Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Standing Up for Me

Christina’s POV

I didn’t even move. Instinct told me I didn’t need to move.

Before Willow’s palm could come down, a hand shot past my shoulder, clamped down on her wrist, and shoved her backwards.

Her wolf must have sensed the danger because she stumbled,arms flailing for balance.

Her head whipped up, ready to snarl, but the moment she saw Hudson’s face, she faltered. The dominant Alpha aura radiating from him was unmistakable. It was hard to keep swinging when the Alpha pinning your arm looked like he could snap you in half just for blinking the wrong way.

She yanked her hand free with a pathetic little whine.

"And who the hell are you?" she barked, though she was clearly fighting her bravado. "Why are you getting in the way? You..."

Her voice trailed off as Hudson continued to stare her down.

Willow shifted from foot to foot, tried to size him up, then her eyes flicked to me and to the jacket hanging off my shoulders. Her nostrils flared slightly, scenting him on me. "That’s his coat, right? Your new mate?"

She folded her arms, sneering."When did you start sneaking around behind my brother’s back, huh? You go on about Niall cheating, but look at you! Wearing some random Alpha’s jacket like you’re already marked."

"I don’t have to explain myself to you, Willow. You know damn well Niall and I are over." The rejection and the canceled mating ceremony had been clear enough for anyone with functioning ears.

She flapped a hand at me like I was a bad smell. "Save it. Get out. You’re not part of our pack anymore."

I planted my feet firmly. "I’m staying till Aunt Louisa wakes up." Akira and I were in complete agreement on this - Louisa had always treated me with kindness, unlike the rest of the Grangers.

Willow’s face twisted. "You’re not wanted here!" free𝑤ebnovel.com

From the corner of my eye, I caught Clive Granger standing up from his chair. He took his sweet time crossing the short distance between us.

He was furious. No surprise there. In his head, I’d practically murdered his wife.

But at least he kept his loathing on a leash, unlike Willow.

Clive stopped a few feet from me and said, all fake-polite, "Louisa’s sick because of you. You breaking off the bond with our son has really hurt her. Shocked her into a heart attack. I don’t think she wants to see you when she wakes up. Best you leave the room now."

I kept my chin up. "Alpha Clive, whether she wants to see me or not is her decision. Not yours."

His jaw twitched, just a little.Before he could spit something back, Hudson cut in. "Christina staying won’t disturb anyone. She’s worried about Mrs. Granger’s health. Let her stay till Mrs. Granger wakes up."

Clive’s eyes narrowed, finally registering the powerful Alpha aura radiating from Hudson. "And you are?"

Hudson reached out, offering his hand. "Hudson Laurent. Alpha of the Sabreridge Pack. Nice to meet you, Alpha Clive."

For a second, Clive just stared at Hudson’s hand like it was a threat display. Then he shook it hesitantly, his own Alpha status suddenly diminished in the presence of the North’s most powerful pack leader. "Alpha... Alpha Hudson... Um, thank you for coming. I appreciate your concern, but..." He glanced at me. "You may not know the full story here. It’s complicated. Christina—"

"I know enough," Hudson cut him off, his tone brooking no argument. "I was at the gathering too. I saw everything. Christina and Niall Granger have completed the rejection ritual. Besides, Niall showed up tonight flashing a new woman like a trophy. Christina asking to end the bond was the merciful part. She didn’t even say half of what she could have about his betrayal. Honestly, she gave Niall and the whole Frostpelt pack a hell of a lot more dignity than they deserved."

Clive looked like he was about to argue,clearly wanting to defend his pack,but Hudson just kept going, his Alpha energy flooding the room.

"It’s the twenty-first century. And Niall is still stuck in some kind of medieval lord-and-vassal fantasy? Treating Christina like a mail-order bride? Or does Niall think he’s royalty—getting engaged to her while two-timing with someone else? What’s next, grabbing a crown and scepter to star in his own modern-day palace drama?"

I could have kissed Hudson right then and there, practically ready to marry him on the spot.

Clive’s face went from tired to full-on corpse grey. "It’s not that she can’t break the bond," he mumbled. "But... Niall... he’s just made a mistake, is all.But that doesn’t mean Christina should have completed the rejection so rashly.Especially not announcing it publicly like that. Canceling a mating ceremony isn’t some kind of joke. Louisa was..."

He glanced at me with something halfway between guilt and accusation—"very shocked. And sad."

I took a step forward, ready to defend herself, but Hudson gave my arm a soothing pat.

"You’re right. Mate bonds aren’t a joke. That’s exactly why Christina ended it when she realized Niall wasn’t honoring it. He broke the bond by flaunting another female while he claimed to still be with Christina."

Clive’s mouth opened, but Hudson continued before he could get a word in.

"If betraying a mate bond isn’t a strong enough reason to call for rejection, what is? The Moon Goddess herself would approve of her decision."

The room felt like it was holding its breath, everyone present sensing the tension between the Alphas.

"And what are you suggesting,Alpha Clive?That Christina should have smiled, submitted, and completed the mating ceremony anyway? Sacrificed her own happiness just to keep your pack from losing face?What do you take her for—a breeding tool to strengthen your pack’s bloodline?"

Clive flinched, but Hudson wasn’t done.

"And blaming your Luna’s heart attack on her? That’s low. Guilt-tripping her into resuming a broken bond? Even lower."

Clive’s mouth worked soundlessly for a second. He looked like he wanted to disappear into the floor.

"I... You’re right," he finally muttered. "It’s not Christina’s fault."

"Then maybe ease up on your attitude. From where I’m standing, your pack is coming off as petty and downright dishonorable."

Clive nodded lamely. "Yes, yes, we were... too hasty. If Christina wants to stay and wait for Louisa to wake up, she’s welcome to."

Just like that, the tension cracked and fizzled out.

We ended up sitting around outside the operating theatre, all awkward and chilly.

I sat on one end, Willow and Clive huddled at the other, the gap between us wider than a four-lane highway. freёweɓnovel.com

I owed Hudson a lot. Words like "thank you" felt lame and hollow against the bond of protection he’d just shown me, so I swallowed them down.

Hudson hadn’t been gone five minutes before he came striding back, a paper bag dangling from his hand, his scent washing over me with reassuring waves.

He stopped in front of me, pulled out a cup of coffee, and handed it over. "It’s cold tonight. Better to have something warm to hold onto."

I took the cup, the heat seeping into my frozen fingers. "Thanks."

Then he bent down and fished out a pair of fluffy slippers from the same bag, dropping them neatly at my feet.