The Alpha's Contract: A Baby For Christmas.

A Painful Betrayal

[Nick’s POV]

I give a final smile before turning and heading back to the car that is waiting for Noel and me. From the start, I didn’t intend for us to stick around, but I guess that Anita and even Joelle thought otherwise. It was clear what they had planned from the start, given my parents and even my brother's appearance, but if they thought they were going to ruin things, they were wrong.

When we reach the car, I pull open the passenger side door and wait while Noel gives the group that stands watching one last look before climbing inside. After she is settled, I head around to my side and then climb in beside her.

Once I’m in place, our driver takes off, and I can almost feel the tension that is forming with each passing minute. Even if Noel was now free of those women and the oppression that she was suffering, she would still carry that turmoil and those scars with her, but I intended to slowly replace them with pleasant memories until she could truly breathe without difficulty. Even if it took the rest of my life, I was willing to do it.

“Nick.”

Noel’s voice is quiet as it draws me out of my head and draws my gaze to the woman who sits beside me with a look of hesitance on her features.

“What is it, angel?” I ask, urging her to speak her mind and not hold back in front of me. “What’s wrong?”

“That,” she begins, worriedly chewing her bottom lip and enticing me without even realizing she is doing it. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Go on.” I smile. “You don’t have to hold back around me.”

I already had an idea of what it was that she wanted to ask, but I was waiting for her to show interest and ask me directly.

“What happened back then?”

Her voice is barely a whisper as she asks, and it is clear that it took quite a bit of effort for her to ask, but it makes me happy, and before I can stop myself, I reach out and grab her hand in mine.

“Are you referring to my disappearance?” I ask, though I know that is what she means. “You’re going to have to be a bit clearer.”

“If you know that’s what I mean, why are you asking?”

At her words, I feel a laugh escape me over her showing her claws around me for the first time. I liked it and hoped to see more sides of her with the passing days.

“Because I want to hear you express your interest in me from your pretty lips.” I smirk, leaning closer. “I feel like so far I’m the only one who has been trying to get closer.”

Instantly, Noel’s cheeks flush a beautiful pink that makes me want to jump her.

“Please don’t make fun of me.” She murmurs.

“I’m not making fun, angel.” I assure her. “I’m being very serious. So, do you want to hear my story and learn about my painful past filled with betrayal?”

For a moment, Noel doesn’t speak as she stares at me, and when I see the regret in her eyes, I know that maybe I was laying it on too thick.

“I’m joking.” I sigh, giving her hand a squeeze. “So much time has passed since that time that I haven’t really put much thought into it.”

“No matter the time,” she says quietly. “It doesn’t erase the scars that have been left.”

“Maybe,” I agree. “But any lingering feelings I had for those people have since disappeared. To me they’re nothing more than strangers now.”

“What did they do?” She pushes, truly showing interest. “I know that you were supposed to have died during a hunting expedition, but you’re sitting here in front of me.”

“That’s right,” I confirm. “It was their brilliant scheme to make sure that Hunter was the one who was supposed to make sure that it went off without a hitch. Maybe that’s the reason that I’m sitting here now, because he hesitated, and that hesitation saved me.”

As I speak, I can see Noel’s expression falling more and more, and I can’t help but wonder whether or not I should even be telling her this, but I didn’t want any secrets between us, so it was necessary that I got this out in the open.

“What did he do?” She asks, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears that I know are meant for me and me alone. “How did he hurt you?”

“Want to see?” I ask, grabbing my tie and pulling it loose. “Even if the scars of betrayal have begun to disappear, the proof of that betrayal will always be with me.”

Slowly, I begin to undo the buttons of my shirt, one by one, until I’m sure Noel can see the puckered scar that rests on my right pec.

“Hear,” I announce, pointing to it. “This was where he hit me under the guise of shooting at a beast even though weapons were always forbidden during the hunts.”

“Hunter did that?” Noel gasps, her eyes growing wide. “Why would he…”

“Because it was what our parents wanted.” I explain. “They plotted the whole thing. We were to go on the hunt together and both hunt in the same territory, and once he got me alone and on the edge of a cliff, he was to shoot me in the heart. But since he hesitated, I managed to avoid receiving a killing blow.”

“Then why did you lead everyone to believe you were dead?” Noel asks. “If you were alive, why did you…”

“Because I would have really ended up killed if I let them know I was alive.” I sigh. “It was for my own benefit to let Hunter and my family believe that I actually died that day.”

Even now, I didn’t regret any of my choices except for the choice I made to leave Noel. If I had known things would have progressed to this point while I built up my strength and power, I would have figured out a way to save her sooner.

“It’s alright,” I assure her, wiping away a stray tear that manages to escape. “I’m here now, and I will make sure that my family pays. They will suffer for the suffering that I endured, and I will take them down with my own two hands.”

“And the way to do that is to have an heir, right?” Noel asks, taking me by surprise. “That’s the only way for you to become alpha of your pack, right?”

“That’s right.” I confirm. “But I’ve already told you that I won’t force you to…”

“No,” she says, her voice strong and confident. “You’ve helped me so much, and I want to repay you. If the only way you can claim your pack is to have an heir, then let’s have a baby.”