Christina’s POV
My palms grew sweaty despite the chill that had settled into my bones monts before. Wave after wave of irritation washed over as I watched Hudson thodically arrange the branches.
The silence between us felt suffocating. Was he thinking what I was thinking? That he was stranded here because of ? Was he regretting his decision to follow onto that boat?
I hadn’t asked him to co. Why should I feel guilty? If anyone deserved bla, wasn’t he the one who had ruined my peaceful cruise by showing up with his new arm candy?
Emotions twisted inside until I couldn’t contain them anymore.
"Why are you so quiet?" I grabbed the bundle of branches from his hands. "Do you think I’m completely useless? That I’m just a burden? I can keep watch too! I can help with whatever you’re making! Why won’t you let ? Why do you always have to control everything?"
Sweat trickled down my forehead as I glared at him, my face flushed and eyes wild. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to prove sothing to him or desperately clinging to the last shreds of my dignity.
Hudson remained infuriatingly calm in the face of my outburst. His silence only fueled my anger.
I opened my mouth to unleash another tirade when his hand shot out, knocking the branches from my grip. Then, he grabbed both my wrists and held them tight.
He moved closer, his face inches from mine, backing up until I had nowhere to go.
With a soft thud, I landed on the bed of leaves he had prepared earlier.
Hudson lood over , his powerful body blocking out the stars above. The weight of his thigh brushed against mine for a brief mont, sending an unwelco spark of electricity through my body.
My lips parted, but no words ca out.
His eyes locked with mine. "It’s just us here on this island. Do you really want to waste energy fighting right now?"
The fire of my anger faltered.
A shiver ran through as the damp leaves beneath chilled my back. I bit my lower lip, refusing to admit defeat.
Hudson released my wrists and stood in one swift movent. His eyes swept over coolly as he stooped to collect the scattered branches, then turned away to continue his work.
The mont he moved, I yanked the palm leaf covering higher until it covered up to my collarbone.
As my temper cooled, guilt crept in to replace it. I watched him work, the moonlight highlighting the muscles of his back as he arranged the kindling.
"Hudson," I asked softly, "do you think we’ll ever get off this island?"
His hands paused montarily. "I don’t know."
Hudson never made promises he couldn’t keep. I knew that. But right now, I just needed so reassurance, so hope to cling to.
But my husband, ex-husband? was too rational to offer even the comfort of false hope.
I rested my chin on my knees, watching him work. He’d told to sleep, but after everything that had happened, rest seed impossible.
"Have you done survival training before?" I asked, noticing how efficiently he stripped and arranged the branches. It struck how little I actually knew about his life before we t.
Hudson gave a slight nod but didn’t elaborate.
I glanced at the dark forest behind us and the endless sea before us. "Think we could make a bow and arrows here? Might be useful for hunting."
He continued working, focused on the branches as though they were infinitely more interesting than talking to .
My disappointnt quickly turned to irritation. "Hudson, why are you being like this? You weren’t this cold before. You—"
"You said it yourself," he interrupted, finally eting my eyes. "That was before."
His words hit like a physical blow.
Before, we had been husband and wife, even if our marriage began as a contract. Later, we had beco lovers, an engaged couple building a future. But now... now we were nothing.
"Fine," I snapped, rolling over to face away from him. My wolf Akira whined inside , but I ignored her too.
***
Sothing tickled my nose, pulling from deep sleep.
I opened my eyes to find a tiny snail inches from my face, its antennae waving curiously at .
Carefully pushing myself up, I lifted the little creature onto a damp patch of sand. It slowly crawled away, seemingly content with its simple existence. Sothing about its determined movent lifted my spirits slightly.
I’d expected to lie awake all night after such a terrifying day. Yet the mont my head had touched the makeshift bed, exhaustion had claid completely.
Turning my head, I looked at the man who hadn’t moved all night. Despite his harsh words, Hudson’s presence had provided an undeniable sense of security that allowed to sleep.
The morning air carried a bitter chill. As I stood, a gust of wind cut through , making pull my arms tight around myself. Then I realized sothing—I hadn’t felt cold at all during the night.
My gaze drifted back to Hudson. He had positioned himself perfectly to shield from the wind.
"You didn’t have to do that," I said quietly.
Hudson sat up, his bare chest catching the early morning light. When his eyes t mine, they were calm and distant, blue as the ocean but emptied of the emotion I’d glimpsed the night before.
He looked at as if I were a stranger.
"You’re welco," he replied.
The detachnt in his tone irritated , but before I could say anything, he stretched his hand toward . His expression remained cool and professional. "Give your clothes. "
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