Christina’s POV
I looked at Hudson, caught completely off guard for a mont, then kicked off my designer heels and slipped into the slippers.Until that mont, I hadn’t realized how badly my feet were aching.
The soft fleece wrapped around my toes, warmth spreading up my legs and settling warmly in my chest. My heart started racing.
Hudson draped a massive blanket over my lap, covering my thin dress.
He leaned in slightly, his scent of pine washing over . "If you need anything, call for through our link. I’m just taking a call over there." His voice was low, ant only for , protective alpha energy radiating from him.
Then he disappeared toward the stairwell.
Willow and Clive Granger kept throwing side-glances my way, their faces flickering between curiosity, doubt, and full-blown suspicion.
I ignored them and watched Hudson through the glass as he leaned against the stairwell wall, lighting a cigarette while he talked on the phone. Every few seconds, he’d tilt his head and glance my way. Like he was making sure I was still safe. Like he was standing guard for .
By the ti the sky outside started to lighten to a miserable grey, the door to the operating theater finally slid open.
A surgeon walked out, pulling off his gloves. "The patient’s stable. We’re moving her to a regular ward. She might wake up in a few hours, but be careful—no more shocks, no upsetting news. Her wolf is still distressed."
A team of nurses wheeled Louisa past us, still unconscious, her normally vibrant face pale as moonlight.
I followed, only to get body-blocked by Willow at the door.
"You’re kidding," I muttered under my breath,but she was already pretending I did not exist.
I ended up lurking outside the ward. Not exactly my finest mont, but I wasn’t going to take the doctor’s warning lightly and risk Louisa’s health further.
A few minutes later, Niall stord in with Beatrice. Both were still in party clothes and looked like they had run at full speed all the way here.
Niall caught sight of and, of course, ca straight toward .
"My mother’s unconscious because of you. Happy now, Chrissy? If you’ve got a problem, you take it out on . What the hell are you playing at, kicking off at her?"
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his self-righteous attitude, but he had already bulldozed past into the room.
From inside, I heard Willow’s whine. "Mom, she’s already sent you to the hospital twice! You sure you want to let her near you again?"
I heard her muttering sothing else, too low for human ears but my enhanced hearing caught fragnts about "unworthy" and "pathetic."
Then she popped her head out, scowling like it physically hurt her to speak to . "Mom says you can co in."
I shoved past her before she could change her mind,my shoulder deliberately brushing against hers.
As soon as I reached the bed, Louisa lifted her hand towards . She looked weak as hell, pale and small under the blankets, but her grip was fierce when she grabbed mine.
"This isn’t your fault, sweetheart. Don’t bla yourself. I just got overwheld for a mont and didn’t handle it well." Her voice was weak but her eyes were clear, looking at with motherly understanding.
"Aunt Louisa..." I choked out. Next thing I knew, hot tears were spilling down my face.
Louisa turned to glare at everyone else cramd into the room.
"And don’t you lot start blaming Christina either. If anyone’s to bla, it’s Niall. If he hadn’t been out betraying his mate bond, Chrissy wouldn’t have been put through half this pain."
She shot a death glare at Beatrice,who quickly ducked behind Niall.
Louisa’s eyes swung back to . "Christina, I know Niall hurt you, but you’ve loved him since you were little. You told yourself that being his Luna has always been your dream. You’re like a daughter to . I don’t want to see you left with no pack to protect you. Especially with... your family situation..." She let out a heavy sigh. "If you break off the mate bond, where are you going to find your place in your
pack?"
If it had been literally anyone else speaking those words, I would’ve shut it down in two seconds flat. Told them I didn’t need Niall to survive. Told them my wolf could stand on her own.
But Louisa was different.
She wasn’t scheming. She wasn’t playing . She ant every word, and that made my throat jam up.
I’d always been the type to bite back when soone pushed. But if soone pulled, spoke soft, held my hand like I was precious? I lted like snow in spring.
So when she clutched my hand tighter and begged, "Please, for my sake, don’t call off the mating ceremony," all I could do was stand there, swallowing everything I wanted to say.
When Louisa drifted back to sleep, I finally peeled myself away and slipped out.
I still felt guilty as hell, but not guilty enough to throw myself back into Niall’s arms like a submissive oga with no self-respect.
I had barely made it five steps when Beatrice ambushed in the stairwell.
No audience now. No fake smiles. Just full-blown venom in her eyes, her hostility hitting in waves.
She sneered, "You really are sothing. Using aunt Louisa to force Niall’s hand."
I tilted my head, sizing her up.It took a second to piece it together. She thought I had used Louisa’s health to manipulate Niall.
My eyes narrowed."You think I made Aunt Louisa sick on purpose?"
Beatrice snorted."Isn’t that exactly what you did? Or maybe you and Aunt Louisa cooked up so drama to force Niall into completing the mating bond with you."
I stared at her. "You actually believe Aunt Louisa faked a hospital trip just to mate off to Niall?"
Beatrice didn’t answer. She just smiled that smug little smile that made want to tear at her throat.
I sighed."In case you forgot—I’m the one trying to break the mate bond. I’d be thrilled if Niall marked you tomorrow. Hell, I’ll throw you a party and bake the damn cake myself."
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