Free Web NovelChapter 33: Chapter 33 Louisa Wakes Up
Christina’s POV
I looked at Hudson, caught completely off guard for a moment, then kicked off my designer heels and slipped into the slippers.Until that moment, I hadn’t realized how badly my feet were aching.
The soft fleece wrapped around my toes, warmth spreading up my legs and settling warmly in my chest. My heart started racing.
Hudson draped a massive blanket over my lap, covering my thin dress.
He leaned in slightly, his scent of pine washing over me. "If you need anything, call for me through our link. I’m just taking a call over there." His voice was low, meant only for me, protective alpha energy radiating from him.
Then he disappeared toward the stairwell.
Willow and Clive Granger kept throwing side-glances my way, their faces flickering between curiosity, doubt, and full-blown suspicion.
I ignored them and watched Hudson through the glass as he leaned against the stairwell wall, lighting a cigarette while he talked on the phone. Every few seconds, he’d tilt his head and glance my way. Like he was making sure I was still safe. Like he was standing guard for me.
By the time the sky outside started to lighten to a miserable grey, the door to the operating theater finally slid open.
A surgeon walked out, pulling off his gloves. "The patient’s stable. We’re moving her to a regular ward. She might wake up in a few hours, but be careful—no more shocks, no upsetting news. Her wolf is still distressed."
A team of nurses wheeled Louisa past us, still unconscious, her normally vibrant face pale as moonlight.
I followed, only to get body-blocked by Willow at the door.
"You’re kidding," I muttered under my breath,but she was already pretending I did not exist.
I ended up lurking outside the ward. Not exactly my finest moment, but I wasn’t going to take the doctor’s warning lightly and risk Louisa’s health further.
A few minutes later, Niall stormed in with Beatrice. Both were still in party clothes and looked like they had run at full speed all the way here.
Niall caught sight of me and, of course, came straight toward me.
"My mother’s unconscious because of you. Happy now, Chrissy? If you’ve got a problem, you take it out on me. What the hell are you playing at, kicking off at her?"
I opened my mouth, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his self-righteous attitude, but he had already bulldozed past me into the room.
From inside, I heard Willow’s whine. "Mom, she’s already sent you to the hospital twice! You sure you want to let her near you again?"
I heard her muttering something else, too low for human ears but my enhanced hearing caught fragments about "unworthy" and "pathetic."
Then she popped her head out, scowling like it physically hurt her to speak to me. "Mom says you can come in."
I shoved past her before she could change her mind,my shoulder deliberately brushing against hers.
As soon as I reached the bed, Louisa lifted her hand towards me. She looked weak as hell, pale and small under the blankets, but her grip was fierce when she grabbed mine.
"This isn’t your fault, sweetheart. Don’t blame yourself. I just got overwhelmed for a moment and didn’t handle it well." Her voice was weak but her eyes were clear, looking at me with motherly understanding.
"Aunt Louisa..." I choked out. Next thing I knew, hot tears were spilling down my face.
Louisa turned to glare at everyone else crammed into the room.
"And don’t you lot start blaming Christina either. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Niall. If he hadn’t been out betraying his mate bond, Chrissy wouldn’t have been put through half this pain."
She shot a death glare at Beatrice,who quickly ducked behind Niall.
Louisa’s eyes swung back to me. "Christina, I know Niall hurt you, but you’ve loved him since you were little. You told me yourself that being his Luna has always been your dream. You’re like a daughter to me. I don’t want to see you left with no pack to protect you. Especially with... your family situation..." She let out a heavy sigh. "If you break off the mate bond, where are you going to find your place in your
pack?"
If it had been literally anyone else speaking those words, I would’ve shut it down in two seconds flat. Told them I didn’t need Niall to survive. Told them my wolf could stand on her own.
But Louisa was different.
She wasn’t scheming. She wasn’t playing me. She meant every word, and that made my throat jam up.
I’d always been the type to bite back when someone pushed. But if someone pulled, spoke soft, held my hand like I was precious? I melted like snow in spring.
So when she clutched my hand tighter and begged, "Please, for my sake, don’t call off the mating ceremony," all I could do was stand there, swallowing everything I wanted to say.
When Louisa drifted back to sleep, I finally peeled myself away and slipped out.
I still felt guilty as hell, but not guilty enough to throw myself back into Niall’s arms like a submissive omega with no self-respect.
I had barely made it five steps when Beatrice ambushed me in the stairwell.
No audience now. No fake smiles. Just full-blown venom in her eyes, her hostility hitting me in waves.
She sneered, "You really are something. Using aunt Louisa to force Niall’s hand."
I tilted my head, sizing her up.It took me a second to piece it together. She thought I had used Louisa’s health to manipulate Niall.
My eyes narrowed."You think I made Aunt Louisa sick on purpose?"
Beatrice snorted."Isn’t that exactly what you did? Or maybe you and Aunt Louisa cooked up some drama to force Niall into completing the mating bond with you." fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
I stared at her. "You actually believe Aunt Louisa faked a hospital trip just to mate me off to Niall?"
Beatrice didn’t answer. She just smiled that smug little smile that made me want to tear at her throat.
I sighed."In case you forgot—I’m the one trying to break the mate bond. I’d be thrilled if Niall marked you tomorrow. Hell, I’ll throw you a party and bake the damn cake myself."
