Free Web NovelChapter 42: Chapter 42 Marriage Registration
Christina’s POV
"Hi, yes,is this Highrise Scandal?I’ve got an exclusive story about Northern Territory’s most celebrated Alpha and his secret affair with his fiancée’s sister. Four years of cheating, betrayal, and family deceit—all the specific details.I’m standing right outside the Vance residence now, where it all began..."
"What the hell are you doing?!" Father roared,his face went red.
Mother shrieked beside him."Have you lost your mind? Hang up that phone!"
Mother lunged from the sofa like she’d been electrocuted.One slipper flew off mid-sprint. She didn’t even notice.
She swung wildly at me, trying to snatch the phone from my hand. Father’s eyes bulged with barely contained rage.
I stepped back calmly, dodging her grab like we were doing slow-motion, Akira’s reflexes making it almost laughably easy. freewebnσvel.cѳm
"Too late.I already gave them the basic details.They’re sending a camera crew. Imagine all those Alpha families gathered around their breakfast tables tomorrow, watching our pack’s dirty laundry hung out on prime time."I smiled sweetly."The sacred Crescent-Frostpelt alliance exposed as a sham because precious Beatrice couldn’t keep her hands off my mate."
Both my parents froze.
My mother’s legs buckled, like someone had cut the support from her spine. My father, usually so composed in front of others, looked like he might faint anytime.
"You called the tabloids? Over something like this?" My mother’s voice trembled. "Have you lost your senses? This would destroy our standing with every pack in the Northern Territory!"
"Oh, now you’re worried about appearances?"I folded my arms."If our family’s reputation is so important, maybe you should’ve thought about that before letting your golden daughter sleep with my fiancé for years. Or before Dad tried to sell me off to some ugly old bastard. How many wives has he buried? Three? Four?"
"You don’t air pack affairs to media!" my father snarled.
I resisted my father’s authority. He was trying to use his power as an Alpha to control me."What would the Council say? What would the Moon Goddess think of such betrayal?"
"You’ve got two minutes to bring me the brooch," I stated flatly. "If you do, I’ll cancel the interview. If not, I’ll tell them everything. Let’s see how that goes over with the old pack families who still respect tradition."
They stared at me like I’d turned into a stranger. My mother’s mouth twisted into a bitter scowl.
"Fine. You’ve got what you want."
She spun around, stomping upstairs.Father’s eyes bored into me, disappointment thick in the air.
"You’ve changed," he said, voice tight. "This isn’t the daughter we raised."
"No," I agreed."I raised myself. You were too busy grooming Beatrice for the spotlight to notice."
Truth was, I never called. Just hit redial, faked it. They didn’t notice—I gave no specifics, no location or time. Just leverage. And it worked.
Still, no celebration. All I wanted was my brooch back. They acted like I’d demanded pack territory.
This family cut me off long ago. Akira whimpered, mourning what we never had.
Heels clattering down the stairs snapped me back. Mother barreled down, looking ten years older in three minutes. Father hovered behind her, protective.
She shoved a box into my hands, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Here. You got what you wanted. Now cancel the damn interview."
I popped the box. Silver filigree, pearls, diamonds catching light. Intact. No scratches. Granger emblem in the center,traditions I was done with.
Then I snapped the box shut and turned on my heel.
Both my parents came chasing after me like angry geese.
"Christina!" my mother shrieked. "Cancel the interview!You want our dirty laundry out for everyone? What will other packs think? Tell them not to come!"
My father’s voice cut in, lower but just as urgent. "Think of your sister’s future! Think of our pack’s standing!"
I didn’t break stride. I just waved my phone over my shoulder.
"Relax. They’re not coming."
I was halfway down the driveway before they even hit the front door.
Few houses down, I stopped, turned around.
Three-story homes,identical, lined both sides.Not Highrise City’s fanciest, but no coupon-clippers here. Alpha and Beta families, lawns manicured, luxury cars screaming status.
I grew up here. But that house stopped being home long ago.
I spun, power-walked out, and spotted Hudson’s car. Black as a jaguar, ready to strike.
I composed my face, slid in, buckled up.
"Got what you came for?" he asked, eyes on the box. Voice calm, but shoulders tight, hands gripping the wheel too hard.
"Yeah." I set the box on my lap, fingers curling around the carved edges.
He started the engine. "Off to the Elder Council’s. No turning back, Miss Vance."
I nodded. "No turning back."
Merged onto main road, he glanced over. "So what was so important that you had to come here so early?"
I traced the floral carving. "Grangers’ engagement gift. From back when we were still pretending that was a good idea."
"Oh? The Grangers gave you that?"
"Yeah. It’s a brooch. Passed down from Louisa’s side. Some kind of family heirloom. Since the engagement’s off, I can’t keep it. Figured I’d drop it off later. Tie up loose ends, you know. Maybe Louisa will finally see that I’m serious about the breakup."
"Good idea." He sounded genuine, but I picked up something else beneath his words. Approval, maybe, or relief.
Elder Council’s came into view—blocky stone, pillars making papers feel heavier.
We parked, got out, headed in. Hudson’s hand on my back, steering.
We were first in line.
I had no idea what I was doing.
But Hudson moved like he’d memorized the map, rehearsed the steps. Alpha confidence in every move. Staff recognized him, hurried to help.
He knew every window, every form, every "sign here."
He also looked like he was racing a bomb countdown. Just in case I bolted.
Twenty minutes later, I held a crisp document.
Outside, I breathed for the first time that morning.
My death grip on the marriage certificate loosened.
It was just paper.
White paper, boring fonts, stamps. Names, date, time.Official words tying us legally. Signatures. Witness line I didn’t notice.
Surprise: new husband’s full name—Hudson Jules-Sylvain Laurent.
I stared down at his signature like it might bite.
I’d really married him.
Not Niall Granger. Him.
Was I okay? Unclear.
Felt like stealing someone’s life. But Akira was calm.
Hudson near, anxiety gone.
We walked side by side to the curb.
I stopped. "Um..."
Hubby? No. Too weird. I winced.
"Mr. Laurent, go on. I’m heading to the Grangers."
I pulled out my phone to call a cab. His warm hand covered mine, stopping me. Contact sent a jolt.Akira rumbled, pleased.
"I’m not busy today. I’ll drive you."
He opened the passenger door like it was non-negotiable, his Alpha authority subtle but present. Akira rather than bristle at the command, seemed to melt a little.
I hesitated.
