Hudson’s POV
I collapsed back onto the pillows after Christina left, one arm thrown over my eyes.
The sheets still slled like her. I rolled over and buried my face in her pillow, breathing in deeply. Orange blossoms filled my lungs, making my whole body tense with need.
"Control yourself," I muttered.
"Too late for that, "Lycaon growled in my head. "She’s our mate. We need to claim her properly."
I looked down and cursed at the obvious bulge in my silk pajama pants.
I squird uncomfortably, trying to adjust myself, which only made it worse.
My eyes drifted to the nightstand where that ridiculous pile of condoms sat there mocking .
Three dozen boxes, delivered way too late to be useful.
"Soone’s getting fired," I growled, making a ntal note to deal with the hotel manager later.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Then again. And again.
I grabbed it with a sigh and checked the screen. Three ssages from Roman.
First: [So sorry again about the mix-up at dinner. I had no idea soone would photograph us together like that.]
Second: [Just saw your post (and Christina’s)! Congratulations! You two look perfect together.]
Third: [I really hope that misunderstanding didn’t cause problems between you and Christina. Please tell her I didn’t an to intrude.]
I tossed the phone aside and stared at the ceiling. At least my other problem had cald down.
"She’s apologizing too much," Lycaon comnted. "Suspicious."
"Agreed," I muttered.
My phone rang. I answered without looking at the caller ID.
"The photographer from last night cracked," Cassian said without any greeting. "Spilled everything during questioning."
"And?" I kept my voice calm, waiting for what I already suspected.
"I felt bad about dinner going sideways, so I called in so favors, pulled strings to get the case—"
"Just tell who it was," I interrupted, running out of patience.
"Your stepmother. Gwendolyn Laurent. She had soone following you, hired the photographer for those shots. Both tis. Probably set up the online posts too. Didn’t see that one coming, honestly."
Cassian never sugar-coated things. He knew exactly how I felt about my so-called family.
"That manipulative bitch is still playing gas," he continued. "You keep throwing money at that family, no wonder they have ti to cook up crap like this."
I stayed quiet, holding the phone tight against my ear while Cassian finished his rant.
"Got it," I finally said. "I’m not in Highrise City this week. Keep an eye on them for ."
"You got it. Wait—where are you?"
I almost told him to mind his own business, then changed my mind. "Haven’t you seen my post?"
"What post?"
"On X."
"X? Since when do you have an account?"
"Search my na."
"Doing it now... Why do you sound like you’re grinning?"
Because I was.
"Found it," Cassian said. Then his voice shot up. "You went public? Holy shit!"
"The photo speaks for itself."
"Yeah, but... damn. I never thought you’d announce it like this. Not your style at all. You’ve always avoided the press like the plague. Now you’re on X showing off your Luna? You did this for her, didn’t you?"
"Mm-hmm."
Cassian whistled. "So when’s the official mating ceremony?"
My good mood instantly died as I rembered Christina’s words at that wedding we went to, and then again this morning.
"Hello? Hudson? You still there? I asked—"
I hung up.
I walked to the window and pushed it open. Cold morning air rushed in, cutting through the lingering scent of orange blossoms and the sex that didn’t happen.
I stood there breathing deeply. The cold helped clear my head, a little.
Gwendolyn’s involvent wasn’t shocking, but the fact that her na didn’t co up in the first report was. She must be getting better at covering her tracks.
"She needs to learn her place in the pack," Lycaon snarled.
"She needed drama. That was the only way she stayed relevant in The Sabreridge pack."
I grabbed my phone again and called Dominic.
He answered right away, already working. "The communications team is handling the story, Alpha. We’re keeping it off the morning news."
"I need you to delete all the posts about Roman and , but leave Christina’s post alone," I told him.
"Got it, Alpha."
"Find out if Gwendolyn’s been in contact with Roman Hale. Check emails, money transfers, anything connecting them."
"On it," Dominic said. "Also, your father asked about you. Wanted to know when you’d be back."
"Has Reginald left for Africa yet?" I asked, ignoring the concern in his voice.
"Not yet. The appointnt’s official, but he’s in the hospital. Doctor says his old condition ca back. They have him on bed rest."
"What is it this ti?" I asked, rubbing my temples.
"Herniated disc."
I laughed bitterly. "He’s faking it."
I didn’t need dical reports to know Reginald was avoiding the Africa assignnt. Again. Trying to stall until the end of the fiscal year when soone else would fill the position.
I’d been letting it slide for weeks. That was enough.
"Want to force him to leave?" Dominic asked.
I thought about it. "No. Leave it alone for now."
I checked the date. Christina would be busy with the charity event for two more days. The earliest she could fly back was Thursday.
"We need to go back with her," Lycaon insisted. "Can’t let her travel alone."
"Dom, one more thing," I added. "If anyone tries to bribe you for information about my grandfather’s health, tell them he’s fine. Frail but stable. Expected to live another five to ten years."
"Understood, Alpha."
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