Christina’s POV
I was enjoying telling Ysolde all about Zoe’s big announcent that she was quitting the entertainnt world.
At the sa ti, Ysolde was complaining to about her brother, Alpha Emtt. He’d basically grounded her and wouldn’t let her leave the house until she was fully healed or until he got her "proper protection", which really just ant bodyguards to babysit her.
I was about to reply to her crying emoji when Hudson just snatched my phone right out of my hands.
"You’ve had enough screen ti."
What am I, twelve? Since when do I have parental controls? Do I look like I need a digital detox?
"I hurt my hand, not my eyes," I grumbled. "I’m fine. The doctor said I’m fine. Just so scrapes. I’ve gotten worse injuries from cheap drugstore wax strips. You didn’t need to drag ho in the middle of the day."
Hudson’s jaw tightened noticeably.
I held up both hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. I’ll take two days off. Happy now?"
"Barely." He narrowed his eyes.
"Was it you?" I asked. "The clean-up with Zoe? It happened too quickly to be Cassian’s doing."
I gave him a thumbs-up. "Thanks for the help."
His expression darkened. "I wasn’t ’helping’ you. Protecting my wife is part of the contract terms."
Ouch. Why did his ntion of the contract suddenly sting? Before, I’d always viewed our arrangent as purely transactional, no emotions attached.
"I don’t think we’re doing a great job as contract Luna," Akira muttered inside my head.
Well, she wasn’t wrong.
I blinked. "I don’t rember that clause."
"I wrote the contract."
Fair point. Though I’d tossed my copy in the trash ages ago.
"I’m arranging security for you," he stated.
"No." My response was imdiate and firm. "I don’t want to live with shadows following everywhere. I want to actually live, not be watched like I’m under surveillance."
His gaze didn’t waver one bit.
He looked like he was debating whether to argue the point.
I seriously doubted I could convince him otherwise. He seed to embody that classic Alpha trait—stubborn and completely set in his ways once his mind was made up.
"Maybe we should try seduction to get our way?" Akira suggested inside my head.
My cheeks ward. "Are you serious? When did you learn these tactics?"
"I’ve just noticed he seems happier whenever we hold hands, hug, or share those occasional kisses," she replied.
"How can you tell?"
"It’s sothing I’ve been sensing recently, though it’s faint. Maybe I’m imagining it? But if we want to avoid being put on lockdown like Ysolde, maybe we should try?"
Well, desperate tis called for desperate asures. I decided to go along with her ridiculous plan.
I stood up from the couch and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you for caring," I said softly, "but this was just a random incident. It won’t happen again."
His eyes softened instantly as he stared at .
Good for Akira, it really worked!
"I’ll carry pepper spray," I quickly added.
He sighed. "Fine. I’ll get you a gun permit instead."
Wow, how tis have changed. As werewolves, we’re taught to restrain ourselves around humans, which often leaves us vulnerable. But carrying guns? That’s so modern-day. Weren’t wolves traditionally afraid of hunters with guns?
"I’ve never fired a gun. I wouldn’t even know how to use one."
"You’ll learn."
I glanced down at his hands.
Not soft hands, but long, strong fingers.
I’d noticed them our very first day together.
Calluses. Perfect for making a woman com... or handling firearms.
Now I was pretty sure which one it was.
I opened my mouth. Then closed it again.
Deep down, I wanted to ask.
About his past. About how he beca the kind of man who casually says "you’ll learn" as if gun training were as routine as brushing teeth.
Our pack training typically focused on enhancing our natural wolf abilities—speed, strength, agility. Gun training was more sothing you’d need if facing human gangs or hunters with silver bullets.
How did he learn to use guns? Had he ever killed soone?
I was curious about his past.
But I decided against asking.
Not because I didn’t care.
Because I thought about Cassian. He and Cassian were longti friends—were they the sa type of man? The kind who made won fall in love with them, then trampled their hearts?
It wasn’t fair to compare them.
Hudson and Cassian seed completely different.
But... what if?
My growing curiosity about Hudson felt dangerous.
It ant I was developing feelings for him, and "feelings" seed too shallow a word. When you’re interested in soone, you want to know everything about them. Like finding a captivating book at a bookstore—the cover draws you in, the first Chapter hooks you, and suddenly you want to read more and more.
That’s exactly how I felt about Hudson right now. I’d opened his book.
Just like I’d once pined for Niall for years.
Before I knew he was my fated mate, Niall was the Alpha from the neighboring pack—excellent, composed, handso. He was every girl’s dream date for debut ceremonies.
I built an entire teenage fantasy around his outwardly displayed qualities and used it as my only comfort against school bullying and parental neglect.
I wanted to prove I was still capable of love, that I could imagine being loved by my dream man.
But the ending? He got together with my sister. He cheated. He betrayed . Despite being his fated mate, despite how I debased myself—bending over backward, catering to his every need and managing everything in his life and pack.
I gave my heart sincerely and received nothing but heartbreak and humiliation.
Did I really want to do that again?
Hudson was no small-ti player.
Hudson was... complete. Composed. Trustworthy.
The dangerous part was that he made feel safe, not afraid.
But if we developed a real relationship, if I truly invested myself, what would I lose if things went wrong?
And Cassian had ntioned once that Hudson had loved soone else for years.
So mysterious woman he could never have, for whatever reason.
So I swallowed my questions.
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