Christina’s POV
Hudson walked down the hallway.
Black button-down loose against his muscular fra, sleeves rolled to expose powerful forearms, dark trousers highlighting his imposing height. Nothing flashy, but everything about him commanded attention.
He carried a beige cashre wrap, which he draped over my shoulders with unexpected gentleness. His hands enveloped mine, warming them instantly.
"You’re freezing," he said. "Hospital gowns aren’t exactly winter wear."
"I’m fine." I pulled the wrap closer, grateful for its warmth. "Just needed to escape that room for five minutes."
"Doctor specifically ntioned bed rest." His tone left no room for argunt, the natural command of an Alpha lacing his words.
"Fine, fine." I took his offered arm.
"Hey!" Niall finally found his voice after being thoroughly ignored.
Hudson turned to look at Niall.
Niall took a step back. His cocky attitude vanished instantly.
"If I hear you disrespecting or my mate again," Hudson said with deadly calm, "you’ll wish jail was your biggest problem."
"I didn’t say anything," Niall said, but his voice shook.
Hudson’s eyes narrowed. "Didn’t you just call her ’fake’? People with poor mories tend to make the sa mistakes twice. Dangerous habit."
Niall’s face went white. He opened his mouth, then closed it without saying anything.
"Alpha Hudson asked you a question," I reminded him sweetly.
Beatrice’s eyes widened as she watched the interaction. She’d probably never seen Niall, her precious Alpha, reduced to this submissive state.
"Understood," Niall finally muttered, eyes lowered.
"Good." Hudson turned back to . "Let’s go."
I bead up at him, thoroughly enjoying Niall’s discomfort. "Gladly."
My phone chid. I checked the notification and couldn’t help grinning at Niall.
"Well, look at that. So good news for once."
Niall frowned. "What?"
I held up my phone screen. "ssage from Finn Stone. You know, Alpha of Ravenclaw pack? Also happens to be my lawyer. Court accepted my harassnt case against you. Check your mailbox for the summons."
"What summons? What harassnt case?"
"Stalking, threatening behavior, verbal abuse in public places... He thinks we have a solid case."
Niall looked like he wanted to lunge forward, but one glance at Hudson froze him in place. Hudson didn’t even need to growl; his presence alone was enough.
As we walked away, Beatrice clutched Niall’s arm. "Niall, darling! When are we telling the pack about the wedding? Everyone’s waiting for the announcent!"
"What announcent?"
"The Luna announcent! You said I’d be Luna of the Frostpelt Pack!"
"When the hell did I say that?"
"Just now in the hallway! You promised..."
The elevator doors closed, cutting off their argunt.
"Enjoying yourself?" Hudson asked once we were alone.
"More than I should," I admitted. "I ca out for air and bumped into Highrise City’s least eligible bachelor. Can I leave this place yet?"
"Doctor wants you under observation for at least two more days."
"I feel completely fine."
"It’s not negotiable." His tone was gentle but final. Pure Alpha authority.
Akira stirred inside . "I like when he gets all commanding like that. Very sexy."
"Hush," I ntally replied.
"Could you ask Geoffrey to bring my tablet?" I asked Hudson. "The one with my design software."
"Consider it done."
Comfortable silence fell between us as we returned to my room. Once I was settled back in bed, Hudson took the chair beside .
"So Beatrice is pregnant," he remarked casually.
I raised an eyebrow. "Your hearing is impressive even for an Alpha."
His lips curved slightly. "The pregnancy report she was waving around helped. Subtle isn’t in her vocabulary."
"Definitely not. The Crescent pack’s going to have a field day with this gossip."
"Niall doesn’t seem thrilled about becoming a father."
"Or a husband," I added. "But apparently they’re getting married. He even had the nerve to invite ."
"And your response?"
"I’d rather watch paint dry while getting a root canal."
Hudson looked thoughtful. I recognized that calculating look.
"What are you plotting?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Nothing that concerns you."
I didn’t believe him for a second. In our month together, I’d learned to spot when the wheels in his mind were turning. Sothing was definitely brewing.
My suspicions were confird that evening when Ysolde visited, bearing flowers, snacks, and juicy gossip.
"Niall’s all over the wolf community forums," she announced, settling into the visitor’s chair.
"What? Did he finally do sothing interesting besides making bad decisions?"
Ysolde handed her phone. "See for yourself."
The top post on WolfWatch (the underground social network exclusive to shifters) showed a clear picture of Niall and Beatrice in the hospital hallway.
[FROSTPELT ALPHA SCANDAL—Niall Granger impregnates sister of forr fiancée, questions arise about Luna selection]
The comnts section was brutal,
"This isn’t how an Alpha chooses a Luna..."
"Frostpelt elders must be furious..."
"The Crescent pack allowed this disrespect?"
A second headline caught my eye from the human financial news.
[Granger Developnt Group heir faces paternity scandal, shareholders concerned]
Soone had captured high-resolution photos of Niall and Beatrice’s hospital scene, complete with the pregnancy report prominently visible. The article questioned Niall’s judgnt and responsibility as CEO.
"Unnad sources" confird no engagent had been announced despite the pregnancy, raising concerns about his leadership capabilities.
"After all," Ysolde read in an exaggerated news anchor voice, "if he can’t honor commitnts in his personal life, what about his responsibility to thousands of GDG employees and investors?"
"His father must be thrilled," I snorted.
"I bet the pack elders are even less thrilled. Word is they wanted him to choose a Luna from one of the northern packs to strengthen alliances."
"Wonder who leaked this," I mused, scrolling through the comnts.
"I figured it was you," Ysolde admitted.
"? I left my telephoto lens and reporter contacts at ho."
"Hmm." She shrugged. "Doesn’t matter who did it. Whoever it was clearly has excellent timing."
By morning, the story had exploded. Both wolf communities and human business news were covering it extensively. Granger Developnt Group stocks had dropped four points.
"Was this your doing?" I asked Hudson as he brought in breakfast.
"Hospital hallways are public spaces. Anyone could have taken those photos." His expression revealed nothing.
"That’s not an answer."
He t my eyes directly. "Does it matter if it was?"
I thought about it for a mont, then smiled. "I guess not. Karma works in mysterious ways."
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