Free Web NovelChapter 100: Chapter 100 Someone Has Your Back
Christina’s POV
"Arrested?" The orange juice suddenly tasted like liquid gold in my mouth. "What for exactly?"
"Aggravated assault," Hudson replied, his eyes tracking my reaction.
"Against who?"
"You."
I touched my nose reflexively. "But I wasn’t physically assaulted. Just a pool shove."
"If I hadn’t arrived when I did, you wouldn’t be here right now," Hudson said.
"Fair point," I admitted. "Still, I’m alive. No permanent damage done."
Hudson’s jaw tightened. "Not because she didn’t try."
"Let me guess, her rich family’s already bailed her out." The Brookes could probably buy the whole police station if they wanted.
"Not happening this time."
I raised an eyebrow. "As much as I’d love to see Isobel in orange, it’s just my word against hers. Rich families have ways of making evidence disappear."
"Not when it’s on video."
My fork clattered against the plate. "Someone recorded it? Who? They deserve a fruit basket and a vacation home."
A small smile touched his lips. "I’ve handled their compensation already."
"Of course you did." I gulped more juice. "You know, this is classic Isobel behavior. She tormented me through school, and two seconds back in town she’s up to her old tricks. "
Hudson leaned forward. "What exactly did she do to you before?"
"Didn’t I already share my tragic backstory last night? In the car?"
"You were delirious with fever. I got fragments at best."
Akira growled in my mind. "Tell him everything. Our mate should know who hurt us."
"He’s not our mate," I shot back internally.
"Alright, fake it until you make it. Anyway, I kind of think he is better than Niall," she replied smugly."
I took another sip of juice, tried the coffee, then abandoned both. The buttered toast seemed safer. I chewed slowly, buying time.
Hudson waited patiently. He didn’t pressure me, which somehow made me want to talk more.
With a sigh, I put down my half-eaten toast. "Fine. Cliff notes version."
I gave him the sanitized version. The tamer incidents. The public humiliations. The ’pranks’ that went too far. I skipped over the worst parts - the ones that still gave me nightmares.
Talking about Isobel while feverish was one thing. Doing it completely sober was another level of vulnerability I wasn’t ready for. Even with Hudson.
If he noticed my careful editing, he didn’t mention it.
"What’s your next move?" he asked.
"I want to sue her into oblivion. If the prosecutor drops charges because the Brookes start pulling their usual strings—" I stabbed a piece of melon with unnecessary force, "—I’ll file civil charges myself. And not just for this incident. For everything she did back in high school too. Finn says the police records still exist."
"You’ve clearly thought about this."
"Been planning it since I heard she was back in town. Isobel Brooke is like a tumor I intend to remove permanently."
Hudson nodded. "The entire Sabreridge pack legal team is at your disposal."
I opened my mouth to refuse.
"They’re already coordinating with Finn on your libel suit," he interrupted. "Might as well have them tackle this too."
I paused, then nodded. "Thanks."
His expression remained serious. "Don’t thank me. You’re my wife. My resources are your resources."
"Tell that to couples in divorce court," I joked.
Complete silence.
Not even a twitch of his lips. Nothing.
I winced and gulped coffee to hide my discomfort.
After an awkward moment, he said, "You have me in your corner now. For anything you need."
"I know," I nodded.
"I don’t think you do."
His suddenly sharp tone made me look up. freewebnσvel.cøm
"You were planning to sue Niall alone. Ready to handle Isobel by yourself. Even when you had problems at work, you dealt with it independently."
There was controlled anger behind his words.
"How did—" I stopped. "Right. The dinner with Finn. Who told you about all that?"
He ignored my question. "From now on, you come to me first." His tone wasn’t suggesting; it was commanding. "As long as you’re the Luna of the Sabreridge pack, whatever touches you becomes my business too."
"Yes , Alpha Hudson." His intensity almost made me stand at attention.
Halfway through breakfast, his phone rang twice. Both long calls. One in rapid French that had me straining to remember my high school language classes. I focused on watching butter melt into golden puddles on my croissant plate.
When he returned, I said, "You don’t have to play nursemaid. I’m not terminal or geriatric. If you’re worried, hire a professional."
"I’ll work from here," he replied, closing the subject.
The private room was more luxury suite than hospital room anyway. Private lounge, kitchen nook, dining area. Practical apartment living.
Hudson had Dominic bring up his entire office—laptops, files, chargers, phones, and what appeared to be an honest-to-goddess espresso machine. He transformed the lounge into Command Central.
I lay in bed, boredom seeping into my bones.
After an hour of mindless video scrolling, my thumb ached and my eyes burned. I tossed my phone aside in defeat.
Scanning the room, I spotted laundry bags on a rack. Some held Hudson’s things, some mine.
I pulled out clean clothes, including underwear, silently praying it was Carmen who packed them rather than Geoffrey. The thought of the dignified older butler handling my thongs was mortifying.
In the bathroom, I slipped on shorts and a tank top under my hospital gown. No way was I flashing my ass through that back slit.
When I peeked into the lounge, Hudson was deep in a video conference, speaking rapid French while frowning at charts on screen. His face had that intense focus that made him look both dangerous and devastatingly attractive.
"He’s magnificent when he’s handling pack business," Akira purred.
"Shut up," I muttered.
I needed air. Space. Movement.
I wandered the corridor like a prison inmate on yard time. Most doors remained closed. Occasional nurses nodded politely but didn’t stop me.
Looking out a window at the grounds below, I decided to find a garden. Surely a fancy hospital had one.
I made it down two floors before stopping abruptly.
Someone caught my eye.
Not just anyone.
