Free Web NovelChapter 186: Chapter 186 Perhaps I’m In Love With Him
Christina’s POV
It must have been the New Year’s atmosphere—the crowded streets, the brilliant fireworks, and my racing heart.
Hudson’s dark eyes reflected my face as I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips against his.
My lips gently brushed the smile at the corner of his mouth. Warm, soft.
Even with all the noise around us, my enhanced wolf hearing caught his heartbeat speeding up for just a moment.
My face felt hot, definitely from the cold night air.
"Happy New Year," I whispered.
Akira purred in my mind. "I’m not complaining, but why didn’t some mistletoe suddenly appear here?"
Thirty minutes later, we left Midtown Crossing.
Everything felt strange. The same streets, but completely different somehow.
My hands were numb from the cold. My ears were still ringing. I couldn’t tell if it was from the wind or my short-circuited brain.
When we got back to the apartment, my legs were so cramped I had to grab the counter to pull off my boots.
I nearly passed out in the shower. The water was scalding, but I didn’t care.
I crawled into bed, turned off the lights, and stared at the ceiling.
I rolled over. Twice.
I closed my eyes. Then opened them again.
Sleep wouldn’t come as my mind kept replaying what happened at Midtown—like a broken record, stuck on repeat.
His face in the bright lights, the noise, the excitement, and the way I’d crashed into him, like I’d been waiting for that moment all year.
I kicked off the covers and flopped onto my stomach.
Someone knocked on the door. Three soft taps.
"Can I come in?" Hudson’s voice was quiet.
I sat up. My hair was sticking to one side of my face.
"Yeah, what’s up?"
He walked in with his arms crossed, like he didn’t trust himself not to touch anything.
"I can’t sleep."
I blinked at him. "Okay... and?"
"So I’m sleeping with you."
I froze.
"We can use my bed," he added casually.
"Can I say no? It’s not cold in here. The heat works fine."
"I wasn’t asking."
"Are there other options?" I asked.
Without missing a beat, Hudson said, "We use your bed."
I stared at him.
He stared back like I’d already said yes.
I lasted about four seconds.
It was almost two in the morning.
I hadn’t been sleeping anyway, but my body was starting to go numb.
"Fine, stay here then."
He crossed the room in two quick steps, pulled back my covers, and dropped onto the bed.
He moved so fast I saw a flash of ceiling, then felt the mattress dip under his weight.
I reached over and switched off the light. "Let’s sleep, it’s late." free𝑤ebnovel.com
It didn’t feel weird. Not at all. Like we did this at home all the time.
My body didn’t tense up. I didn’t scoot to the edge.
He lay next to me as naturally as breathing.
The bed wasn’t huge—if either of us turned over, we’d end up on top of each other.
So I gave in and rolled toward him.
His arm wrapped around my waist, like it had been waiting to do exactly that.
He held me like he’d done it a hundred times before. I felt his breath on the top of my head, his chin resting in my hair. I let my hand rest on his chest, wondering if I should hug him back.
I stayed awake for a full hour.
Curled against his chest, I yawned and finally let my hand settle on his waist.
Just as I was drifting off, I saw Midtown again.
His face in the lights, the packed crowd, the brilliant fireworks.
That kiss. The surprised look in his eyes, that confident smile, and the moment he kissed me back deeper.
***
I didn’t go anywhere for the next two days.
I stayed inside working.
Drawing until my fingers cramped. Going through old notes. Organizing reference photos I’d been putting off for weeks.
The competition deadline was coming up fast, and I couldn’t waste any time.
Hudson stayed too.
He spent most of his time barefoot in T-shirts, living on coffee.
When I asked why he wasn’t working, he’d shrug and mumble something about projects being on hold, no new assignments. Pack business was being handled by his Beta Dominic for now.
I didn’t push it. I liked the quiet.
My favorite spot was the swing in the backyard.
Every evening I’d take a cup of ginger tea out there, letting the breeze brush against my legs as I swayed until I forgot I was supposed to feel stressed.
With each swing, the chains creaked, and the air smelled like pine trees and wet earth, making my skin feel cool and refreshed.
The swing was built for two people. A wide seat with a sturdy frame and white paint on the armrests that was already starting to fade.
Sometimes I’d sit there alone, pencil in hand, sketchbook open on my lap.
Sometimes Hudson would join me. The air moved slowly here. No car horns. No phone notifications going off every three minutes.
We’d left all that behind. When we sat there, I often found myself watching him.
In the soft light, his features looked sharper, his jawline cast in shadow, a streak of orange sunset across his cheekbones.
His hands always rested casually on his knees.
He wouldn’t speak unless I did first.
I wished time would stop, frozen forever in this moment, in this house.
I’d told myself not to feel anything, not to fall for him first.
But I couldn’t help it. freёwebnoѵel.com
Between the silence and the space he gave me, I wasn’t just looking anymore—I was longing.
I was falling in love with him. No—I had already fallen.
I wasn’t foolish enough to call it anything else.
I told myself I’d deal with it after the competition.
I’d give him a real answer then.
***
January 3rd. Finals day.
Eight hours of work, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., no breaks, no leaving.
Twenty of us had made it this far.
Supposedly the best.
Each of us got our own cubicle. No phones allowed. No talking. No looking at anyone else’s work.
We had to create complete designs from scratch.
Afterward, we’d present our ideas and get our first score.
Then the judges would argue behind closed doors and make their final decision.
Scores were weighted, combining both rounds.
Winner takes all.
The venue was a fancy conference center on the east side of the river, all glass, way too hot inside, with the hall packed with brand sponsors pretending not to stare.
Hudson drove me there.
We got there right at eight.
I sat in the passenger seat, gripping my bag strap.
"I think I’m a little nervous," I said, staring at the building like it might attack me.
