Free Web NovelChapter 139: Chapter 139 Being Buttered Up
Christina’s POV
"Plenty. Serenna and Caroline were trying to figure out when you two got together. Caroline kept insisting you must have been seeing him behind Niall’s back. She said you’d claimed you were going to bring home a new mate when they were pressuring you to marry that wealthy old Alpha from Silver Heights pack."
"Leonard Shaw?" I frowned.
"Well, she kept saying that’s why they didn’t force the issue when everything went crazy, especially when Beatrice was rushing to marry Niall. Your parents were busy planning her wedding and didn’t have time to arrange yours."
I snorted. Between the Maxwell situation, the Priya drama, and everything else, I’d barely had time to breathe, let alone introduce Hudson to my family. Not that I wanted to.
"What else did they say?" I asked.
"Alpha Franklin finally snapped. Said your marriage was the best thing to happen to the pack."
"Of course he did," I replied dryly. "Always looking for the angle."
"And Preston suggested they call to apologize. Said they needed you on their side now."
"I didn’t get any call from him."
"I think Caroline tried to reach you." freёwebnovel.com
"Oh, I blocked her number."
Ysolde laughed. "Smart move."
Not smart enough, apparently.
The phone rang until the last possible second before I finally answered. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"What do you want?" My voice was flat because I couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore.
I had blocked Caroline, Preston, Catherine, and Serenna from our pack mind-link. I was basically one step away from leaving the Crescent Moon Pack entirely, but considering joining another pack required Alpha approval and a whole screening process, modern society had its protocols, so I’d stayed. Technically part of the pack but never going back.
The difference between me and a lone wolf or rogue was simply that I could legally remain in Highrise City.
I’d blocked every number I could think of. Even set my phone to filter all unknown calls.
But one number slipped through.
Franklin rarely called me directly. He always contacted me through Caroline, so I’d completely forgotten I still had his number saved.
The moment I answered, he launched into apologies for his previous behavior. "Christina, darling, we just got out. That whole thing was a misunderstanding. I want to apologize—"
"If that’s all, I’m hanging up now."
"No, no, wait—" His tone shifted abruptly. "I was wondering if you might have time to come home for dinner?"
He said "dinner," but I heard "trap."
"You really think I’d sit down for a meal with you people again?"
Silence. Then a pathetic little throat clearing. "That’s all water under the bridge. We’ll treat you properly this time, I promise. Give you a proper welcome. Everything will be arranged nicely."
He hesitated, then added, "You said you found a better mate, but you never brought him home. We might have neglected you because of your sister and Niall’s situation. But how could you not tell us about your wedding? Not a word. We missed everything. When you come, bring Alpha Hudson with you, won’t you? I’d very much like to meet my son-in-law."
"Not happening."
"I know you’re busy. But surely you can spare an hour for dinner—"
"I’ll think about it." I hung up before he could respond.
Then I blocked his number too.
I tossed my phone onto the break room counter and stared at the coffee I’d just brewed.
Akira growled low in my mind. "He reeks of desperation even through the phone."
"Tell me about it," I muttered.
My father was such a bootlicker, nothing like what an Alpha should be. He groveled to anyone with higher status or stronger power, then turned into a complete tyrant with those beneath him. A textbook social climber.
When he thought marrying Niall was some divine blessing for me, suddenly I was his precious daughter. When Niall and I broke up, I became the family disappointment. When Beatrice married Niall, I turned into yesterday’s garbage while she became his golden child.
Now, lo and behold, I’m with Hudson—someone far more powerful and accomplished than Niall could ever dream of being. Sure, we’re just bound by a contract, but that’s beside the point.
And predictably, dear old Dad suddenly remembers he has another daughter. Cue the fake concern and artificial warmth.
Unfortunately for him, I’m no longer that pathetic little girl begging for Daddy’s approval and Mommy’s love.
I haven’t even abused my position as Luna of The Sabreridge Pack to make his life miserable, and he still has the audacity to contact me? The nerve actually makes me despise him more.
Well, my good mood just went down the drain.
I couldn’t even be bothered to drink the coffee I’d made.
The office atmosphere felt weird today. Everyone seemed unnaturally cheerful.And they were all working with suspicious dedication. Gone were the usual gossip clusters around the coffee machine, the casual snack breaks, and the occasional Netflix binge I’d catch someone streaming at their desk.
The work environment made me feel like I’d wandered into some silicon valley tech startup or academic research facility, not a jewelry design studio where creativity was supposed to flow with a little chaos.
What made it even more bizarre was everyone’s attitude toward me had done a complete 180.
People who used to barely acknowledge my existence were suddenly offering me artisanal cookies and flashing me those plastic smiles you see in pharmaceutical commercials.
Right before lunch, a care package appeared on the desk across from mine. That particular spot was usually ground zero for office drama, but today it looked like someone had ordered from Whole Foods’ premium section. Inside were imported Belgian chocolates and gourmet popcorn chips that I wouldn’t eat if I were stranded on a desert island.
And the people I actually used to have normal conversations with? They’d transformed into something out of a corporate training video. Polite. Careful. Walking on eggshells like I might spontaneously combust.
I tried to focus on my sketches, but every few minutes I could feel eyes boring into the back of my head.
Yet whenever I looked up, everyone was suddenly laser-focused on their screens like they were defusing bombs instead of designing earrings.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed answers.
I got up and cornered Zara, one of the few people in the studio I actually considered a friend, for some interrogation.
