Christina’s POV
"Plenty. Serenna and Caroline were trying to figure out when you two got together. Caroline kept insisting you must have been seeing him behind Niall’s back. She said you’d claid you were going to bring ho a new mate when they were pressuring you to marry that wealthy old Alpha from Silver Heights pack."
"Leonard Shaw?" I frowned.
"Well, she kept saying that’s why they didn’t force the issue when everything went crazy, especially when Beatrice was rushing to marry Niall. Your parents were busy planning her wedding and didn’t have ti to arrange yours."
I snorted. Between the Maxwell situation, the Priya drama, and everything else, I’d barely had ti to breathe, let alone introduce Hudson to my family. Not that I wanted to.
"What else did they say?" I asked.
"Alpha Franklin finally snapped. Said your marriage was the best thing to happen to the pack."
"Of course he did," I replied dryly. "Always looking for the angle."
"And Preston suggested they call to apologize. Said they needed you on their side now."
"I didn’t get any call from him."
"I think Caroline tried to reach you."
"Oh, I blocked her number."
Ysolde laughed. "Smart move."
Not smart enough, apparently.
The phone rang until the last possible second before I finally answered.
"What do you want?" My voice was flat because I couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore.
I had blocked Caroline, Preston, Catherine, and Serenna from our pack mind-link. I was basically one step away from leaving the Crescent Moon Pack entirely, but considering joining another pack required Alpha approval and a whole screening process, modern society had its protocols, so I’d stayed. Technically part of the pack but never going back.
The difference between and a lone wolf or rogue was simply that I could legally remain in Highrise City.
I’d blocked every number I could think of. Even set my phone to filter all unknown calls.
But one number slipped through.
Franklin rarely called directly. He always contacted through Caroline, so I’d completely forgotten I still had his number saved.
The mont I answered, he launched into apologies for his previous behavior. "Christina, darling, we just got out. That whole thing was a misunderstanding. I want to apologize—"
"If that’s all, I’m hanging up now."
"No, no, wait—" His tone shifted abruptly. "I was wondering if you might have ti to co ho for dinner?"
He said "dinner," but I heard "trap."
"You really think I’d sit down for a al with you people again?"
Silence. Then a pathetic little throat clearing. "That’s all water under the bridge. We’ll treat you properly this ti, I promise. Give you a proper welco. Everything will be arranged nicely."
He hesitated, then added, "You said you found a better mate, but you never brought him ho. We might have neglected you because of your sister and Niall’s situation. But how could you not tell us about your wedding? Not a word. We missed everything. When you co, bring Alpha Hudson with you, won’t you? I’d very much like to et my son-in-law."
"Not happening."
"I know you’re busy. But surely you can spare an hour for dinner—"
"I’ll think about it." I hung up before he could respond.
Then I blocked his number too.
I tossed my phone onto the break room counter and stared at the coffee I’d just brewed.
Akira growled low in my mind. "He reeks of desperation even through the phone."
"Tell about it," I muttered.
My father was such a bootlicker, nothing like what an Alpha should be. He groveled to anyone with higher status or stronger power, then turned into a complete tyrant with those beneath him. A textbook social climber.
When he thought marrying Niall was so divine blessing for , suddenly I was his precious daughter. When Niall and I broke up, I beca the family disappointnt. When Beatrice married Niall, I turned into yesterday’s garbage while she beca his golden child.
Now, lo and behold, I’m with Hudson—soone far more powerful and accomplished than Niall could ever dream of being. Sure, we’re just bound by a contract, but that’s beside the point.
And predictably, dear old Dad suddenly rembers he has another daughter. Cue the fake concern and artificial warmth.
Unfortunately for him, I’m no longer that pathetic little girl begging for Daddy’s approval and Mommy’s love.
I haven’t even abused my position as Luna of The Sabreridge Pack to make his life miserable, and he still has the audacity to contact ? The nerve actually makes despise him more.
Well, my good mood just went down the drain.
I couldn’t even be bothered to drink the coffee I’d made.
The office atmosphere felt weird today. Everyone seed unnaturally cheerful.And they were all working with suspicious dedication. Gone were the usual gossip clusters around the coffee machine, the casual snack breaks, and the occasional Netflix binge I’d catch soone streaming at their desk.
The work environnt made feel like I’d wandered into so silicon valley tech startup or academic research facility, not a jewelry design studio where creativity was supposed to flow with a little chaos.
What made it even more bizarre was everyone’s attitude toward had done a complete 180.
People who used to barely acknowledge my existence were suddenly offering artisanal cookies and flashing those plastic smiles you see in pharmaceutical comrcials.
Right before lunch, a care package appeared on the desk across from mine. That particular spot was usually ground zero for office drama, but today it looked like soone had ordered from Whole Foods’ premium section. Inside were imported Belgian chocolates and gourt popcorn chips that I wouldn’t eat if I were stranded on a desert island.
And the people I actually used to have normal conversations with? They’d transford into sothing out of a corporate training video. Polite. Careful. Walking on eggshells like I might spontaneously combust.
I tried to focus on my sketches, but every few minutes I could feel eyes boring into the back of my head.
Yet whenever I looked up, everyone was suddenly laser-focused on their screens like they were defusing bombs instead of designing earrings.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed answers.
I got up and cornered Zara, one of the few people in the studio I actually considered a friend, for so interrogation.
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