Free Web NovelChapter 164: Chapter 164 Touch What’s Mine and Pay
Hudson’s POV
After dinner, Hudson remained in his study, watching the light shift across the edge of his desk. He tried to let go of the incident, but couldn’t.
The Alpha of The Frostpelt Pack had accused Christina, his mate, without a shred of evidence.
Lycaon snarled inside him, his fury matching Hudson’s own. "Christina did everything for their pack, endured years of neglect and pain. Now they blame her for their problems? Unacceptable!"
Hudson nodded in agreement with his wolf. After seeing the evidence Christina sent, Niall had maintained complete silence. No apology. Pure cowardice.
Christina hadn’t demanded an apology, but Hudson couldn’t let it slide.
He immediately sent a mind-link to Dominic, his Beta.
"Find out where Beatrice Vance is receiving treatment," Hudson ordered the moment Dominic connected.
Twelve minutes later, Dominic reported back. "She’s at a private clinic, Alpha. The same one that issued the miscarriage report."
Hudson stared at the clinic name. He knew the director personally.
He dialed directly, "Check Beatrice Vance’s records. I want to know if they’ve been tampered with."
The clinic director called back within fifteen minutes, sounding both angry and embarrassed.
"One of our doctors took a bribe to change the report submission time from morning to afternoon. I’ve suspended him immediately."
Dominic called again moments later. "Someone spotted Beatrice at another hospital just after nine yesterday morning. Security footage confirms it. She didn’t stay long. I’m forwarding you the original miscarriage report now."
Everything fell into place. Beatrice had miscarried that morning. After getting confirmation from the hospital and realizing they couldn’t alter their records, she bribed someone at a private clinic. Then she visited Christina’s studio, staged the confrontation, and went to the clinic where documents showed she miscarried that afternoon.
Hudson leaned back in his chair, his lip curling with disgust.
Pathetic.
Did she really think no one would investigate? That she could pull off such an obvious scheme without consequences?
She had one point right—Niall Granger hadn’t bothered to verify any facts before viciously attacking Christina.
But that didn’t mean everyone was as careless as Niall.
Hudson called Dominic again.
"Send everything we have to Clive Granger. Hospital surveillance, the forged report, all of it."
"Understood, Alpha."
"Add a message. If he wants his family to remain in Highrise City with his pack intact, he’d better control his son."
"Yes, Alpha."
Half an hour later, Dominic sent a video.
The footage showed a hospital room. Beatrice’s sobs echoed in the background. The camera focused on Clive as he slapped Niall across the face.
"You blamed Christina without doing any investigation. Apologize to her," Clive demanded.
Niall stood rigidly, one hand covering his cheek.
"I’m sorry," he mumbled toward the camera, barely audible.
Before Hudson finished watching, Dominic called again.
"Clive Granger says he’s dealt with Niall. They know Beatrice orchestrated the whole thing. He wants to know if the video satisfies you."
"Tell him that wasn’t punishment, it was theater. And I’m not in the mood for performances."
Ten minutes later, a second video arrived.
This time, Clive struck his son three times.
Not gentle taps for the camera.
One blow split the skin at Niall’s mouth. His cheeks flushed red, and his eyelids began to swell.
Hudson played the recording twice.
Dominic called. "Alpha Clive says this time it’s real. He says if it doesn’t satisfy you, he’s willing to bring Niall to your office or pack house, wherever you prefer. He’ll get on his knees to apologize if necessary. He also wants you to know that Beatrice will be confined from now on." ƒreewebɳovel.com
Hudson slowly rubbed his jaw. "Tell him I’m... not pleased, but I’m considering leniency."
"You want him to think these videos are effective?"
"Exactly. String him along. Make him think he’s purchased a little goodwill, but not enough to feel secure."
"Got it."
"Also, Dom, start buying shares in all companies under The Frostpelt Pack. Anything publicly traded. Be discreet. Use proxies. Keep the transactions clean."
"Yes, Alpha. I’ll activate the secondary fund. We won’t notify the Granger family until we’re well past the 8% threshold."
"Good. I want Clive focused on Niall, not boardroom politics."
Hudson stood and walked to the window.
"And start spreading rumors about Niall and Beatrice’s marriage. Make it sound like they’re having problems."
"Any specific angle?"
"They’re fighting. He’s seeing other women. Get creative. I want the public to think they’re heading for divorce. Once the rumors spread, Clive Granger will do anything to prove their marriage is solid." Hudson smirked.
The marriage had already caused scandal when the packs discovered Beatrice wasn’t truly of Alpha blood from The Crescent Pack.
"He won’t risk divorce rumors, especially so soon after the wedding."
"Right. Keep The Frostpelt Pack confused and on the defensive."
"Understood, Alpha."
After the call ended, silence filled the study.
Hudson leaned back, rolling a crystal tumbler between his fingers. The whiskey barely moved.
He glanced down the hallway. Christina’s bedroom door was still closed, light spilling from beneath it.
What was she doing? What would she say if she knew what he’d done tonight?
It wasn’t illegal. Not entirely. But it wasn’t clean, either.
Would she be disappointed? Hudson wondered.
He’d gone from an exiled Alpha kicked out to Europe by his family to taking over as leader of the biggest pack in the North. That kind of power play required ruthlessness and iron tactics. This was a game of power, not a family picnic.
His stepmother had wanted him dead overseas. He’d had to use every method available just to survive.
In Europe, building his company had been warfare without bullets. His competitors had disappeared. Sometimes quietly. Sometimes with noise.
He survived because he never hesitated, because he knew how to use a gun, how to kill.
He was a merciless Alpha—bloodthirsty, cold, eliminating obstacles when necessary. But he’d never shown Christina that side of himself. With her, he was gentle, attentive, understanding.
"Would she leave if she knew who you really are?" Lycaon asked quietly. "A man who gets what he wants by any means necessary?"
The thought of her leaving made his chest tighten.
If he wanted to stay with her, he couldn’t be the man he used to be. But could he change so fundamentally?
Hudson stared at his reflection in the window glass, wondering which version of himself was real—the ruthless Alpha or the man who’d fallen for Christina.
