Christina’s POV

When the shove came from behind, I wasn’t surprised. After our earlier confrontation, I’d been waiting for Serenna to try something.

What did surprise me was how freakishly strong my cousin was. Had she been working out?

This random thought flashed through my mind as I twisted sideways at the last second. Off-balance, her arm sailed past me and slammed straight into Naomi instead.

The pregnant woman stumbled forward, her body pitching dangerously toward the stairs. My heart lurched into my throat as I lunged forward, catching her elbow just in time.

"You okay?" I asked. What might have been a minor bruise for me could be catastrophic for a pregnant woman.

"I..." Naomi’s face had gone ghostly pale, her voice barely audible.

"Naomi!" A man in an impeccable black tuxedo bounded up the stairs three at a time, reaching her side in seconds. He gripped her shoulders, eyes frantically scanning for injuries. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine," she finally managed, releasing a shaky breath. "For a moment I thought I was going to fall. I was terrified."

The man—Ryan Fenty, I presumed—wrapped his arms protectively around her. "Alright," she nodded weakly.

"Ouch!" Serenna yelped as I grabbed a fistful of her hair when she tried to slink away.

"Where exactly do you think you’re going?" I yanked her back, my grip unyielding.

"Let go! What’s your problem?" She clawed at my arm, but my strength kept her firmly in place.

"What happened here?" Ryan kept his focus on Naomi, but his question was clearly directed at me.

"She pushed me," Naomi told her husband, glaring at Serenna.

Serenna opened her mouth, but I cut her off. "Before you spin another lie, remember the cameras." I pointed toward the CCTV in the corner, its red light blinking steadily. "Too bad for you, the party’s over and security surveillance is back on."

Serenna’s mouth opened and closed like a gasping fish. Finally, she crumbled. "I... my heel... I twisted my ankle and bumped into Mrs. Fenty accidentally. It was just an accident, really. I’m sorry." She emphasized "accident" like repeating it might make it true.

"Really?" I rolled my eyes. "Did you also ’accidentally’ follow us down the stairs, ’accidentally’ aim for me, and then ’accidentally’ hit Mrs. Fenty when you missed?"

"That’s not true!" Her protest sounded pathetic even to my ears.

"Actually, it is," Naomi stated firmly, looking at me. "She tried to push you first. When she missed, I took the hit."

I gave Naomi an apologetic look. "She was targeting me. I’m sorry you got dragged into this mess."

Naomi shook her head. "You’re not the one who should apologize. We’re both victims here."

Ryan Fenty’s lips curved into a cold, unsettling smile. "You put hands on my wife?"

He gently moved Naomi to a safe spot. Then, climbing two steps above Serenna, his voice turned glacial. "I consider myself fair. I repay kindness with kindness, and grudges with grudges."

Without warning, he delivered a sharp kick to Serenna’s shin.

My cousin shrieked as she flew down the stairs. Though the broad, winding staircase had banisters that somewhat slowed her fall, she still tumbled hard, her cries changing pitch with every bounce.

Ryan remained at the top, watching expressionlessly.

At the bottom, Serenna lay curled on the landing, clutching her stomach and whimpering.

"Are you okay?" Hudson appeared suddenly, stepping past her without a glance and coming straight to me. His eyes rapidly scanned me for injuries.

"I’m fine," I forced a smile, trying to hide how shaken I felt. "Let’s go."

He took my hand, his grip firm and reassuring.

"Wait."

I turned back. Naomi, steadier now with Ryan close behind her, descended the stairs. "Thank you. If not for your quick reaction, I’d be the one lying there." She threw a cold glance at Serenna.

"It was nothing," I said, offering what I hoped was a convincing smile.

Honestly, Ryan Fenty’s ruthless retaliation had rattled me more than I wanted to admit. The logical part of me knew Serenna deserved consequences, but a primal part couldn’t help wondering: if I had accidentally knocked Naomi down too, would I have gotten the same treatment?

Naomi and I exchanged goodbyes with promises to connect later. Then Hudson led me away, his arm protectively around my waist.

"I didn’t know you were acquainted with Ryan Fenty’s wife," he said once we were alone.

"I wasn’t until tonight. She mentioned her husband’s been trying to meet with you."

"He has. We spoke for a while earlier this evening."

"He’s..." I stopped myself from saying ’terrifying.’ That felt too direct. "Rather unforgiving." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Hudson’s expression hardened. "If it had been you pushed down those stairs, I would have done worse."

"You wouldn’t just kick someone," I argued. "You’d destroy them."

"You know me well, Luna."

The title still sent shivers down my spine. I was still getting used to being Luna Christina of the Sabreridge pack.

I was still processing that conversation when we arrived home. Hudson went straight to his study to handle some urgent business matters, while I showered and climbed into bed, the day’s events weighing heavily on me.

"You handled Serenna well," Akira commented as I stared at the ceiling.

"I’m just tired of people targeting me," I replied mentally. "First Beatrice and Niall, now my own cousin. What did I ever do to deserve this much hate?"

"You existed and succeeded where they failed," my wolf answered simply.

When Hudson finally joined me, I was half-asleep. He slid under the covers and pulled me against his chest, his body radiating warmth.

"Christina," His voice was husky, restrained.

I could feel the heat in his body, the tension in his muscles, the sharp edge of his breath. Every part of him told me he wanted me.

So why wasn’t he doing anything?

I shifted against him, murmuring softly, "Hudson."

I moved again, and this time he almost lost it. His voice came out hoarse. "Don’t. Stay still."

I could feel his want trying to poke its way through his pyjama bottoms. Yet even as desire burned through him, he held back.

Since leaving hospital, he’d been insatiable, practically glued to me like a conjoined twin.

So why the sudden restraint tonight?