The Alpha's Contract: A Baby For Christmas.

Marry Me

[Noel’s POV]

Later, I sit in a booth, drink in hand, and Nick sitting across from me with an expectant look on his face. I’m certain that he is waiting for me to explain things to him, but even now I still can’t quite put it all together.

Just the realization that Hunter was cheating on me with Joelle this whole time left me feeling like the happiness I finally felt was a lie, and I guess it was. But how long was that going on? Was it before he began to approach me and show me the slightest bit of affection? Was it when he told me that he liked me and wanted to protect me? Or was it after he proposed to me that I discovered that the only way I could claim my pack was to marry? Was that the reason he proposed? Did he intend to get rid of me once he was in the place of alpha?

FUCK!

Probably the entire time. The small voice in the back of my head says, just making my heart hurt even more.

“Bastard,” I growl, bringing my drink to my lips and chugging it. “f*****g piece of s**t!”

Sighing, I slam my glass on the table and then lift a hand to try to bring the waiter, but before I can catch anyone’s attention, Nick is reaching out and grabbing my hand.

“You might want to rethink that.” He says.

I know that he is trying to comfort me and help me not make a stupid choice, but given my frail mentality, I snap.

“Don’t tell me what to do!” I growl, yanking my hand away and narrowing my gaze on him. “Who are you to try to control me?”

Stop it.

“Are you on their side too?”

Stop it right now, Noel.

“Don’t tell me that you’re also plotting with them to try to control me.”

You know none of this is true.

“Is anyone truly on my side?”

As the words leave my lips, a sob rips through me, and before Nick can see the tears that are about to start pouring down my cheeks like waterfalls, I cover my face.

“What did I do to deserve any of this?”

All my life I tried to be a good daughter, a good sister, and even a good fiancé. I even planned on being a good and obedient wife to Hunter. I was always willing to do whatever it took to get those who surrounded me to actually be proud of me and care for me, but despite that, I was still shoved aside, mocked, ignored, and mistreated. If it weren’t for my grandfather’s will stating that the pack and its finances would only be released when I was married, my stepmother probably would have sold me off or worse, killed me by this point.

It wasn’t like I ever intended to let her remain in her position once I had things, but it was easier to bide my time and play along until I had the power to do something with her.

“Dammit!” I growl, swiping at the tears that are steadily falling. “Everything is ruined now!”

Everything was ruined. My freedom, my life of love and happiness, even my chance to rebuild the pack that my father and grandfather loved so much.

“Time is running out!”

By this point, I was rambling. I knew that I was rambling, but I just couldn’t stop the words now that they were coming.

“Noel.”

Nick’s voice is gentle as he speaks, and they’re full of caution as I’m sure he tries to avoid setting me off even worse.

“Take a few deep breaths.”

Freezing, I slowly pull my hands away while fighting the urge to snap. Was he really telling me to take a few breaths like that would stop the torrent of emotions I was feeling? Did he really think that it was that easy to stop this… this breakdown that I was experiencing?

“I’m sure that you’re dealing with a lot, and you’re probably hurting worse than I could ever imagine, but instead of keeping it bottled up, maybe you should try letting it all out.”

For a moment, I don’t speak as I stare at him, his words replaying in my head, and I don’t know what it is that snaps in me, but before I can even stop myself, I’m speaking.

“It hurts,” I whisper, clutching at my chest and hating myself for even hurting this much over what Hunter has done since I was sure he was with Joelle right now living it up. “It hurts so much! He betrayed me after promising me that he wouldn’t hurt me like everyone else had. He cheated. Not only did he cheat, but he cheated with my sister! How could he do such a thing?”

Growing quiet, I feel an all-new round of sobs erupt, but as they wrack my body, I promise myself that this would be the last time I cried over Hunter. Hell, it would be the last time I cried over anyone. After today, I would never let anyone near my heart ever again.

“Yeah, he’s a piece of shit.” Nick agrees, reaching out and touching my hand. “But isn’t it better that you found out about this now instead of after you got married?”

“Yes,” I whisper, knowing that he was right. “It would, but now we can’t get married.”

At my words, he gives me a look of confusion, and I remember that he disappeared before the contents of my grandfather’s will were revealed.

“I have to be married by New Years,” I explain as he continues to just stare. “If I’m not, then…”

Then the pack would be disbanded and no longer exist.

“Then what?” Nick pushes, his voice gentle and inviting. “Why do you need to be married so badly?”

“Because it’s the only way I can take over Azure Moon.” I explain.

Growing quiet, I wait as he processes what I’ve told him, and when his confused look remains, I know that he isn’t able to fully comprehend what is happening.

“Before my grandfather died, he created a will that was only brought to everyone’s attention when I turned thirteen after my father died.” I explain. “It revealed that once I turned twenty-one, I had until New Years to get married in order to become alpha of the pack. But if I don’t, then…”

"The pack will be no more." He says quietly.

“Yeah,” I sigh, slumping forward. “I can't let that happen! I can't let the pack disappear entirely."

Once again, I grow quiet as I realize just how impossible such a feat is. There was no way I would meet someone who I could see myself spending my life with just for the sake of taking what was mine. So, how…”

“Then how about me?”

Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Nick, who is watching me with a serious expression. Was he… Was he being serious right now?

“You need a husband, right?” He continues when I don’t speak. “And I just happen to need a wife. So, why don’t we help each other out? What do you say?”