Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 206: Chapter 206 The Unshakable Trust

Hudson’s POV

The man was tall, thin, and sweating. His camera strap twisted awkwardly around his neck like a noose.

One of the restaurant staff pointed at him accusingly. "Found him hiding in the stairwell. Phone still in hand. Same account that posted those photos."

Rowan stepped forward. "Was that you last time too? Who hired you?"

The man glanced nervously around the room. Six pairs of eyes bore into him, waiting. His lips trembled before any sound came out.

"Nobody sent me," he finally mumbled. "Just wanted the clicks. That’s all. I swear."

"Liar." I moved toward him, letting my Alpha presence fill the room. Lycaon stirred inside me, angry and ready.

The man’s knees gave out instantly. He collapsed hard against the floor, palms slapping against the expensive hardwood, breath caught in his throat.

Cassian grabbed his collar and yanked him upright. "We’ll see if he talks with fewer teeth."

The door slammed behind them as Cassian dragged him out. Two dull thuds followed, then silence. freёwebnoѵel.com

Cassian returned minutes later with his sleeves pushed up to his elbows. "He cracked. Says someone hired him." He dragged the man back in by one arm. "Go on. Tell them."

The man’s face showed no bruises or swelling, but his entire body trembled. He sank down onto the floor, legs awkwardly splayed beneath him.

"Never saw her in person," he muttered. "Just phone calls. Female, sounded young. Paid me cash. That’s it. I only have her number."

He recited it slowly, digits slurring together.

I unlocked my phone. The number was already saved in my contacts. I called immediately.

The line disconnected. Automated voice: Number powered off.

I tried again. Same result.

Cassian leaned in, squinting at my screen. "Why are you calling Christina right now?" His expression shifted. "Wait. That’s Christina’s number? She wouldn’t do that. No way."

Rowan’s brow furrowed in apparent concern. "I’ve met Christina before. She never struck me as someone who would do something like this."

I watched Rowan from the corner of my eye. She’d been suspiciously quiet since the photo surfaced, just observing. Now suddenly she was defending Christina?

"Could be a mix-up," Rowan suggested, glancing at the man on the floor. "Maybe he saved the wrong number."

"I didn’t!" The man’s voice rose desperately. "That’s the number that called me. Every time. Look, I’ll show you!"

He pulled out a scratched phone, tapped frantically, and held it up.

I didn’t even glance at it. If someone was trying to frame Christina, they’d plant every detail perfectly.

The others gathered around his screen.

"It’s the same number he gave."

"Multiple calls. Looks legit."

"Shit. It really is Luna Christina’s."

"When did they even get married?"

Their voices dropped to whispers as I turned my head toward them. The silence that followed felt thick and dangerous.

I stared directly at the man. "You’re lying."

His eyes widened. "I’m not! I’ve got no reason to lie! If I made this up, that wolf there would’ve broken my jaw by now! She called and told me to follow you. She wanted to know who you were meeting, who you were seeing. That’s everything. I swear!"

One of the executives chuckled nervously. "Looks like Luna Christina is the jealous type. I get it. My mate used to do the same thing."

Another chimed in, voice deliberately light. "Yeah, it’s actually sweet in a way. At least it’s not some random paparazzo."

I didn’t respond. The air in the room seemed to thin. Lycaon’s anger pulsed.

Rowan spoke again, her tone clipped and breezy. "Can’t blame her entirely. She probably just panicked. You’re always out, dinner meetings, late nights... She’s young. Got in her head, that’s all. She likely thought this was the only way to make sure you weren’t... straying."

She smiled faintly as she said the last word.

I stepped forward, positioning myself directly in front of the man on the floor. Without warning, I drove my heel into the back of his hand.

He screamed, spine arching. He tried yanking his arm back but I pressed harder.

"Tell me again," I said quietly. "Who sent you?"

His mouth opened, but only sharp gasps came out.

"This man is still hiding something," Lycaon growled. "Use the command."

I felt my eyes change.

"Tell me who hired you," I said in Alpha command. "Tell me everything, now."

The man’s body went rigid. His face contorted in pain as the Alpha command took hold.

His mouth opened in a silent scream.

"Ch-Christina," he gasped out, his body shaking violently. "Your Luna. She called me, paid me cash. Wanted photos of you with other women. Said... said she was checking on you."

The executives exchanged glances. Cassian’s eyes widened in shock.

"That’s impossible," Lycaon growled. "Our mate wouldn’t do this."

I increased the pressure of my command, pushing harder than I normally would. "Tell me the truth. NOW."

The man convulsed, tears streaming down his face. "I swear! It was her number! She paid me! Please stop, it hurts!"

Rowan stepped closer, voice softer now. "He doesn’t seem to be lying. Maybe it’s worth calling Christina directly? One more try couldn’t hurt."

I lifted my foot slowly. The man curled his injured hand against his chest, sobbing quietly.

Even with such a powerful Alpha command, he still claimed it was Christina. Unless there’s an Alpha stronger than me who had already controlled him, but that’s impossible in Highrise City.

So he genuinely believes it was Christina—someone made him think that, which means he doesn’t think he’s lying.

But regardless of what really happened, I believe Christina would never do something like that. After all, that night she was still upset about the photos and even confront me about it. Thinking back to that night, I keep feeling like I missed something important.

I tried Christina’s number again. Still nothing but the automated message.

She should have left the event by now. Her phone should be on.

"Guess she’s panicking," someone muttered near the wall. "Must’ve realized she got caught."

Rowan nodded. "Don’t be too hard on her. She probably didn’t think it through. No real harm done. She caught me in the shot, but who cares? I don’t blame her. Just talk to her when you get home."

I looked at her directly. "It wasn’t Christina."

Rowan’s lips parted. "How can you be so sure? He just confessed under your Alpha command."

"My mate would never go behind my back like this. This man’s story doesn’t add up."

"But..."

"If Christina really hired him, she would have demanded the photos be sent directly to her, not leaked online for everyone to see. The photos would be complete, not edited—that post deliberately cut Cassian out. And what kind of Luna uses her personal number to contact a photographer directly?"

I watched Rowan’s face carefully as I spoke. Her lashes fluttered nervously. Her pupils contracted.

"Actually, I wouldn’t mind if she did check up on me. I’d find it endearing." I paused, watching the room fall silent. "By the way, my mate is at an event in Sunset City. She doesn’t know I’m here tonight. Yet this man was sent specifically to this location, which means someone knew my exact movements."