Free Web NovelChapter 240: Chapter 240 Unexpected Trail Partners
Christina’s POV
Ysolde stepped forward. "Hand them over. Now."
The mother shrieked and slapped Ysolde’s arm hard enough to leave a red mark. "You psycho! He’s just a child! You can’t grab him like that!"
The boy immediately burst into loud, fake crying, complete with crocodile tears.
The manager turned to us, not the actual troublemakers. "You’re disrupting business. If this continues, we will call the police."
I clenched my jaw. "Go ahead. Please. Call them."
The restaurant doors swung open, and a familiar figure walked in wearing a black windbreaker and gray joggers. freёwebnoѵel.com
The tension in my shoulders immediately melted away.
Hudson’s eyes scanned the scene, landing briefly on me to check if I was okay.
I gave him a small nod, letting him know I had the situation under control.
He turned his attention to the manager. "If I hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have known my hotel was being run so incompetently."
Bruce went pale. "A-Alpha, I didn’t realize..."
Another man rushed in, slightly out of breath. "Alpha Hudson! My sincerest apologies! I was in a meeting."
He skidded to a halt beside Hudson, extending his hand with an eager smile. "I’m Carter Kairo, general manager."
Hudson ignored the offered handshake, keeping his gaze fixed on Bruce.
Carter awkwardly lowered his hand and cleared his throat. "We’ll handle this immediately."
"You have one hour," Hudson said coldly. "I want a full report on his connections to this family. Then fire him."
Carter nodded frantically. "Yes, Alpha. Of course. I’ll investigate personally."
Bruce stumbled backward, bumping into a nearby table.
The father cleared his throat nervously. "We didn’t mean any trouble. This woman here..."
Hudson cut him off. "That woman is my Luna."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Hudson turned back to Carter. "If she ever has a single problem at this establishment again, you’re finished."
"Absolutely, Alpha. I completely understand."
The boy finally cowered behind his mother’s legs, suddenly aware of the trouble he’d caused.
Hudson extended his hand toward the little thief.
The simple gesture made the boy shrink back. He handed over the headphones without protest, his earlier attitude completely gone.
Hudson took them and passed them to Ysolde, who quickly put them in her bag.
"Everything okay?" Hudson asked her.
Ysolde nodded, her anger now replaced with satisfaction.
Hudson turned to me and offered his hand. I took it, feeling the familiar warmth of his fingers around mine.
We walked out together without looking back, leaving the embarrassed family and the soon-to-be-fired Bruce behind.
As soon as we passed through the revolving doors, Cassian appeared, practically glowing as he looked at Ysolde.
"What brings you here?" I asked Hudson.
"I came to see you," he replied. Then he lowered his voice, just for my ears, "The bed feels empty without you."
"Oh." My heart skipped a beat. "So where are you headed now?"
He gave me that look, the one that said I’d just asked something stupid. "With you, obviously."
"But we’re going hiking, and you have business to handle."
"Business can wait."
I knew better than to argue with him when he used that tone. "Fine."
"Count me in too," Cassian said eagerly. "I can drive."
Ysolde pretended he didn’t exist.
Hudson pointed to a black SUV waiting at the curb. "My car’s ready."
The sky was gray and heavy above us, threatening rain. Ysolde and I slid into the backseat while Hudson took the wheel. I glanced at Ysolde and whispered, "Looks like you’ve got a shadow."
Cassian was following in his Rolls-Royce, keeping a careful distance.
Ysolde snorted, glancing briefly at the car behind us. "I’m not even acknowledging him. Only a fool makes the same mistake twice."
Just as we reached the trailhead, Hudson’s phone buzzed. He tapped the speaker button.
"Alpha Hudson." Carter Kairo’s voice was full of respect. "Bruce Zed is related to the Happy family. He’s a cousin. He’s been giving them VIP cards for free stays."
Hudson’s silence said everything. I could almost feel Lycaon’s anger radiating through him.
"I’ve already canceled their privileges and fired Bruce," Carter continued nervously. "This won’t happen again."
"How did such a problem happen in my hotel?" Hudson’s voice was ice cold. "Were you asleep on the job?"
The manager launched into a desperate speech about oversights and new procedures. His voice became background noise after the first thirty seconds.
Hudson cut him off. "Send me your action plan. Your job next year depends entirely on whether you fix this properly."
"Yes, Alpha! Within the hour!"
After hanging up, Ysolde snapped her fingers. "That explains everything! No wonder they acted so entitled."
Hudson pulled into a gravel parking lot surrounded by tall pines and weathered wooden signs. "We’re here."
I put my backpack on as we got out of the car. We’d barely reached the trailhead when I spotted Cassian following like a determined shadow.
"Just ignore him," Ysolde muttered through gritted teeth.
The trail offered two options: a challenging path with loose gravel and steep hills, or a more tourist-friendly route with proper paving and facilities.
Ysolde and I chose the easier path, walking at a relaxed pace. She made me stop at every scenic spot, taking tons of photos before moving on.
"Perfect lighting here," she said, adjusting her camera angle. "The mist gives everything this dreamy quality."
Hudson and Cassian followed at a respectful distance, giving us space for girl time while staying close enough to help if needed.
"Are you still upset about the headphones thing?" I asked Ysolde as we navigated the slippery steps.
"Not really." She shrugged. "I’m just glad I got them back. Emmett would’ve killed me if I lost his gift."
Akira stirred in my mind. "The boy’s parents need proper training. Even wolf cubs learn respect early."
"True," I agreed silently. "Some humans could learn from pack discipline."
According to Ysolde’s schedule, we should have reached the summit by noon. We arrived an hour late, my legs burning from the climb.
"Finally," I sighed, rubbing the backs of my thighs.
The moment we reached the top, the clouds parted dramatically, revealing a brilliant blue sky. Sunlight bounced off the pale stone beneath our feet, nearly blinding after hours of gray.
"Ysolde!" A familiar voice called out.
