, her eyes darting around like she was afraid someone would overhear. “He’s never given that to anyone—not even Isabelle.”

“Really?” I asked, a smug smile spreading across my face as satisfaction replaced the loneliness that had crept in earlier. No wonder she was so pressed.

But then Seraphina’s words truly sank in. Ryder had never given the card to anyone… until me.

I could feel my cheeks heat up as a blush crept in. Was this his way of apologizing? Or was it more than that? A gesture to show I was special to him? A small flutter stirred in my chest, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it all meant. Was Ryder truly interested in me? Or was I just a pawn in another one of his confusing games? His actions were always so cryptic.

I glanced down at the black card in my hand—it gleamed under the light, bold and imposing, just like its owner. Clutching it tightly, I tucked it back into my pocket and patted it for reassurance.

No matter what was happening, one thing was certain: I was going to make the most of this card. And I wasn’t about to let anyone, especially Isabelle, get in my way.

.

.

.