Help Each Other
1224 Words
[Noel’s POV]
I stare at Nick in disbelief, trying to process what he is saying while the small voice in the back of my head screams danger. Was this some sort of joke that he was playing, or was he being serious right now? But why would he need a wife? There was just no way that was true.
“Stop playing.” I sigh, snapping out of my daze and relaxing in my seat. “It’s not funny.”
For a moment, he doesn’t speak as he continues to stare at me, an unreadable look in his eyes, and when he continues to keep his expression serious, I can’t help but wonder if maybe he really is being serious.
“I assure you I wouldn’t play about such a thing, angel.” He says slowly, taking a sip of his drink. “Marriage is a serious matter and not something that I would take lightly.”
“Then why would you suggest that we get married?” I counter, narrowing his gaze. “I don’t…”
“Like you, there is something riding on this,” he explains, his voice serious. “But there is one other thing that I’m needing.”
Another thing. What on earth could he possibly be referring to? Was he going to drop some huge bomb on me, or was I possibly overthinking?
“I don’t only need a wife.” He begins, taking my silence as a go-ahead to continue speaking. “Along with a wife, I need an heir. Without either, I won’t be able to take my rightful place as alpha of Dark Wing.”
Eyes widening, I slowly begin to process what it is he is saying to me.
Alpha of Dark Wing, but wasn’t that position guaranteed for Hunter? Or... no... It couldn’t be, but it would make his deception make more sense.
“Don’t tell me,” I whisper, more anger and pain shooting through me. “The reason that Hunter agreed to marry me was…”
“Because our pack wants to be the sole possessors of your genes.” Nick confirms for me, crushing my last bit of sanity and sending me reeling.
So, from the beginning, it was all because he wanted my genes, and my half-sister and stepmother wanted Azure Moon. How could I be so stupid that I didn’t notice this?
Idiot. I hiss, hating myself for being blinded by a little bit of kindness. You’re a f*****g i***t.
“So that’s why you helped me,” I say slowly, narrowing my gaze on Nick. “You want to use me too.”
Of course he would. Why was I so surprised by this?
“I would never use you.” He counters, a serious glint flashing in his eyes. “There’s no way I would use you.”
“Then why would you ask me to marry you?” I demand. “Just like Hunter, you want to use me to take over your pack and even mine, right?”
“I only want my pack.” He assures me. “Once we divorce, you can claim Azure Moon and all its assets. I won’t ask for a single thing.”
“And what of the child you’re asking for?” I push. “You’ll make me leave it with you, no?”
How could he possibly think that I would go along with such a thing? Was he out of his mind? Maybe. Even if he was a normal guy who cared for me in the past, that didn’t mean that he was still the same man as back then. So many years had passed since that time; it wouldn’t be surprising if he changed so drastically.
“I know that I’m asking a lot of you.” He continues as I down my drink and then get up. “And I’m willing to give you time to think on it.”
“I don’t need time to think on it.” I counter, shooting him a glare. “There’s no way that I’ll allow anyone else to use me. I’ll figure out how to claim my pack without a husband, and you can figure out how to claim yours without a child and a wife.”
Finished speaking, I begin to move, but before I can get far, Nick falls into step behind me.
“What are you doing?” I hiss, shooting him a glare over my shoulder. “Don’t follow me.”
“Do you intend to go back to Azure Moon alone?” He asks, rubbing salt in my wounds. “Do you really think that Anita and Joelle will let you off so easily after what happened?”
“That,” I snap, whirling on him while those in the bar glare turn their gazes toward us. “Isn’t any of your business.”
“But it is,” he counters, giving me a look that screams concern. “How can I possibly leave you to suffer alone?”
Why? Because none of this had anything to do with him. Sure, we were close in the past, but we weren’t close now. Whatever happened behind the walls of Azure Moon didn’t have anything to do with him.
“I’ve suffered alone all my life.” I point out. “What’s the difference between then and now? It isn’t like they’ll actually do anything to me since they need me to claim Azure Moon.”
That was right. In order for my stepmother and Joelle to get Azure Moon, they needed me to get married. That was the reason that after we discovered the contents of my grandfather's will, they began to tolerate me, and the abuse calmed down. But I was certain that they knew that I wouldn’t let them stay once I had it. Or rather, where I thought that was the case, the reason that they were so compliant and tolerant was because they had Hunter on their side.
I hate this. I hate this. I hate this.
Why, goddess? Why did you put me into a family like this, and why did you not bless me with a wolf? What did I ever do to deserve any of this?
“Come on,” Nick says quietly when I continue to not speak. “At least let me take you home.”
“Home,” I whisper, feeling like that word was foreign. “Is that place truly a home?”
“Home is wherever your heart is.” He says gently, giving me a smile that damn near breaks me again. “Isn’t that what they say?”
“I wouldn’t know,” I respond ruefully. “For me, home was always a place that I couldn’t quite grasp, and now, I’m not even sure if I will continue to have it since I didn’t fulfill my grandfather’s request.”
“There’s time.” Nick assures me. “You just need to trust me.”
Trust. Was he really asking me to do such a thing after what happened due to my trusting his brother? Did he really think I was that much of a fool?
“I’ll never trust another again.” I say quietly, beginning to move. “Now, please just leave me alone.”
- Writer
