Chapter 247

Christina's POV When we reached the car, Hudson opened the passenger door for me, then slid into the driver's seat. He didn't start the engine. The light was dim inside. Hudson stared at the windshield, his hands motionless on the steering wheel. I watched him from the side. His face showed no sadness, just tension. His forehead creased, lips pressed into a straight line. He looked exhausted, mentally drained and physically weak, caught between anger and bone-deep fatigue. Edouard's favoritism, the entire family's indifference—these had forged him into the powerful, cold Alpha he was today. I couldn't imagine how many obstacles and hardships he'd faced along the way. Tenderness welled up inside me, and I couldn't help reaching across the console to take his hand. His skin felt cold, the bones sharp beneath his fingers. I gently traced the outline of his knuckles with my thumb. "It's over now," I said softly. He nodded slightly, then leaned back against the seat. He turned his palm up,