Christina’s POV

Hudson’s normally perfect hair was messy, his clothes wrinkled like he’d worn them for days.

When he saw I was awake, he jumped up. He spoke in a raw, emotional voice, "I’m so sorry, Christina. I shouldn’t have let this happen to you."

I could hear the guilt in his voice. I hugged him tight and wouldn’t let go, half thinking this was a dream. The beeping monitors, antiseptic smell, and his warm body told me this was real.

I pulled back and looked around the strange room. "Are we in a hospital?"

Hudson nodded. "You’re back in Highrise City."

"I don’t remember anything after we talked," I said, frowning.

"You were sleeping when I found you."

Looking at him properly, his bloodshot eyes, the hollows in his cheeks, the dark stubble shadowing his jaw, my heart squeezed painfully. He looked terrible.

I leaned against him and breathed deeply. That’s when I noticed his scent. Fresh mint, sandalwood, and something that was purely him. It smelled amazing, comforting, and perfect.

I can smell him. I really can smell him.

"Finally!" Akira howled with joy in my mind. "Our mate!"

My eyes went wide as I looked at Hudson. "I can smell you," I whispered softly.

Hudson’s face lit up with hope. "You can? What does it smell like?"

"Mint, sandalwood, and you." I smiled with tears in my eyes. "It’s the best thing I’ve ever smelled."

"Tell him!" Akira urged. "Tell him we know!"

"You were right the whole time," I said softly. "I know you’re my fated mate now. I can smell again."

Hudson smiled brightly. "You recognize me?" His voice was emotional.

I nodded, too emotional to speak.

Hudson hugged me tight but gently. I felt him shake as he buried his face in my hair. "I’ve waited so long for this," he whispered in my ear.

"Now we know," Akira purred. "We found our mate."

Hudson pulled back, holding my face. "There’s something else," he said, looking into my eyes.

"What is it?"

His smile got softer. "You’re pregnant, Christina."

I froze, my hand going to my stomach. "Pregnant?"

"A pup!" Akira was so excited. "Our family is growing!"

Hudson nodded, watching me carefully. "The doctors confirmed it with tests."

I looked down at my flat stomach in amazement.

"Is this why I can smell again?" I asked quietly. "Did pregnancy fix the damage?"

Hudson took my hand. "Maybe. The doctors don’t know yet, but pregnancy changes a lot in wolves. Especially when both parents are..." He paused.

"Fated mates," I said for him.

He nodded, his eyes bright with joy and maybe tears.

I felt sick again, but this time I was happy about it, knowing it meant I was pregnant. Hudson saw right away and pressed the call button.

As I lay back, waiting to feel better, Hudson’s face changed.

"Christina, we need to talk about the kidnapping," he said, his voice getting serious.

I tensed. "What is it?"

Hudson looked at the door as Geoffrey came in with a laptop. "You need to see this."

Geoffrey opened the laptop and played a video. Niall appeared on screen.

But this wasn’t the Niall who saved me. This man was beaten and bloody, one eye almost swollen shut. He looked terrible, dried blood on his temple. He was tied to a chair, his suit ripped and dirty.

"What is this?" I asked, my stomach tight.

"Just watch," Hudson said seriously.

A man spoke from behind the camera. "Start over. Tell it again. Don’t lie."

Niall raised his head weakly and looked at the camera and smiled into it. A chilling, unsettling smile that made my skin crawl.

For a moment, I felt like he was staring right at me. He licked his dry lips and started talking.

Then I heard the awful truth.

Niall and my father were working together. They planned my kidnapping. Dad wanted money; Niall wanted me.

Their sick plan: kidnap me, hurt me just enough, then let Niall play hero. Dad’s men would stage a chase, forcing us into hiding. They thought if I spent enough time alone with him, scared and vulnerable, I’d eventually buy his act.

Once that happened, Niall would get me pregnant. Then I’d have to marry him, giving him legal rights to my inheritance. After that, they’d arrange an ’unfortunate accident.’ After my death, Niall would conveniently meet my father. Feeling guilty about his dead wife’s father, he’d generously give Dad part of my fortune.

The whole scheme would take years, starting with kidnapping, ending with my death after childbirth.

They almost pulled it off.

The woman at the bed and breakfast was on their payroll. The phone call to Hudson was part of their plan to give me hope and make the kidnapping seem real.

After I made the call, Niall gave me drugged water. Like every glass since our ’escape.’

The drugs kept me weak and confused, unable to fight back or ask questions. All that fatigue, nausea, dizziness. Not just pregnancy symptoms.

I thought bitterly about how stupid I’d been.

Next, they’d move me to another city, put me on a plane after I lost consciousness.

When I woke, they’d tell me some story about being found by kidnappers and having to flee.

Niall would plant evidence framing Genevieve. With time and drugs, he thought he could convince me Hudson hadn’t looked for me because he knew Genevieve was involved and wanted to protect her, even at my expense.

But Hudson got there faster than expected. Before they could move me, his team stormed in. Hudson got me out while his team took Niall.

When the video ended, Hudson said, "Franklin Vance fled the country."

"My people are looking for him."

I barely heard him, just kept replaying the video.

The truth hit me like a punch to the gut until it finally registered. I had to believe it.

I didn’t know how Hudson’s people made Niall talk or where he was now. But I didn’t care.

I didn’t care if he lived or died.

Everything had been a lie. The caring Niall who supposedly risked his life for me, who kept showing up asking for second chances, who ’warned’ me about my father.

How long had he been plotting this?

Nausea hit me again. I ran to the bathroom and vomited. This time it wasn’t the pregnancy.