Free Web NovelChapter 47: Chapter 47 Contract? Hardly!
Third Person POV
Hudson watched Chrissy snap photos of the marriage certificate.
When she mentioned Ysolde, something unexpected stirred in him, the urge to share this moment with someone too.
That’s why he called Cassian Langford.
"Drinks tonight. The Rookery. Nine."
The Rookery glowed with soft amber lights when Hudson arrived.
High-end liquor bottles lined illuminated shelves behind the mahogany bar.
Exclusive even by Highrise City standards,its private rooms required membership or connections.Hudson had both.
At 9:02 p.m.,Cassian was already waiting in their usual room, amber whiskey swirling in his glass as he lounged in the leather chair.
"Finally decided to grace me with your presence?" Cassian complained. "You ghosted me yesterday,dragged me out tonight, and now we’re just sitting here? Where’s everyone else?"
Hudson hadn’t even formed a response when Cassian waved at a server hovering near the door. freewebnσvel.cѳm
"Can we get some guys in here for poker? This is pathetic."
"Fine by me," Hudson replied.
Two waiters entered with practiced smiles and began shuffling cards. Hudson positioned himself to Cassian’s left, casually placing his right hand on the polished table surface.
The gold ring gleamed under the room’s subtle lighting. frёewebηovel.cѳm
Cassian squinted. "What the hell is that on your finger?"
"A ring. Got it today. Bit small but it works."
Cassian downed his drink. "Who gave you a ring?"
"My mate."
"Your... wait... your what?"
Cassian bolted upright like someone had shocked him.
"Did you hit your head? Are you on something? Who the fuck is your mate?"
Hudson’s lips curved slightly. He pulled out his laminated marriage certificate from inside his jacket and slid it across the table with quiet confidence.
Cassian stared at it, unblinking, for a solid half-minute.
He picked it up with cautious fingers like it might burst into flames.
"Christina Vance?" he read slowly, disbelief in every syllable.
His eyes widened comically. One hand went to his temple.
"Am I hallucinating? Is this real?"
Hudson retrieved the document before Cassian’s whiskey-sticky fingers could damage it, tucking it safely away.
"You read correctly."
Cassian’s shout rattled the glasses on the table. "You got married?!"
"Jealous?" Hudson took a casual sip of whiskey.
"Jealous? I’m fucking shocked!"
Cassian collapsed back into his chair, arms sprawled, staring at Hudson like he’d announced he was moving to Mars.
"Have you completely lost it? Everyone knows Christina Vance was engaged to Niall Granger. And you married her? You, who said you’d rather die than sign marriage papers. Without even mentioning it to me?"
Hudson gave him a dismissive glance."She and Niall broke up weeks ago. Engagement’s over. Why shouldn’t I marry her? Should she wear black and mourn forever?"
"That’s not what I—" Cassian grabbed a water glass and gulped it down. "But how did this even happen? Tell me she didn’t trick you into this."
"She didn’t trick me," Hudson replied coolly. "I tricked her."
"Cassian froze mid-sip. "What? You tricked her? How?"
"Told her my family’s been pressuring me to get married. Said I needed to run for Alpha King, needed a strong Luna by my side.One-year contract. Ten million dollars."
Cassian threw his hands up."Who in the Sabreridge pack would dare pressure you about anything? You’re just lying to innocent women for fun now?And a contract?"
Hudson ran a finger over his new ring. "Also mentioned my grandfather’s dying. Made her feel sympathetic."
Cassian’s jaw dropped. "Your grandfather has gout, not terminal cancer. Since when is he dying?"
"Since I needed him to be."
"You’re a genius," Lycaon, Hudson’s wolf, commented with amusement.
"Quiet," Hudson thought back. "This isn’t genius, it’s strategy."
Cassian stared in stunned silence.
"You’re an actual psychopath. A villain from a movie. This is literal fraud. You should be locked up."
Hudson snorted dismissively, not bothering with denial.
Cassian suddenly leaned forward. "Wait. This makes no sense. You’ve been obsessed with someone for years, and suddenly you’re over her in a week?"
Hudson’s mouth curved into a slight smile. "I’m not over her."
"What?" Cassian’s eyebrows shot up.
"It’s her. Christina."
Cassian went blank. "Christina? I thought the woman you couldn’t shut up about was from Italy."
"She’s not from Italy. She went to Italy. That’s where I met her."
Cassian waved away the waiters with a sharp gesture. "Out. Now."
They quickly exited, closing the door behind them.
"Poker canceled?" Hudson asked dryly.
"Screw poker. Start talking."
Hudson chuckled.
"Florence.Seven years ago.International jewelry design competition."
Cassian’s eyes widened. "Seven years? Wait, she would have been, what, seventeen? Christ, you were already in your twenties. That’s—"
Hudson smacked his arm, just hard enough to shut him up.
"Ouch! Assault!"
"She was in school. Competing in the youth category. I was sponsoring. We talked for maybe five seconds total."
Cassian poured fresh drinks for both of them. "So, love at first sight?"
Hudson studied his glass, then shook his head. "No. Not love then. She was still finding herself. I remembered her, sure. But it wasn’t significant at that point."
"Then when?"
"Second meeting. Eindhoven."
Cassian snapped his fingers."Right. You’d built your European empire by then. Moved headquarters to Eindhoven." He nudged Hudson with a smirk. "And I remember the line of people trying to get into your bed. Some even flirted with me thinking I was their ticket to you."
Hudson scoffed, but Cassian wasn’t wrong.
In his mid-twenties, Hudson had been drowning in attention from people who saw his wealth and power, thinking him an easy mark despite his Alpha status.
Young and alone in Europe, surrounded by staff and hangers-on but no pack, no family safety net.
Even with his caution, there were weak moments.
One night at a high-society party—luxurious venue, expensive champagne, fake smiles everywhere—someone slipped something into his drink despite his vigilance.
He fought through the effects, barely maintaining consciousness, and stumbled out of the hotel, disoriented and vulnerable.
"Someone’s trying to kill us," Lycaon had growled, furious but equally impaired.
And then he collided with her.
