Free Web NovelChapter 153: Chapter 153 Wounded Trust
Hudson’s POV
Hudson glanced at Christina, noticing her downcast mood. He didn’t dare push her further.
Instead, his mind filled with curses directed at Cassian Langford.
Since Christina’s birthday celebration a few days ago, Hudson had noticed changes in her behavior. She used to be more enthusiastic, more vibrant. He was almost certain that when she looked at him, something deeper than friendship flashed in her eyes. Not love, but definitely more than friendship. freewebnσvel.cѳm
But Cassian had ruined everything. All the efforts Hudson had made to get closer to her were demolished by that idiot in one fell swoop.
Hudson knew that if Christina had to choose between him and Ysolde Carlisle, she wouldn’t even hesitate. She would choose Ysolde without a second thought.
His chest had tightened with panic when she’d stormed out of the club earlier. He’d been terrified Christina would blame him for Cassian’s behavior. Thankfully, things hadn’t gone that far, but it still didn’t feel good.
As he silently simmered with anger, his phone buzzed. Christina glanced over, saw the caller ID, and quickly turned her head away.
Hudson’s eye twitched. He promptly ended the call and muted his phone before it could ring again.
Less than a minute later, Cassian sent a message, "How was I supposed to know Ysolde would tell your wife everything? I thought no one knew about Harper and me."
Hudson mentally cursed.
Lycaon growled in frustration, "Cassian’s got the pack politics down to a science, but when it comes to relationships? Complete disaster. And Christina happens to be Ysolde’s best friend, for crying out loud."
Hudson couldn’t agree more. Trust Cassian to bring his new girlfriend around to show off to the boys, completely clueless that girlfriends definitely gossip about their loser exes together.
Another message followed, "I just wanted to help your mate, okay? We talked about her opening a studio the other day, and I thought I could assist."
Hudson didn’t respond. As messages continued flooding in, he blocked Cassian’s number.
When they arrived home, Christina declined Geoffrey’s dinner invitation, saying softly, "I’m tired." She turned to head upstairs.
"Christina," Hudson said, stopping her with just his voice.
She paused halfway up the stairs.
"I’m not like Cassian," he stated.
"I know," she replied immediately.
He nodded slowly. "But your eyes tell me otherwise."
This irritated her.
She hesitated, fingers curling slightly against the railing before lowering her gaze.
"I’m not like him," Hudson repeated. "Don’t lump us together."
"I know. I trust you. It’s just..."
"What is it?" he pressed, taking a step closer.
She exhaled through her nose. "You two have been friends for years."
"That doesn’t mean I share his views on relationships."
Christina tilted her head, trying to articulate something she clearly didn’t want to say. "It’s not just you or Cassian. It’s men like you..."
Hudson raised an eyebrow. "Men like us?"
"Wealthy, young, handsome. The kind who have everything and know it. The kind who can snap their fingers and have women falling at their feet."
"They can throw whatever they want," Hudson said harshly, "I’m not catching."
Christina managed a weak smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I’m not accusing you, I just..."
She paused, then looked away.
Hudson watched her, waiting.
"You know why I liked Niall so much?" she finally asked. "Even when everyone said he wasn’t good enough for me?"
Hudson’s chest tightened at the name.
"Why?"
"Because Niall isn’t a player." She sighed, half laugh, half exhalation. "I know that sounds stupid. He cheated on me with Beatrice. But that’s exactly my point. He only wanted her. Even though we were supposed to be fated mates, his heart was always in her hands. Never in mine. That proves my point."
Hudson didn’t understand the significance but remained silent.
"Niall is selfish, spoiled, emotionally stunned... pick a flaw, he has it. But not this one. He never pursued women just to prove he could have them. The mate bond should have meant I was his only one. But he rejected it for Beatrice. Even though he hurt me, he wasn’t... restless. Cassian is like that. Men like him always are. He’s already showing off his new girlfriend, just like he did with Ysolde’s past. He didn’t even think I might be uncomfortable knowing about it. He doesn’t feel guilty because... well, why would he? That’s just how things are. Everyone’s like that." freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"So Niall is the exception," Hudson said, trying not to sound bitter.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. Cassian—he’s the typical example of that kind of man. For him, women are like sports cars or new yachts, just shiny, exciting things. But only temporarily. After a while, he gets bored and it’s time to let go. Ysolde says she’s over it, but I know she’s not. Because I’ve been through the same thing."
Does that mean you’re not over it? Not over Niall? Hudson wanted to ask.
But he never asked questions he wasn’t prepared to hear the answers to.
She had given him one that day when she was drunk in the car.
But what if things had changed since she’d sobered up?
He couldn’t promise her he’d never become like Cassian.
Not convincingly.
Words were cheap.
So instead, he moved aside and let her pass.
She walked into her room and closed the door behind her.
Hudson stood there for a long time, heart heavy, staring blankly at where she had just been.
Then, as if waking from a trance, he pulled out his phone.
He unblocked Cassian’s number.
"Control your women. If you upset Christina again, we’re done. No matter how long we’ve been friends—I won’t let you mess this up."
"What’s got you so worked up?" Lycaon’s voice rumbled in his mind.
"She still thinks about him," Hudson replied internally. "After everything Niall did to her."
"Mate bonds don’t break easily," Lycaon reminded him. "Even rejected ones leave scars."
Hudson clenched his jaw. He would prove to Christina that not all powerful Alphas were the same. He would show her what true devotion looked like—not Niall’s obsessive fixation on Beatrice, but something deeper. Something real.
He just needed time to make her see it.
