Free Web NovelChapter 130: Chapter 130 Out of My Apartment
Christina’s POV
Ysolde said with seeming casualness, "He’s hot. He treats me well. I like him. I’m not planning our wedding. If he ever checks out another she-wolf, I’m gone. Simple." freēwēbnovel.com
I opened my mouth to argue, then closed it.
She wouldn’t listen right now. If I pushed harder, she’d only become more stubborn. She’d convince herself everyone was conspiring to keep them apart, making Cassian seem even more desirable.
I knew because I’d done exactly that. I’d clung to Niall Granger with both hands and whatever dignity I could salvage, ignoring everyone who warned me he was trouble.
Could Alphas like Cassian truly change? I’d seen too many with fated mates who still couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.
Maybe Ysolde really could walk away as easily as she claimed. Maybe she meant every word.
Moon Goddess, I hoped so.
"Let’s check on your Alpha player," I said instead, following her into the room where the doctor had finished patching up Cassian.
Hudson had already set up a private nurse. Cassian was on his phone, making up some business trip story to explain why he would be gone for the next week.
Hudson said he would call Cassian’s Beta to take care of pack business while he got better.
"Werewolf healing or not, that face needs time," Hudson had told me earlier. "Emmett really hurt him badly."
I stopped at the door before leaving with Hudson. Ysolde sat on the edge of the hospital bed, carefully holding Cassian’s bandaged hand. Her thumb made small circles over the bandage with gentle care.
The way Cassian looked at her seemed like real love. free𝑤ebnovel.com
They looked like Romeo and Juliet getting ready to fight together.
"Think he’ll really change for her?" I asked Hudson quietly as we left.
Hudson made a dismissive sound. "I wouldn’t bet on it."
After we left the hospital, we got brunch at a café.
"I’ll drive you home," Hudson said when I mentioned going back to Oakwood Apartments.
I nodded.
"About last night," Hudson said as we drove.
"Yeah?" I looked out the window without really paying attention.
My mind had moved to Priya Sharma. The money from the Isobel Brooke case was finally coming through, and Priya planned to go home once it arrived. I didn’t know when I’d see her again. Probably not for a long time.
I thought we could spend one last day together. Walk around downtown Highrise City, get coffee, sit in the park talking about men. Normal girl things.
"After we left the bar," Hudson continued, picking his words carefully.
I turned to look at him. "Did something happen after we left? Oh wait, Niall was still there, right? I hope someone called security on him."
"One can hope." He smiled a little.
"Is that what you wanted to talk about? Niall?"
"No." The word sounded like he was gritting his teeth. "I wanted to talk about us."
"What about us?"
"Do you remember what you said in the car?"
I tried to think back to that night. "I said a lot of things."
What I remembered most clearly was the kiss. Hudson’s kisses always felt hotter in the back seat of a car. Something about the small space made everything stronger. Nothing else existed except him and that moment.
Then I remembered what led to Ysolde and Cassian getting together. "Please tell me I didn’t throw up on you."
That would be embarrassing.
"No, you didn’t," he said.
"Thank goodness." I let out a breath of relief.
"Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" I asked.
Hudson paused, then shook his head. "Never mind. We’re here."
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "See you later."
I got out of the car and waved goodbye.
Standing on the sidewalk outside the building, I texted Priya: [Free today?]
No response.
I waited a few minutes and checked again. Still nothing.
"Maybe she’s busy," Akira said inside my head.
"Or her phone’s dead," I replied mentally.
I went upstairs and knocked twice on her door. No answer, but I could hear loud voices and a blaring TV inside.
Strange. I pulled out my spare key, put it in the lock, and pushed the door open.
The smell hit me first. Stale cigarette smoke and greasy food. The sour smell stuck to the back of my throat, making me want to throw up.
"What the hell?" Akira growled.
Around the coffee table sat several men I’d never seen before. All looked to be in their early twenties, smoking, shouting over each other, and playing cards. Garbage covered every surface. Food wrappers, pistachio shells, orange peels were scattered across the floor and furniture.
Priya’s brother Rohan sat in the middle of this mess, stretched out on the sofa with one arm across the back. I knew him from court. He was the former gamma trainee who’d gotten into gambling and drugs, bringing his father down with him.
Nobody even looked up when I walked in.
Some guy threw down a card and shouted, "Pay up, losers!"
Another guy pulled off his hoodie and threw it on the floor like it was a trash can.
Near the window stood Neal Sharma, Priya’s father. He was on his phone, voice loud and proud.
"It’s an amazing apartment! Huge windows, brand new floors. I’ll send pictures. You won’t believe how high up we are. Her rich friend said we can stay as long as we want... No, she can’t kick us out. What kind of person would do that after everything we did? Priya testified for her. Without us, she’d have lost that lawsuit, for sure. And another payment’s coming soon, so pack your bags. Rohan’s friends are already here."
I couldn’t believe it.
This was the same man who’d shaken my hand with tears in his eyes, thanking me for helping get justice for his daughter.
When I moved out, Hudson’s staff had cleaned this place perfectly. Not a speck of dust, not a single crumb left behind.
Now it looked like a frat house after a three day party. Trash everywhere, stained walls, sticky counters, crushed snacks ground into the carpet.
"These disrespectful jerks," Akira snarled. "They need to be thrown out."
I took a step inside, then stopped when I heard a voice from the kitchen.
"Why are you just standing around? Everyone’s helping except you. Can’t even sweep the floor?" A woman’s harsh voice cut through the noise.
"I don’t feel well... my head’s spinning..." Priya’s voice sounded weak and rough.
"You’re completely useless. Can’t even help when family visits. Make lunch. We have guests."
"This isn’t even our apartment. We’re just staying here for now."
"Your rich friend made you testify, so she owes us! What, she wants us homeless?"
"You still shouldn’t destroy her place."
"Shut up and start cooking."
I’d heard enough. My blood boiled as I stepped fully into the apartment. Once they had been respected gamma warriors, now they’d fallen so low they were using their own daughter. The stink of their fall was worse than the cigarette smoke.
"Actually," I said loudly, "I want you homeless and gone in the next ten minutes."
Every head in the room turned toward me.
