Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 No Apology Necessary

Christina’s POV

Alexis licked her lips and nodded slightly, trying to stay calm.

She failed miserably.

Emmett wasn’t finished. "Ysolde is my sister, not just Cassian’s ex-girlfriend. You better understand exactly who she is. If you want to start something, make sure you and your family can handle the consequences."

I resisted the urge to applaud.

Alexis kept her head down, muttering flatly, "Understood."

Cassian interjected, "Good, this was all a misunderstanding that’s now resolved. Let’s go."

This time it was Hudson who stopped him.

"She apologized. You haven’t."

Cassian blinked in confusion. "Me?"

He pointed at himself like Hudson had mistaken him for someone else entirely.

"I wasn’t even there when they started arguing. I have no idea what was said. What exactly am I apologizing for?"

Hudson looked at me. "I heard you shouting at Ysolde."

Cassian scoffed, staring at Hudson like he’d sprouted antlers.

"Are you kidding me? I said three words and that’s ’shouting’?" He waved a hand in my direction. "Her tone was much worse than mine. Did she apologize to me? No. I’m the one who should be hearing ’I’m sorry, Alpha Cassian, I apologize for disrespecting you.’"

Hudson shrugged casually. "Didn’t hear her say anything offensive."

He exchanged a quick glance with Emmett, who nodded in agreement. "Neither did I."

Cassian stared at them both like they’d joined forces in some bizarre conspiracy against him.

His face flushed crimson from neck to hairline.

"You’ve got to be joking. Selective hearing much? You heard everything perfectly but somehow missed her voice? Fine, whatever. You want an apology? Here it is—" He whipped his head toward me. "I’m sorry. Happy now?"

"Akira, I think his Alpha ego just took a fatal blow," I thought to my wolf.

"Good," she replied with satisfaction. "He deserves the humiliation after standing by while his bitchy girlfriend insulted our friend."

I could tell Cassian didn’t feel remotely sorry. He was just trapped between two powerful Alphas—especially Hudson, whose Sabreridge pack was the most influential in the Northern territories. He had no choice but to swallow his pride.

He glared at me, breathing heavily. "Is that enough?"

I rolled my eyes in response.

He turned, ready to storm off again.

"Wait," I called out. "You still haven’t apologized to Ysolde."

He froze mid-step.

For a moment, I thought he might actually shift.

He yanked at his tie like it was choking him.

A shirt button popped off, hitting the floor with a tiny clink.

"You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. What exactly am I apologizing for now? I didn’t say anything to her."

"You chose sides," I said. "You knew who started it, yet you still backed Alexis. Which means you’re implying Ysolde and I are liars."

Cassian exhaled forcefully through his nose.

The muscles below his cheekbones tensed.

"Wow, he looks like he’s calculating the exact cost of murdering us all," Akira commented.

"Probably factoring in the carpet cleaning," I silently replied.

We all stood there, forming a hostile circle around him.

"Fine!" He turned toward Ysolde, arms spread wide. "I’m sorry, okay? Satisfied now?"

He pointed at Hudson, then at Emmett.

"You two want one too? Take a number. I’m sorry, Hudson. I’m sorry, Emmett. All of this? Completely my fault. I’m an absolute disaster."

He was shouting by now.

Hudson barely spared him a glance. "We’re good. Just go."

Cassian turned and left.

Alexis followed behind him, her heels clicking rapidly against the floor.

The moment they disappeared, the atmosphere changed.

Everyone relaxed.

I turned directly to Ysolde.

"Are you okay?" I grabbed her arm, checking her over, still not convinced Alexis hadn’t done something while I couldn’t hear.

"I’m fine," she said quietly. "She just talked trash. Nothing major. I’m not bothered."

"Good."

Emmett stepped closer. "Thank you. For standing up for Ysolde earlier."

I shrugged. "No problem."

He nodded at me, then started walking away.

Ysolde followed behind him. freewebnσvel.cѳm

She turned back and flashed me a grin. "He’s still fuming. I’m going to make sure he’s not punching trees or something."

After they left, Hudson and I returned to the reception hall.

The wedding ceremony was long over.

Most chairs were empty now, with only a few guests lingering around the dessert table or gathering their belongings.

We walked outside together.

The cold hit immediately. Goosebumps rose on my arms, and I flinched backward when a gust of wind blew past.

"Is it snowing? Why is it so cold?" I rubbed my arms.

Hudson pulled a scarf from beneath his jacket—I had no idea where he’d been hiding it and wrapped it around my neck.

The wool was thick, still warm from his body heat.

"Don’t catch a cold," he murmured. "I need to stop by the office. I can drop you off on the way."

"I have my car. I’ll drive to the studio."

"Alright. Drive safely. Dinner tonight?"

"Yeah, text me."

Hudson never made it to dinner.

Just after seven, he messaged that something came up.

A business dinner or some last-minute arrangement.

He told me not to wait up.

I ate alone on the couch, half-watching two episodes of a crime drama I wasn’t particularly interested in.

Before ten, I got up to prepare for bed.

That’s when my phone vibrated.

Riley.

We hadn’t spoken since Ysolde dragged me to the grand opening of her new bar.

Her name appearing on my screen at this hour could only mean one thing.

I answered before the second ring.

"Chrissy, thank god. Ysolde’s here. She’s drunk. Like, really drunk. I can’t leave the bar—there’s a delivery waiting and my manager is off tonight. Can you come get her? I don’t want to call Emmett. He’ll flip out."

"I’m on my way."

I hung up, stripped off my pajamas, and pulled on the first sweatshirt I could find.

Five minutes later, I was in my car driving downtown.

When I arrived, Riley had someone waiting for me outside the bar.

A young man in a black shirt with too much gel in his hair waved me over, leading me through a side corridor.

From the hallway, the private room appeared empty. No lights, no sound.

"Is this the right—?"

Before I could finish, the server flipped on the overhead light.