Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 103: Chapter 103 The Joy of Juicy Gossip

Christina’s POV

Hudson walked down the hallway.

Black button-down loose against his muscular frame, sleeves rolled to expose powerful forearms, dark trousers highlighting his imposing height. Nothing flashy, but everything about him commanded attention.

He carried a beige cashmere wrap, which he draped over my shoulders with unexpected gentleness. His hands enveloped mine, warming them instantly.

"You’re freezing," he said. "Hospital gowns aren’t exactly winter wear."

"I’m fine." I pulled the wrap closer, grateful for its warmth. "Just needed to escape that room for five minutes."

"Doctor specifically mentioned bed rest." His tone left no room for argument, the natural command of an Alpha lacing his words.

"Fine, fine." I took his offered arm.

"Hey!" Niall finally found his voice after being thoroughly ignored. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Hudson turned to look at Niall.

Niall took a step back. His cocky attitude vanished instantly.

"If I hear you disrespecting me or my mate again," Hudson said with deadly calm, "you’ll wish jail was your biggest problem."

"I didn’t say anything," Niall said, but his voice shook.

Hudson’s eyes narrowed. "Didn’t you just call her ’fake’? People with poor memories tend to make the same mistakes twice. Dangerous habit."

Niall’s face went white. He opened his mouth, then closed it without saying anything.

"Alpha Hudson asked you a question," I reminded him sweetly.

Beatrice’s eyes widened as she watched the interaction. She’d probably never seen Niall, her precious Alpha, reduced to this submissive state.

"Understood," Niall finally muttered, eyes lowered.

"Good." Hudson turned back to me. "Let’s go."

I beamed up at him, thoroughly enjoying Niall’s discomfort. "Gladly."

My phone chimed. I checked the notification and couldn’t help grinning at Niall.

"Well, look at that. Some good news for once."

Niall frowned. "What?"

I held up my phone screen. "Message from Finn Stone. You know, Alpha of Ravenclaw pack? Also happens to be my lawyer. Court accepted my harassment case against you. Check your mailbox for the summons."

"What summons? What harassment case?"

"Stalking, threatening behavior, verbal abuse in public places... He thinks we have a solid case."

Niall looked like he wanted to lunge forward, but one glance at Hudson froze him in place. Hudson didn’t even need to growl; his presence alone was enough.

As we walked away, Beatrice clutched Niall’s arm. "Niall, darling! When are we telling the pack about the wedding? Everyone’s waiting for the announcement!"

"What announcement?"

"The Luna announcement! You said I’d be Luna of the Frostpelt Pack!"

"When the hell did I say that?"

"Just now in the hallway! You promised..."

The elevator doors closed, cutting off their argument.

"Enjoying yourself?" Hudson asked once we were alone.

"More than I should," I admitted. "I came out for air and bumped into Highrise City’s least eligible bachelor. Can I leave this place yet?"

"Doctor wants you under observation for at least two more days."

"I feel completely fine."

"It’s not negotiable." His tone was gentle but final. Pure Alpha authority.

Akira stirred inside me. "I like when he gets all commanding like that. Very sexy."

"Hush," I mentally replied.

"Could you ask Geoffrey to bring my tablet?" I asked Hudson. "The one with my design software."

"Consider it done."

Comfortable silence fell between us as we returned to my room. Once I was settled back in bed, Hudson took the chair beside me.

"So Beatrice is pregnant," he remarked casually.

I raised an eyebrow. "Your hearing is impressive even for an Alpha."

His lips curved slightly. "The pregnancy report she was waving around helped. Subtle isn’t in her vocabulary."

"Definitely not. The Crescent pack’s going to have a field day with this gossip."

"Niall doesn’t seem thrilled about becoming a father."

"Or a husband," I added. "But apparently they’re getting married. He even had the nerve to invite me."

"And your response?"

"I’d rather watch paint dry while getting a root canal."

Hudson looked thoughtful. I recognized that calculating look.

"What are you plotting?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Nothing that concerns you."

I didn’t believe him for a second. In our month together, I’d learned to spot when the wheels in his mind were turning. Something was definitely brewing.

My suspicions were confirmed that evening when Ysolde visited, bearing flowers, snacks, and juicy gossip.

"Niall’s all over the wolf community forums," she announced, settling into the visitor’s chair.

"What? Did he finally do something interesting besides making bad decisions?"

Ysolde handed me her phone. "See for yourself."

The top post on WolfWatch (the underground social network exclusive to shifters) showed a clear picture of Niall and Beatrice in the hospital hallway.

[FROSTPELT ALPHA SCANDAL—Niall Granger impregnates sister of former fiancée, questions arise about Luna selection]

The comments section was brutal,

"This isn’t how an Alpha chooses a Luna..."

"Frostpelt elders must be furious..."

"The Crescent pack allowed this disrespect?"

A second headline caught my eye from the human financial news.

[Granger Development Group heir faces paternity scandal, shareholders concerned]

Someone had captured high-resolution photos of Niall and Beatrice’s hospital scene, complete with the pregnancy report prominently visible. The article questioned Niall’s judgment and responsibility as CEO.

"Unnamed sources" confirmed no engagement had been announced despite the pregnancy, raising concerns about his leadership capabilities.

"After all," Ysolde read in an exaggerated news anchor voice, "if he can’t honor commitments in his personal life, what about his responsibility to thousands of GDG employees and investors?"

"His father must be thrilled," I snorted.

"I bet the pack elders are even less thrilled. Word is they wanted him to choose a Luna from one of the northern packs to strengthen alliances."

"Wonder who leaked this," I mused, scrolling through the comments.

"I figured it was you," Ysolde admitted.

"Me? I left my telephoto lens and reporter contacts at home."

"Hmm." She shrugged. "Doesn’t matter who did it. Whoever it was clearly has excellent timing."

By morning, the story had exploded. Both wolf communities and human business news were covering it extensively. Granger Development Group stocks had dropped four points.

"Was this your doing?" I asked Hudson as he brought in breakfast.

"Hospital hallways are public spaces. Anyone could have taken those photos." His expression revealed nothing.

"That’s not an answer."

He met my eyes directly. "Does it matter if it was?"

I thought about it for a moment, then smiled. "I guess not. Karma works in mysterious ways."