Christina’s POV
"No, that’s not what I ant at all!" Priya’s eyes filled with tears again, her thin shoulders trembling under the worn coat. "I just didn’t explain it well..."
She wiped her eyes with her hand, and I noticed sothing that made feel bad. Her fingers looked awful. They were red and cracked, with skin peeling off her knuckles and sore looking patches everywhere.
"It’s barely November," I frowned, pointing at her hands. "What happened there?"
Akira growled softly in my head. "Soone worked this girl like a slave."
Priya quickly tucked her hands into her sleeves. "It’s nothing. Just from doing chores."
I studied her hunched form as she tried to disappear into that oversized coat. The way she made herself small reminded of how I used to shrink around my father when he’d go on his rants about my "inadequacies" compared to perfect Beatrice.
"Listen," I said, softer than before. "You can’t go back to being their personal maid. Your mother was talking about marrying you off, wasn’t she?"
She nodded. "They found soone before we left... he’s forty years old. His mate died last year. He has three children already."
"Are you fucking kidding ?" I growled almost as loud as Akira. "They’re literally selling you off to so older wolf?"
The situation was too familiar. My parents had tried the sa thing with . They wanted to marry Leonard Shaw, Alpha of the Silver Heights pack. He was old, ugly, and desperate for a young wife to have more children. The mory made my blood boil.
Priya swallowed hard. "Christina, just call the authorities. Get them out of your apartnt. If they have nowhere to stay, they’ll have to go back."
"And what about you?"
Her eyes darted around the elevator. "Do you think soone like could find work in Highrise City?"
I looked at her. She had a limp from her poorly healed leg, and her voice was still hoarse from the damage done to her throat. She had barely finished school. It wouldn’t be easy.
"Never mind," she mumbled. "They’ll never let stay. They need back ho to cook and clean and... whatever else they’ve arranged."
The elevator doors opened to show the marble lobby. I turned to face her and stood in her way.
"Think carefully before you answer . Do you actually want to stay in Highrise City? Away from your parents? On your own with no pack, no family?"
She hesitated, brows furrowed in concentration. Finally, she nodded. "Yes. I do."
A smile spread across my face. "Good. I know exactly how to get your family out without taking you with them."
Her eyes widened with disbelief.
"I need to make a call." I pulled out my phone, scrolling to Hudson’s number. Oakwood Apartnts were Sabreridge pack property, after all.
Hudson answered on the second ring. "Christina?"
"I need your help," I explained the situation quickly, keeping my voice low enough that Priya couldn’t hear all the details.
Hudson’s response was imdiate. "Consider it handled. Don’t worry."
"Thanks, Hudson. I owe you."
"You never owe anything," he replied.
I turned to Priya with a smile. "Co on. We’re going shopping while the problem gets solved."
At first, she stuck to like glue in the mall, flinching whenever soone walked too close.
After about twenty minutes and so good food, Priya’s shoulders finally started to relax. She even cracked a small smile when I dared her to try on a ridiculous yellow sequined hat.
"You look like a disco ball with jaundice," I teased, making her giggle for the first ti.
We were halfway through the food court when my phone rang again.
"It’s done," Hudson said. "They’re gone. Dominic arranged tickets and personally watched them board. They’re heading back to their territory as we speak."
"Wait, seriously?" I stopped walking abruptly. "How did you manage that so fast?"
"Thirty thousand dollars. Told them they could leave the girl and take the money. Dominic brought several pack enforcers. If they’d refused, we had... alternative thods prepared."
I couldn’t help grinning. "I wish I could see your face right now. I’m giving you a high five."
His voice softened. "Anything for my Luna."
My cheeks flushed hot at the title. Even after being married to Hudson for months, hearing him call his Luna still sent warmth through . "You must be swamped with pack business, but thanks again. See you tonight?"
After hanging up, I turned to Priya. "They’re gone. You’re staying."
Instead of looking relieved, she seed almost wounded. "They gave up for thirty thousand dollars," she whispered. "That’s all I was worth to them."
"That’s a bargain price for your freedom," I said firmly. "Take the win. Start fresh. When you’re ready to look for work, I’ll help. The Sabreridge pack has connections all over Highrise City."
She looked up at with watery eyes. "Thank you. I promise I’ll pay back every cent."
That afternoon, I took her to get a new bank account. One her family couldn’t access.
Then I called Hannah, and instructed her to redirect Isobel Brooke’s settlent money to Priya’s new account instead of the joint one in her father’s na.
"If it goes to the old account, she’ll never see a penny," I explained.
"Consider it done," Hannah assured . "The paperwork will be filed today."
Just before sunset, I drove Priya back to Oakwood Apartnts.
"Stay here as long as you need," I told her as we approached the door. "You’ve got space, privacy, no one breathing down your neck—"
She unlocked the door and we both fell silent.
The apartnt was immaculate. Countertops gleaming, floor spotless, not a single piece of trash in sight. Even the lamp they’d broken had been replaced with an identical one.
It looked exactly like the day I’d moved out.
I smiled knowingly and pulled out my phone to text Hudson: [The cleanup crew was a nice touch. Very thoughtful of you.]
His reply ca seconds later: [Geoffrey arranged it. I’m out tonight. Pack business dinner with the northern Alphas.]
[Have fun,] I typed, then locked my screen.
As I started to put my phone away, it rang. I glanced at the display and felt an imdiate tension headache forming.
Caroline Vance. My mother.
I hadn’t spoken to anyone from The Crescent pack in months. Not since the disaster with Niall and Beatrice.
I declined the call without hesitation.
Seconds later, a voice ssage notification appeared. Against my better judgnt, I played it.
"Christina!" My mother’s voice chirped with that fake cheerfulness I knew so well. "Why didn’t you pick up? Guess who I ran into today?"
I didn’t bother responding. She’d tell anyway.
After getting Priya settled with extra blankets, a stocked refrigerator, and a new deadbolt installed on the inside of her door, I headed back to the elevator.
The second voice ssage arrived before I reached the lobby.
"I saw Miss Davis today! You rember her, don’t you?"
Akira growled. "Of course we do."
There had only ever been one Miss Davis in my life.
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