Let's Get Married
1199 Words
[Nick’s POV]
“Please, take me away.”
Noel’s voice is small and pained as she says the words that seal our fate, but I don’t listen to them—not yet, not when this b***h Anita is standing in front of me glaring.
“You aren’t going anywhere.” She hisses, her voice shaking with the anger she isn’t bothering to hide. “She is my daughter, and I won’t…”
“You won’t what?” I growl, moving forward so that she stumbles back. “Go on, tell me. What exactly do you plan to do to try to stop me?”
Disgust rushes through me as I stare straight ahead, taking in Anita’s rage-filled gaze and pinched face.
She hasn’t changed since the last time I saw her, and I was certain that was because she was happily spending Azure Moon’s funds on plastic surgery. I couldn’t even begin to fathom just how much of the pack’s income she had spent, and that alone left me uneasy.
“I’ll…” She rasps, clearly trying to come up with something that will stop me. “I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” I challenge, a smirk forming on my lips. “Are you going to try to beat me like you did her?” I continue, looking down at the wounded Noel in my arms. “I’m sorry, but I’m nowhere near as weak, and I assure you that if you dared to raise a hand to me, you would be the one to lose.”
At my words, Anita’s eyes widen, but her arrogant expression remains in place, just pissing me off further. However, before she can say anything more, the door to Azure Moon’s packhouse opens, and the one person I was looking most forward to seeing again comes out with Joelle quickly following behind him.
Together they move, closing the distance between us, but the minute he recognizes me, he stops and just stares.
He hasn’t changed in the years. I haven’t seen him aside from his face, which holds an air of cockiness just like our dear father’s.
“Why?” He hisses through gritted teeth as he continues to take me in. “Why are you here?”
“Surprised?” I ask, my smile growing broader.
“Something like that,” he responds as Joelle looks from him to me and back. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“I came to see my little brother get married.” I point out, tightening my hold on Noel, who is silently listening and watching the exchange. “Isn’t that what an older brother should do?”
“Uh, Hunter,” Joelle whispers, looking from me to my brother. “What exactly is going on here?”
“Nothing of importance.” Hunter responds instantly. “Go back inside.”
“But…”
“NOW!”
I watch in amusement as Joelle flinches, and hurt along with annoyance flashes across her features, but she doesn’t move.
“I’m not going anywhere.” She says stubbornly. “Not until someone explains what is happening here. Mother,” she continues, drawing Anita’s attention. “What’s going on here? I thought you were bringing Sister back so that she and Hunter could clear up their misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding.” I laugh, narrowing my gaze on her. “How can you possibly say that what happened was a misunderstanding? What is there to misunderstand?”
Flinching, Joelle fixes her gaze on me and takes me in. As she does, I can almost see her demeanor shifting until where once stood a stubborn and headstrong woman is a demure one who looks almost like she is being wronged. s**t. The woman was clearly a damn good actress, but I already knew that since I grew up with them. I thought that Hunter knew it as well, but given what happened, I guess he wasn’t that smart.
“It really was,” Joelle says now, putting on her best show. “If we could all just sit down and talk, then we could clear this up. You don’t know how bad I feel for ruining my sister’s wedding to her childhood sweetheart. How can I possibly just remain quiet and let them continue to fight like this?”
Remaining silent, I continue to stare ahead before looking down at Noel, who has a smile of amusement on her face, and I know in this moment that I don’t need to continue to defend her. The angel could certainly handle herself.
“Have you really?” She asks, regaining some of her strength. “I guess you should have thought about that before you f****d my fiancé on our wedding day.”
“I didn’t!” Joelle gasps, crocodile tears filling her eyes. “I really didn’t. It was a misunderstanding; why won’t you…?"
“You don’t owe her an explanation.” Anita says, cutting off her daughter before she can say anything more. “She is just trying to ruin you so that she doesn’t have to take responsibility for standing Hunter up.”
“I’m at fault.” Hunter counters, taking everyone by surprise. “Please, Noel, will you just give me a few moments of your time?”
“No.” Noel responds, her voice firm and cold. “I’ve already wasted enough time on you, and I don’t intend to waste any more. Instead,” she continues, turning her large gaze toward mine. “I’ll give my time to someone who is actually worthy of it.”
Growing quiet, she continues to stare at me, determination clear in her sparkling eyes, and I can’t help but wonder what is going on in that head of hers while everyone else's disgusting thoughts race through mine.
Can’t let her leave or everything I’ve worked for will be ruined. Says Anita.
There’s no way that hottie will believe Noel over me. I just have to get him to see things my way. Says Joelle.
Why is Nick here, and what does that mean for me? Questions Hunter.
Again and again.
Over and over.
The same selfish thoughts from selfish assholes who deserve each other.
“Nick,” Noel says now, snapping me out of my head and making the voices quiet down immediately. “You said you needed a wife, right?”
“I did,” I confirm. “But you don’t…”
“Let’s get married.”
Her words are clear and certain as she speaks, and I know that even if she is saying this to get back at those who have hurt her for so long, she will go through with it.
“Are you sure about this?” I ask. “Maybe take a day or two to rethink it and…”
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t need a few days. I’ll marry you, and once I do, we will take back what is meant to be ours together. What do you say?”
“What else is there to say?” I chuckle, shifting my gaze to the three who watch on in shock. “I do.”
- Writer
