Free Web NovelChapter 138: Chapter 138 It’s Just a Contract Between Us
Christina’s POV
I blinked at Hudson’s intense gaze. "What do you mean?"
"If I hadn’t been here, do you have any idea how dangerous this could’ve gotten?" His voice was dangerously low, controlled in a way that made Akira flatten her ears in my mind.
"I..." I hesitated, feeling suddenly small despite my earlier confidence.
He wasn’t yelling. That somehow made it worse.
"I didn’t know it would turn into this. I heard Miss Davis’s voice note asking me to dinner. I wasn’t going to ignore it."
"And once you realized it was a setup, why didn’t you leave immediately?" Hudson’s jaw tightened.
"I couldn’t. Not right away."
He tugged at his tie and exhaled heavily. "Why didn’t you call me?"
I shrugged, suddenly feeling sheepish. "I wanted to see what they were up to. And then I discovered Gary Maxwell taking bribes. I got, um, interested." I straightened my shoulders. "Besides, he’s from your pack. As your legal wife and mate, isn’t exposing corruption in your company something I should help with?"
Hudson’s expression shifted subtly. "Wife? Mate?" There was a hint of pleased surprise in his voice.
I nodded seriously. "Yes! According to our contract, isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?"
The momentary softness in his eyes hardened at the word ’contract.’ He refocused. "So you deliberately stayed and talked to him, knowing full well he had designs on you?"
"I can take care of myself," I protested. "Fine, maybe I took a risk, but it was minimal. This is a public place. If things went south, I could have screamed for help. And I didn’t touch the wine."
That seemed to placate him somewhat. At least his jaw was no longer clenched tight enough to crack teeth.
"I got him to confess the amount he took and his methods. On record. That should make things easier for the authorities, right?"
Hudson stared at me like he wanted to drag me back in time and shake some sense into me. Then he gave a dry laugh and shook his head.
"Yes, it would, but you didn’t have to put yourself at risk."
"Hey, you’re always saying we’re a couple. Anything that affects me affects you. I figured it works both ways. Your problems are mine too."
He nodded. "That’s true."
I grinned. "So now everything’s settled, you can return to your dinner. Your guests must be wondering where their host vanished to."
"No." He took my hand firmly. "We’re going home."
"What about your guests?"
"Dom can handle it." frёewebnoѵēl.com
His driver was already parked outside. We slid into the back seat, doors shutting with a quiet thud.
I glanced at him. "You walking out like that—are you sure it’s okay?"
"It’s fine.Dominic knows what to say."
"Right."
He turned toward me, making sure our eyes locked before speaking. "Next time something like this happens, call me. Immediately."
"I will." Then I added defensively, "I did text you, though."
"What if I hadn’t seen your text in time?"
"By that logic, maybe you wouldn’t have gotten my call either," I pointed out. "Your phone could be on silent. Or you could be in a meeting..." My voice trailed off under his stern gaze. "Fine. I get it. Call next time. Not text."
"I think you have a point. Our communication is a bit too... human," he said thoughtfully. free𝑤ebnovel.com
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He smiled slightly. "If you truly became my mate, we could communicate through the mate bond. Or if you joined my pack, we’d have the pack bond for mind-linking."
"You mean we could mind-link anytime?"
He nodded.
I didn’t hesitate to refuse. "No way. We’re just in a contract relationship. What happens when the contract expires and we have to separate?"
Hudson’s expression darkened again.
I watched his face carefully, trying to read his mood.
He seemed to be thinking about something, silent for a moment, then sighed. "Fine then. Just call me anytime. Doesn’t matter what it is, you come to me."
I took a breath. "Okay. And thank you. For today. And for what you did with Priya’s parents. Really."
"You don’t have to keep saying thank you. Not between us."
"Got it. I’ll write it down." I leaned back, shifting until I found a comfortable position, then looked over at him. "Actually, I do need your help with something serious."
He straightened immediately. "What is it?"
I kept my face perfectly deadpan. "I haven’t had dinner. I’m starving. Let’s get home. Fast."
He repeated softly. "Home." Then he smiled. "Alright."
***
Hudson updated me two days later—Caroline, Franklin, and Preston were out.
They’d paid their fines, but no charges stuck.
That was all he said.
I didn’t get the full picture until Ysolde called.
"Hey, Chris," she said as soon as I answered. "Random question, how do you feel about weddings?"
"Love the jewelry. Hate the seating charts. Why?"
"My cousin’s getting married. Complete bridezilla, but she’s obsessed with your designs. Wants a custom set."
"Send me her mood board. I’ll do it."
"You’re a lifesaver."
"Liar. How’s Cassian?"
There was a telling pause.
"I resigned from the modeling contract," she said, blatantly changing the subject.
"Again?"
"Got bored with it."
I could practically see her casual shrug through the phone. "You never stick with anything longer than three months."
"Some things aren’t meant for the long haul."
"Cassian included?"
Another pause. Then—
"Guess what," she rushed on. "Word leaked from the Crescent Moon Pack about your parents and your cousin."
"Yeah? Hudson mentioned they got out, but that’s all I know."
"Oh honey, it was absolute chaos. They clung to their ’just a prank’ story. Claimed the doctored audio was AI-generated, just family fun, had no idea it was illegal. The cops couldn’t make anything stick, so they each paid a thousand-dollar fine and walked."
"And then?"
"Caroline lost it the moment they reached home. All ’We’re her only family left in this goddamn world’ this, and ’ungrateful bitch’ that. Franklin looked ready to tear her throat out."
I rubbed my temple. "Sounds about right."
"They kept snapping at each other. Preston told them both to shut it. Serenna picked them up, by the way."
"Of course she did," I muttered. "One big happy family."
"Caroline wouldn’t stop. Our pack member could hear her yapping from across the territory. Preston finally lost it and told her you were mated to power now and all she was doing was whining."
I leaned back in my chair. "Did they mention Hudson?"
