Free Web NovelChapter 93: Chapter 93 What Is the Truth
Hudson’s POV
Her bra and panties were soaked through. Not good to leave them on when she was this cold.
Christina shivered when Hudson reached for her bra clasp, but he kept his voice steady, close to her ear.
"It’s me, Christina. You’re safe now."
Her breathing hitched, then she went still, allowing him to continue.
As he unhooked her bra, Hudson couldn’t help noticing her perfect breasts. His mind flashed back to their night together—her soft skin under his hands, her breathy moans in his ear.
"You’re not some virgin high school boy," Lycaon teased inside his head.
"Shut up," Hudson growled internally, his face remaining impassive. freёwebnovel.com
"You’re being too careful with her," his wolf pressed. "She’s your fated mate, for Moon’s sake."
Hudson gritted his teeth, fighting against the arousal building as he carefully dried her skin. "One more word and you can forget about running in the forest this weekend."
"Petty," Lycaon sniffed before retreating to the back of his mind.
Hudson looked around for something dry for Christina to wear. There were women’s clothes in the house from his stepmother and various female relatives, but the thought of Christina wearing anything of theirs made something primal and possessive rise within him.
Instead, he grabbed one of his white dress shirts and a pair of dress pants from the dresser. The clothes would be too big, but they’d be warm and carry his scent. She was his, after all. His mate should wear his clothes.
He slipped the shirt over her shoulders, gently working her arms through the sleeves before buttoning it up. The dress pants were more challenging. He had to roll the waistband several times to make them stay on her slender hips.
When he finished, Christina looked like she’d wandered out of his closet half-asleep, drowning in his clothes, her damp hair sticking to her neck, her skin pale but starting to regain some color.
A soft knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," Hudson called, making sure Christina was properly covered.
One of the pack’s maids entered with extra blankets and a hairdryer. "Alpha Hudson, I brought these as requested."
"Leave them here," he said.
After the maid left, Hudson wrapped Christina in another blanket and pulled her onto his lap. Her body was still cold, and he needed to warm her up quickly. He pulled her against his chest, letting his body heat warm her up.
"You’ll be alright," he murmured, pressing his lips to her temple.
Christina curled against him, seeking warmth. Her fingers clutched at his shirt as if afraid he might leave.
Hudson took the hairdryer, set it to the lowest setting, and carefully began drying her hair. His fingers worked through the damp strands, untangling knots with gentle patience. Christina didn’t let go of his shirt the entire time.
Someone else knocked. Another maid entered with a steaming mug.
"The hot chocolate you requested, Alpha Hudson."
"Put it on the nightstand," he said, continuing to dry her hair.
Gradually, Christina’s shivering subsided. She nestled deeper into the blanket, her breathing finally evening out.
Hudson studied her face, peaceful now in her half-sleep.
She looked younger, vulnerable—a stark contrast to the fierce woman who’d slapped her ex-fiancé and boldly proposed their fake engagement. Something protective surged within him. frёeωebɳovel.com
When he was certain she was stable, Hudson carefully laid her on the bed.
"Stay with her," he told the maid who’d brought the hot chocolate. "If she wakes, get her anything she needs and inform me immediately."
"Yes, Alpha Hudson."
He changed into dry clothes quickly, his mind already racing with questions. Someone had pushed Christina into that pool—he needed to know who and why.
The party was still going downstairs, but the mood had changed. Guests whispered in corners, glancing at Hudson as he came down the stairs.
In the main living room, he spotted Quentin awkwardly dabbing at a woman with a towel. Her dress clung to her skin, mascara running down her cheeks in black streaks. Unlike Christina, though, she seemed perfectly fine, breathing normally, eyes clear and calculating.
The crowd parted as Hudson approached, conversations stopping immediately.
The woman must be Isobel, he figured. She lowered her head when she saw him. A natural reaction most people had around an Alpha like him.
"Alpha Hudson," she said, eyes wide with fake concern, "how’s Christina? I hope she’s okay."
"She’s resting," Hudson replied, his voice cold. "What happened?"
Isobel launched into what sounded like a rehearsed explanation—old friends catching up, slippery pool tiles, an accident.
"She must’ve panicked," Isobel added, wringing her hands dramatically. "When she slipped, she grabbed for me. I don’t think she even realized what she was doing."
Quentin stepped forward hesitantly. "Hudson, can Isobel use one of the upstairs rooms to change? She’s soaked through."
Hudson ignored him, keeping his focus on Isobel. "You’re saying Christina pulled you into the water?"
Isobel blinked rapidly. Her lips parted, but she hesitated too long before answering.
"I mean... I guess she did, sort of. She was probably startled. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional."
Her eyes slid away from his.Classic guilty behavior.
Hudson felt his fingers twitch with the urge to use his Alpha command to force the truth from her. When an Alpha used his command, other wolves had no choice but to obey.
But he restrained himself. He didn’t want to seem like he was interrogating a prisoner. Besides, his beta Dominic had mentioned that this Isobel was apparently getting engaged to his cousin Quentin soon. He should leave his family some dignity.
Without Christina here to defend herself, Isobel clearly thought she could spin whatever tale she liked. And perhaps with someone else, it might have worked.
But Hudson trusted Christina completely. Even half-drowned and delirious, he trusted her word over this stranger’s poor acting.
"Are you certain that’s what happened?" he asked, giving her one final opportunity to tell the truth.
Isobel missed the chance entirely. "Yes, I think so. I mean, it all happened so fast..."
"If I pull the surveillance footage, will it support your version of events?" Hudson asked smoothly.
She didn’t know the pool cameras had been turned off temporarily for guests who wanted privacy.
He wasn’t going to let her know.
Panic flashed across her face. Isobel turned to Quentin with a desperate look.
He tried to intervene. "Hudson, why don’t we deal with this later? Let’s get Isobel dried off before she gets sick."
"She can leave when she answers my question," Hudson stated firmly, never breaking eye contact with her. "Will the security footage match your story? Yes or no?"
She blinked rapidly, clearly trying to remember where the cameras were positioned around the pool area.
Hudson maintained his silence, simply watching her crumble under the pressure.
The truth was in her eyes before it reached her lips—the flinch, the hesitation, the slight hitch in her breath.
He stepped forward just slightly. His Alpha aura leaked out a bit, putting pressure on Isobel.
Isobel jolted as if electrocuted, stumbling backward onto the sofa. Her throat worked visibly as she struggled to form words.
Quentin dropped to a crouch beside her, placing one hand on her shoulder. Even he looked uncomfortable now.
"Come on, honey," he urged. "Just tell Hudson what happened, then we can get you changed."
Isobel licked her lips nervously.
Before she could speak, a small voice piped up from across the room.
"I saw what happened!"
