Christina’s POV
I slapped Hudson’s hand before he could reach his phone.
"No way. Let the enforcers handle it. You’ve already gone full Alpha-mode once tonight."
I wasn’t saying I didn’t want Niall to suffer. I absolutely did. But I wasn’t willing to risk Hudson catching criminal charges over my ex-mate.
When they dragged him off, Niall already looked half-dead—blood covering his mouth, shirt soaked like sothing from a cri scene. His wolf had been thoroughly dominated by Hudson’s more powerful Alpha presence.
"Niall isn’t worth going to prison for," I told Hudson, making sure he understood my concern.
He exhaled heavily, his nostrils flaring as he tried to calm his wolf. "Fine. I’ll leave the enforcers to handle it. How’s your wrist?"
I rotated my wrist and winced. The pain shot up my arm like lightning. Damn Niall and his warrior training.
I didn’t say anything, but Hudson’s heightened senses picked up on my discomfort imdiately. He noticed the sweat beading at my temple.
"Right. Hospital. Now." His voice carried that unmistakable Alpha command.
I grumbled, "It’s not that bad. I’ll live. It’s late. Too much trouble to go to the hospital."
"I’ll drive." His tone left zero room for debate.
I still didn’t move, and he added, "What, are you waiting for to carry you?"
That did it.
I sprang up like my tail was on fire. "Nope. I’ve got legs. Watch use them."
He walked ahead, paused like he was considering taking my hand, then thought better of it.
Downstairs, he slid behind the wheel of his sleek black Audi and drove us to the hospital just minutes away.
I figured he probably had connections with every important institution in Highrise City, because the second we pulled up, there were nurses and a doctor already waiting outside, clearly expecting us. The pack doctor must have been off-duty.
The X-ray showed no broken bones, just a nasty soft tissue injury.
Translation: it hurt like hell, but I wouldn’t be needing titanium reinforcent anyti soon.
While the doctor dabbed a minty-slling ointnt onto my wrist, Hudson stood behind , his powerful presence filling the room with protective energy.
I couldn’t see his face, but judging by the way the doctor was sweating through his white lab coat like the air conditioning didn’t exist, Hudson was probably looking murderous again.
He pulled out his phone and started walking away. "Excuse ."
"Are you calling your Beta?" I craned my neck to look at him.
He paused at the doorway. "Why do you ask?"
"If you’re calling to arrange for Niall to... you know." I glanced at the doctor.
"Are you telling not to do it?" His voice hardened, the Alpha timbre vibrating through the room.
"No, I’m telling you... be discreet. Make sure you don’t get caught."
He might have smiled. "Got it."
Once the doctor finished, we didn’t hang around.
Just a quick wrap-up and we were back in the car.
I could feel the tension rolling off Hudson like heat from a challenged Alpha. His wolf was still agitated, desperate to protect what it considered his.
After a few blocks, he snapped out of it.
Glanced over at like he’d only just rembered I was there.
"Niall isn’t going to let this go," he said. "He’s not going to handle your marriage well. You can’t stay at your apartnt. It isn’t secure."
I stifled a yawn. "What? He’s not a rogue wolf. He got arrested. He’ll back off."
Hudson drumd his fingers on the steering wheel. "You read the news? Rejected mates kill their exes all the ti these days. What if he’s got so undiagnosed feral streak? You wait until he sets your apartnt on fire or slashes your tires, and then what?"
I shivered.
The images of Niall slapping in his house over Beatrice’s photo fra, of him dragging down the hallway earlier tonight, slamd right back into my mind.
Maybe Hudson had a point.
"It’s just... I literally just moved in. Paid three months upfront, can’t get my deposit back. And finding another wolf-friendly place is going to be a total nightmare."
We stopped at a red light.
Hudson turned to , face smooth. "You could move in with ."
I blinked. "Move in with you?"
I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or if his wolf was temporarily overriding his better judgnt.
This was a contract marriage.
No feelings, no funny business, and definitely no playing house or forming pack bonds.
The plan was to stay out of each other’s way until the divorce.
"That’s... probably not a great idea," I said slowly, trying to tell him it was a stupid idea without using those actual words.
He caught the look I shot him and let out a dry laugh.
"Relax. I’m not trying anything. It’s just safer. My territory is better protected, and I’m not exactly emotionally invested in this relationship, so there’s zero chance my wolf will suddenly claim you or anything like that."
Charming.
But honestly, the more indifferent he sounded, the more reassured I felt.
An Alpha too cold to flirt was an Alpha who wouldn’t try to get into my bed or form an unwanted mate bond.
Plus, wasn’t he still saving himself for his precious lost Luna?
Living with him might just be glorified pack-sharing without the emotional ties.
I was still hesitating when he added, "Besides, living together helps with my situation. With my grandfather, you know."
"Right. How’s he doing?"
Green light.
He turned back to the road. "Much better. I showed him the marriage certificate. Worked like magic. He actually got out of bed that day."
"Glad to hear it." I felt a twinge of guilt knowing our arrangent was built on deception.
"I told him you wanted to et him. Grandpa said yes. He’s feeling so much better now, he even wants to check out of the sanatorium and co ho. If he sees living there alone, wifeless..."
"Ah, I get it. Alright, I’ll move in." Then I added, only half-joking,"Hope your wolf doesn’t snore."
He smiled, a rare genuine one. "He doesn’t."
"Wait. I’m slamd at work this week. There’s a project deadline for the Nyx Collective I can’t miss. I’ll move in after that, once the dust settles, cool?"
He nodded. "That’s fine."
As we pulled up outside the apartnts, he spoke again.
"My grandfather’s turning eighty soon. There’s going to a big pack gathering. The entire Laurent family and The Sabreridge pack elders have to be there. You’ll co with ."
I nodded. "Sure. I’ll go with you. They know I’m your, um, Luna, right?"
"Right." He glanced at , smirking. "But I didn’t tell them about our... arrangent. As far as they know, we’re bonded mates. Might have to act the part."
"Got it. I can act."
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