Christina’s POV

Hudson remained silent for a long moment. "They had a private doctor on hand."

"Well, who was it? We absolutely must thank them for saving her," Naomi pressed.

I almost laughed to myself. The idea of Hudson thanking Niall? Over his dead body, especially if that someone was a rival.

"I heard it was that Genevieve again? So what are you going to do about it this time?" Naomi’s question carried a direct challenge, as if she were demanding justice on my behalf.

I wondered how she knew about Genevieve. My enhanced wolf hearing picked up every word clearly, making me frown. Apart from Hudson and Ysolde, I hadn’t told anyone that Genevieve was at the lake that day. Surely Genevieve hadn’t gone around boasting about attempting to kill the Luna of the Sabreridge Pack.

Hudson said nothing, which only confirmed my suspicions.

"Your mate really has been treated poorly in all this," Ryan interjected. "We... well, I think you need to have a proper word with Genevieve. Actually, that’s not from me. That’s a message from Cassian."

"I will speak to her," Hudson said flatly.

"Speak to her? What good will that do? If you ask me, she needs proper punishment, a lesson she won’t forget. Now, I know I might be overstepping here, since we don’t know each other that well, but I like Christina. I consider her a friend, and I have to say it. The way you keep protecting this Genevieve woman makes me absolutely sick," Naomi said, disgusted.

Again, Hudson stayed silent.

Naomi’s words filled me with grateful warmth. Hudson’s silence felt like a fresh cut to my already wounded heart.

She wasn’t finished. "Ryan Fenty, let me tell you—consider yourself lucky Genevieve never set her sights on you. If I were Christina, and my mate treated me like this, I’d have broken the bond long ago. I just don’t get it, Hudson. How can you so blatantly take another woman’s side? You don’t deserve Christina." Naomi was furious now. "Why she chooses to stay with you is beyond me."

She was right. I was a fool. A complete idiot.

Why? Why did I keep letting him hurt me, over and over, and still not find the strength to walk away?

It was pathetic, really.

I slowly got out of bed, my legs wobbly but determined. Akira lent me her strength as I left the room and made my way down the stairs. "Naomi."

"Oh, Christina! You really... you gave me such a fright. You’ve no idea how worried I was." Naomi rushed over to take my hands as I reached the bottom step. Her voice caught, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

I managed a small smile. "I’m alright. See? I’m fine. Thank you for coming."

"If you’re fine, why didn’t you call me? I would’ve come to get you. You could’ve stayed with us," Naomi scolded gently. "I’ve been worried sick."

"I was out of it for a while. As soon as I woke up, I called my friend to come and get me," I explained.

"Well, next time something happens, you call me, okay? Promise me," she insisted.

"My phone wasn’t with me, and I couldn’t remember your number. The only one I know by heart is my friend’s, because it’s a palindrome. I promise, I’ll memorize your number too, and then I’ll call you next time I get in trouble, alright?"

"Okay. If you have any trouble with work or..." Naomi glanced at Hudson. "At home, you come to me. Come stay at our house. I’ll personally keep him from getting through the door. My pack might be small, but we protect our friends. I’ll always be on your side."

"Okay," I said gratefully.

We hadn’t known each other long, but Naomi’s straightforward nature and genuine warmth made me certain we were going to be friends for life. She didn’t care that Hudson was the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the North—she still called him out.

Plus, she and Ysolde both seemed to enjoy giving Hudson a hard time. They’d probably get along like a house on fire.

Hudson shot a look at Ryan, who walked over to his wife and helped her up. "Right then, we should be off."

"What’s the rush? We just got here. I’ve been waiting days for Christina to get back; I want to spend more time with her," Naomi protested, giving Ryan a light shove.

"What she needs is rest. Let’s not crowd them. Hudson’s been waiting days to get his mate back, too."

Finally catching his meaning, Naomi relented. "Oh. Right, okay."

She stood. "Well, Christina, you get some proper rest. I’ll pop by to see you tomorrow."

"I’d like that," I nodded.

Ryan led Naomi out. The moment the door closed behind them, the atmosphere in the room turned thick and awkward, tension hanging between Hudson and me like heavy fog.

"Did you feel any better after your sleep?" Hudson asked, coming over to take my cold hands in his.

"A bit," I nodded faintly, my gaze distant. I couldn’t help noticing how he’d completely avoided addressing anything Naomi had said.

"Could you manage something to eat? Geoffrey made some miso soup. The kitchen has prepared a few other dishes you like as well."

"Alright." I was actually hungry, so I might as well eat. What was the point of starving myself? I needed to build my strength back up.

I needed to pull myself together, and get back to work.

I needed Genevieve to see that I was alive and well, that she hadn’t succeeded in whatever twisted plan she had for me.

Hudson went to the kitchen and asked Geoffrey to bring up the soup.

Geoffrey arrived with the tray, setting down my soup and a full meal for Hudson, too. "Alpha Hudson, you should try to eat something as well. You’ve barely had a drop of water or a wink of sleep for days. You’ll make yourself ill if you carry on like this, and then who will look after Luna Christina?"

I wondered what that little speech was really for.

Was it meant for Hudson’s ears, or for mine?