Christina’s POV
"I’ve known Ysolde forever, and you know we’re close. Yet you bring your new toy here and parade her in front of ?" My voice grew colder. "What’s your ga, Cassian? Want to sit with this B-list actress so you could tell Ysolde how happy you two are?"
Dead silence filled the room as other patrons turned to stare.
Cassian’s expression transford from confusion to guilty discomfort.
After a long pause, he cleared his throat, trying to salvage the situation. "Christina, that wasn’t my intention. Zoe ntioned wanting custom jewelry, so I thought of you. I was just introducing you to a potential client, nothing more."
He cast an awkward glance at Hudson. "I swear, it’s that simple. Just business."
I let out a harsh laugh. "Business? The only business here is whatever arrangent you two have going on."
I turned to Zoe, continuing rcilessly, "Honey, you might want to learn how to look like an actual star in real life before talking about high-end custom pieces. Right now... you’re barely mall kiosk material."
Zoe finally broke, tears streaming down her face as she trembled.
Hudson looked at in shock, then glared furiously at Cassian. "Cassian, this is low even for you. Did you bring her here to humiliate Christina and Ysolde? You think this is funny?"
Cassian’s expression darkened as he tried to control the situation. "Listen, this is all a misunderstanding. I swear I had no ill intentions. We’re all adults here, can we talk business rationally?"
"What business?" I scoffed, my voice dripping with disdain. "You think I’d sit down with an Alpha who tramples over my friend’s feelings? Or collaborate with this fake star who can’t even show her real face? You two deserve each other—a betraying Alpha scumbag and a sleeping-her-way-to-fa actress."
I turned to leave but looked back to deliver one final blow, "Oh, and Zoe? Next ti you want jewelry, try studios that make costu props. Fake goes well with fake, after all."
I stord out of the club.
If Hudson hadn’t been there, I would’ve said far worse things to that howrecker. I might have even let Akira take control and beat Zoe to a bloody pulp. The mory of Ysolde’s heartbroken face today made think this pair of cheaters deserved much more than verbal humiliation.
Hudson quickly caught up, walking beside with long strides.
"Christina, wait," he called after .
Footsteps pounded behind us as Cassian rushed forward.
"Hudson, wait up! Let explain! This is all a misunderstanding!"
He grabbed Hudson’s arm. "I’m serious, man. I didn’t an for things to go this way. Don’t let sothing this small ruin our friendship."
Hudson yanked his arm free, his voice glacial. "You betrayed Ysolde, then brought that woman here? In front of my wife? What the hell were you thinking?"
Cassian held up his hands. "Listen, this wasn’t my intention. I was just trying to set up a jewelry order. That’s all. Ysolde and I broke up weeks ago—"
"It hasn’t even been a week!" I cut in, imdiately exposing his lie. "More specifically, it was last night when she caught you in bed with that slut."
Cassian’s brow furrowed as he released his Alpha aura. "Christina, watch your mouth. Stop saying these insulting things about my date. I’m only tolerating your attitude because of Hudson. Don’t push your luck."
Tolerating ? Because of Hudson?
Rage clouded my vision. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand flew across his face with a resounding crack that echoed outside the club.
"Who the hell do you think is tolerating whom, you asshole Alpha?"
Cassian touched his reddening cheek, shock transforming into fury. He raised his hand. "You crazy bitch! You dare slap ?"
Hudson stepped between us just as Cassian’s hand ca down, catching his wrist without even looking strained. The Alpha energy radiating from Hudson was overwhelming—Cassian’s power felt like a candle next to a bonfire.
"Enough, Cassian," Hudson’s voice was low and dangerous. "You’re trying to hit my mate?"
Cassian backed up a step under Hudson’s overwhelming pressure but still breathed heavily with anger. "Hudson, you saw it! She hit first!"
"I also saw your stupidity," Hudson replied coldly. "Betraying Ysolde, parading your new fling around, then talking about ’tolerating’ Christina? What makes you think you deserve any tolerance?"
I pretended to walk away but actually stopped a few feet away, eavesdropping.
Hudson stood like a wall between and Cassian. "I don’t care about what happened between you and Ysolde. But you made Christina angry, then threatened to hit her. This is on you."
Cassian rubbed his red cheek, seeking support. "Co on, Hudson. We’ve been friends for years. You’re not going to let her co between us, are you? You know . I don’t cause trouble without reason."
"You think I’d take your side?" Hudson’s voice grew colder. "Christina is my mate and my wife. Her anger is my anger. If she’s upset, you pay the price, no matter who you are. And in this case, she’s right—you’re a mate-betraying bastard."
I heard Cassian’s frustrated, angry sigh, but he didn’t dare speak under Hudson’s dominance.
Hudson caught up to in seconds.
"Slow down, Chrissy," he said softly, his voice soothing. "Don’t be angry."
"I’m not angry, I’m furious!" I jerked my hand away when he tried to hold it. "Did you know about this?"
"I knew he was bringing so actress, but that’s all," Hudson said, his tone almost pleading. "I had no idea about his relationship with that woman. If I’d known what he did to Ysolde, I would never have brought you here. I swear."
I stared at him for several seconds, trying to read his expression.
After a mont, I relented.
I wanted to believe him.
Hudson wasn’t a bottom-feeder like Cassian; he wouldn’t do sothing so stupid that betrayed his friends.
But my anger hadn’t subsided.
I knew I shouldn’t take it out on him, but if he hadn’t brought here, none of this would have happened.
"Whatever," I muttered, "I can’t avoid him forever anyway. But if I see him again, don’t expect to be nice. If that makes you uncomfortable, find a way to keep us apart."
Hudson responded without hesitation, "I’m not uncomfortable. I can’t completely avoid him when pack alliances require it. But if this upsets you, I won’t see him anymore except for necessary Alpha business."
I paused. "I’m not trying to interfere with your friendships."
That wasn’t my place.
But Hudson continued, "You can. I don’t mind at all. I’ll always support you, and in Ysolde’s case, I stand with you. I despise that kind of betrayal too."
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Really."
I felt myself calming down slightly from my rage. "To be honest, what makes angry is what Cassian did. He went too far."
"You should have clawed Cassian’s eyes out," Akira growled in my mind. "No one disrespects our friend like that."
"Not now, Akira," I silently responded.
"Exactly," Hudson agreed, gently guiding toward his car. "You’re still angry and emotional. You shouldn’t drive. Co with . I’ll take you ho."
"What about my car?"
"I’ll have Dominic arrange for soone to bring it back."
Before I could protest, I found myself in the passenger seat with Hudson carefully buckling my seatbelt.
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