Christina’s POV
Ysolde tapped my shoulder, snapping out of my daze.
"So what birthday gift would the noble Luna of the Sabreridge Pack desire?" she asked with a playful formal tone that made snort.
I played along, adopting an exaggerated queenly air. "Nothing extravagant. I’ll cherish whatever you bestow upon ."
She always had this irritating talent for guessing exactly what I wanted, like she had permanent access to my browser history.
"Noted," she said, then hip-checked , completely destroying my feigned elegance.
We spent the entire afternoon arguing about which drawer should hold the polishing tools. She kept joking that all the ring stands looked like male genitalia.
"They even co in different sizes," she pointed out.
"Just wait until you see how talented your sausage stuffers are," I shot back dryly.
"Sausage stuffers!" She doubled over laughing, rolling on the floor.
I sighed. Alpha Emtt wasn’t wrong about his sister’s immaturity.
Around six, I started packing up. While unplugging the steam iron, I noticed a black car idling outside the studio window. The license plate looked familiar. A mont later, Hudson stepped out.
I opened the door and leaned out. "Just passing by?"
"No," he answered simply. "I ca to get you." He glanced around. "The place looks good."
"It does." I surveyed the space with the pride of a mother looking at her firstborn.
"Ready to go? I’ve made reservations."
As I was locking up, I turned to Ysolde. "Coming with us?"
"And be the third wheel? No thanks. I have my own date." Ysolde flashed Hudson a sweet smile, then leaned close to whisper in my ear. "Your mate is kinda terrifying."
"Only if you’ve done sothing wrong," I whispered back, thinking about Elder Maxwell, that pig of a werewolf, wondering how he was enjoying prison.
"He gives off the sa vibe as my brother. Throwing around Alpha energy at the slightest thing, making everyone bow their heads in submission."
I leaned in closer. "Rember, werewolf hearing. Careful not to offend him."
Ysolde imdiately said, "Then you better save ."
I smiled, turning to see Hudson holding the car door open for .
"He seems like quite the gentleman," I remarked.
Ysolde rolled her eyes. "You’re totally smitten."
"You absolutely are," Akira teased in my mind. "Look at that lovesick face."
"Shut up, Akira," I ntally replied.
The restaurant he chose was elegant and quiet—white walls with light wooden chairs and linen napkins folded like envelopes. Piano music drifted from above, the player seemingly unconcerned with tempo.
Hudson requested a window table, away from the other diners. As soon as we sat down, I noticed several patrons glancing our way. A woman at the bar turned her head and stared for longer than necessary. In werewolf circles, Alpha Hudson’s reputation always drew attention.
I excused myself to use the restroom. When I returned, I caught the tail end of a scene.
A girl no older than nineteen stood at our table, clutching her phone, slightly trembling. I wouldn’t have noticed if not for her reflection in the window.
"Hey... can I get your number?" she asked, wearing an unnatural smile.
Hudson rely looked up at her, lips pressed together.
The girl hesitated, still holding out her phone. "Just to... get to know each other."
Hudson raised his left hand, tilting it slightly so his ring caught the overhead light.
She saw it, eyes widening before muttering sothing and turning away, her shoes slipping slightly on the tiles.
I paused at the corner, waiting until she disappeared behind the reception desk before returning to my seat.
The serious expression on Hudson’s face vanished, replaced by expectation. He clearly wanted to ask about the girl.
I fought back a smile, reaching for my water. "Slow day at the office?"
"Relatively peaceful." His expression darkened slightly. "How’s the studio coming along?"
"So far, so good."
"Need additional funding?"
"No, no. God, no." I nearly choked. "It’s all your money anyway. Technically, you’re the investor."
I must have said sothing wrong because his expression turned stern again.
"The money beca yours when I gave it to you," Hudson said. "If you’re uncomfortable, you can compensate with partial ownership of the studio. Forty-nine percent?"
I considered it for a mont. "Deal."
His voice lowered. "Equity transfers require contracts. I’ll arrange it."
"Going the corporate route, are we? Fine, unleash your legal team."
"I will."
Silence fell between us.
I watched a droplet of water slide down my glass, disappearing into the tablecloth.
He didn’t check his phone, just stared out the window, perfectly still, expression unreadable.
I cleared my throat. "Any updates on Maxwell?"
"Terminated. Arrested. Under internal investigation to determine if further sanctions are necessary. Legal departnt is handling it." His speech had beco cold and clipped.
"Was anyone else involved?"
"Not to our knowledge." He paused before adding, "If there were, we’ll find them."
I nodded, fiddling with my wine glass. "Right, makes sense."
He didn’t respond.
"Sorry, I didn’t an... never mind."
He glanced at . "You didn’t."
More silence.
"The studio’s coming along well," I said. "Savannah cried when I resigned. One single tear that she dramatically dabbed with a tissue. I almost backed out from guilt."
His lips twitched, but it wasn’t quite a smile.
"I’m still struggling with the na though. I’ve thought of fifty, but none feel right."
He offered suggestions, all practical.
I promised to consider them seriously.
He nodded, lapsing into silence again. Not tense, just... still.
Ysolde said he was scary.
I disagreed. Really.
But I understood what she ant.
He wasn’t cold, just... closed off.
Hard to read, harder to approach.
With Niall, back when I was a lovesick teenager, I never hesitated.
I’d ask him directly what coffee he liked, what shoes he wore, what toothpaste brand he used.
But asking Hudson what food he enjoyed felt... frivolous, like wasting his ti. Perhaps because he was such a powerful and ruthless Alpha, there was always this sense that you needed to maintain a certain level of respect.
But I tried anyway.
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