Christina’s POV
After dropping that bomb on Lea the other day, I finally understood what I needed to do.
Hudson and I were fated mates. That simple truth changed everything.
I checked my reflection one last ti in my compact mirror before snapping it shut and slipping it back into my clutch. Lipstick intact, hair behaving itself. With a deep breath, I stepped into the grand hall.
The chandeliers overhead sparkled like captured starlight. The sound of clinking glasses and conversations filled the air. This was one of those chamber of comrce charity dinners where a plate of diocre steak cost a five-figure "donation." Normally, I’d have found any excuse to skip it. These events made my skin crawl—the fake laughter, the posturing, the air thick with perfu and desperation.
But tonight was different.
"We’re here on a mission," Akira reminded . "Rember what Lea said? She’d do anything for Hudson. So should we."
That poisonous little boast had burrowed under my skin. It forced to ask myself: what was I willing to do for Hudson?
I knew he was drowning in problems at his company. Showing up at his office demanding relationship clarity would only make things worse.
If I couldn’t help him, I should at least stay out of his way.
But maybe I could help. As the daughter of The Crescent pack’s forr Alpha, I had responsibilities, even if my father was gone. I had my own company and inheritance. It was ti I stepped up and helped my mate instead of standing on the sidelines.
Ysolde had pulled strings. Her brother Emtt had confird that LGH’s biggest threat was a rumored city ordinance. If passed, it would strangle the company’s cash flow and kill its projects before they broke ground.
It was still just whispers, but that was how these things worked in Highrise City. A murmur beca gossip, gossip beca certainty, and by the ti the vote happened, it was already too late.
Emtt had given a na: Gerard Haldane, the Deputy Commissioner of Urban Developnt—the man who could make or break the ordinance. According to the guest list, he was here tonight.
I clutched my wine glass, scanning the room for Haldane’s face—silver hair, thick eyebrows, and that habit of holding his jaw too high.
Before I could spot him, another face blocked my view.
"Christina?"
My whole body tensed.
Niall.
He’d lost weight. His tuxedo hung a bit loose on his fra. His hair was neatly styled, jaw freshly shaved, but his eyes looked tired, with dark circles underneath.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Business," I replied coldly.
His eyes darted to my bare left hand, noting the absence of a ring the way only an ex-fiancé would.
"Where’s Hudson?"
"None of your business."
His mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "So it’s true then. He dumped you."
"That’s none of your business either."
I glanced at his hand. No ring.
Niall caught looking. "Beatrice and I are over," he said flatly.
"Cry a river," I thought.
"Sorry to hear that," I lied.
I turned back to scanning the room. A man like Haldane would make a fashionably late entrance. I didn’t want to miss him.
But Niall wasn’t finished with .
"I’m single now," he announced.
"Congratulations," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"You know I still have feelings for you."
"I don’t."
"I made a stupid mistake. I want to start over. I want us to start over."
"Hard pass."
"Is it because of Hudson? But you two are over."
My patience evaporated. "I don’t want to talk about this with you."
I tried to move past him, but he blocked my way, his tone turning nasty.
"An Alpha like Hudson Laurent is out of your league, Christina. You know that, right?"
His words hit harder than I wanted to admit because they touched on my deepest insecurity. Maybe I wasn’t enough for Hudson. He had saved repeatedly while I had nothing to offer when his world started crumbling.
"Tell him to go fuck himself," Akira growled inside . "We’re worth ten of him."
I forced my anger down, keeping my voice ice-cold. "I’m not here to rehash old tis or trade insults. If that’s all you’ve got to say, this conversation is over."
I tried again to move past him. His hand shot out and gripped my arm.
I was already raising my other hand to slap him when another voice cut in.
"Let go of her."
Daniel.
Niall’s half-brother grabbed his wrist and yanked it off . Niall stumbled, his face flushing with anger.
"What the hell are you doing?" Daniel snapped at him. "Making a scene at a charity event? Pathetic."
Niall muttered sothing under his breath and disappeared into the crowd.
Daniel turned to , his expression softening. "Are you okay?"
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks."
He smiled faintly. The sa smile that had once seed warm, even boyish, back when he worked at my studio. That was before I knew he was a Granger. Before he started looking at like he wanted more than just a job.
"I’ve missed you," he said quietly.
My heart sank. Not this again.
"Thanks for the rescue," I said. "But I’m not interested in dating any Frostpelt wolves. Not you, not Niall."
I turned to leave, but his next words stopped cold.
"What if I could help you et the Deputy Commissioner?"
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