Chapter 25 Noelle
Noelle
Buttery warmth fills my veins as I watch Nana take in all the beautiful Christmas lights. “Ooh, look at that one!”
She points to a big Ferris Wheel, and I cringe. Not a fan of heights, but if Nana wants to go up there in the freezing, blistering wind, then who am I to deny her?
Luckily, she’s only pointing at the lights blinking in the shape of a snowflake across the spokes of the wheel. Thank goodness.
Now she points at something more to my speed. “Look! Cupcakes!”
I smile as I have fond memories of her own cupcakes at the Christmas Market. Nothing compared to Nana’s baking. Absolutely nothing.
She was the best in town.
My dad, Richard, joins us through the busy walkways of the Christmas market, hands deep in his pockets. He casts his gaze around suspiciously, probably looking for a lawsuit.
Even if he doesn’t sue in the end, he just does it for fun. Lawsuit here, lawsuit there, everywhere a freaking lawsuit.
How he managed to charm my sweet mother, I’ll never know, but I guess Richard Hale is the Frost Wynter to my Rebecca Sweet—my mom’s maiden name before she took on the name Hale.
Pack Wynter has placed down wooden planks along the grass so that wheelchair and pushchair users have easy access, so they’re safe from my dad’s keen eye there, for now.
I’m grateful for Robin’s insight, though, as my cute little Nana now gets to enjoy the festivities rather than being cooped up in bed all day.
She’s still sick, of course. Every so often, she’ll produce a rattly cough, and my heart will break that little more. No doubt this will be a Christmas I will cherish for the rest of my life.
“Would you like to try a Christmas cupcake, Nana?” I ask.
Her eyes light up. “Is that a trick question? Yes, please!”
I laugh as I wheel her toward the stall. My ever-serious lawyer of a father pays for our cupcakes, and now we all bite into a Christmas treat.
Just as I take Nana’s wrapper from her hands when she’s finished, tossing it into a bin beside the stall, a familiar face appears.
Mom gasps when she sees him, waving her hand. “Noelle, look. It’s Robin!”
I roll my eyes as I know what she’s trying to do. She did the same thing with Shepard.
Mom throws her arms around Robin the moment he steps away from the crowd. “It’s so good to see you again, Robin. The market is amazing! Mom is having the best time.”
I suppose I should cut her some slack. Like me, Mom hasn’t been able to stop smiling as she gets to watch her elderly mother enjoying herself. So, of course, she wants to hug the Alpha responsible for putting the grin on the old Omega’s face.
Robin grins as he hugs her back, and I watch as my dad narrows his eyes at the younger Alpha. He does realize that Robin is my scent match… or was. He isn’t trying to steal Mom away.
Robin offers his hand to my father. “It’s so good to see you again, Richard.”
My father narrows his eyes a little longer at the Alpha before taking his hand.
He’s not at all warm to the pack like my other dad, Joel.
He’s still rather salty about how they treated me ten years ago.
He remembers all the nights I spent crying when we first got to New York, and how it affected my mother.
Omegas are extremely in tune with their children’s emotions. So, my fathers felt every ounce of emotion that my mom did at that time, as well as mine.
“Wynter,” he replies curtly.
Now an awkward silence passes amongst us, and there’s no missing the shame in Robin’s eyes. Luckily, Mom distracts the Alphas, introducing Robin to Nana. “You remember Noelle’s Nana, right, Robin?”
Robin beams wildly. “Of course I do! How are you, Rose?”
The Alpha reaches his hand down to the older Omega, but Nana clasps both of her palms around his hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
“I’m well, Robin. It’s so good to see you again.”
She holds on to him a little longer, and I think I spy the wish in her eyes, “Promise me you will look after my little Noelle when I’m gone.”
Robin spies it, too, and he wraps his other hand around hers now, answering her in silence.
“You all having a good time?” he asks next.
“Yes,” my dad responds. “The festivities are sufficient.”
I roll my eyes. Just say you are having a grand old time.
Robin seems pleased enough with his lackluster response. “Well, I hope you all stay for the fireworks. There will be a display!”
Nana beams. “Fireworks? Count me in.”
I glance at Robin. “I don’t remember there being fireworks back at the committee meetings.”
The Alpha winks at me. “Well, I arranged this one especially for a certain someone.”
Robin moves off again, stopping to talk with several people as all the guests thank him for a good time.
Warmth trickles through me when I realize who he’s talking about. He organized the fireworks for Nana.
So we would have a Christmas to remember…
“Why don’t you go after him, Noelle?”
The question comes from Nana. I peer down at her. She swivels around in her wheelchair, giving me that wise, stern look.
I stammer. “But… I’m celebrating Christmas with you, N—”
She cuts me off. “Go after him, Noelle. I’m fine. I have your mom and your dad. Perhaps I can even get your dad to crack a smile now and then.”
My dad’s cheeks burn bright red, and even Mom shakes her head at him. He may be super serious, but he has always been afraid of Nana. Naturally.
Mom smiles at me this time. “It’s okay, Noelle. Go on. Don’t let us old people hold you back.”
Nana scoffs at her daughter. “Speak for yourself. I am not that old!”
A snort escapes me. I really am going to miss her sense of humor one day. “Fine. I’ll go after him.”
I lean down to kiss Nana’s cheek. Then I hug Mom and then my dad, even though he’s as stiff as a board. However, he gives me a one-armed hug.
“Be careful. Call me if you need anything,” he says.
There’s no missing the double meaning in his words. My dad, Richard, doesn’t trust the pack. He expects them to hurt me again, but it’s my choice to go after them.
I’m a grown woman now who owns her mistakes. If they hurt me, then that’s on me. I hope he understands that.
“I will, Dad. Thank you.”
Finally, I move off through the crowd as I start dialing Robin’s number. He doesn’t pick up, so I dial Shepard. He appears to be busy, too.
It's no surprise. They have their hands full with the Christmas Market.
Now I take a deep breath and try Frost. He doesn’t pick up, either. However, I know where he will be.
So, I start making my way to the stage.
There he is, serenading the masses. I forgot how beautiful his voice was.
His eyes find mine, and I swear he’s singing just for me in that moment. There’s an apology in that gaze somewhere, one buried beneath a thick layer of ice, and just maybe… things can work between us again.
But he still has a long way to go.
Suddenly, my head spins, and I lose my balance. One moment, I’m watching Frost on stage, his raspy voice wrapping around me as he sings rock versions of classical Christmas songs. And the next, the sky tips on its side, and I’m lying on the cold ground.
What is happening?
When my body spasms, I get a very good idea.
Fuck. Not now… Not here.
The music stops, and then feet pound my way. “Noelle!”
When I glance up through the hazy fog, I find those piercing blue eyes of Frost. They’re scared. For me…
I’m fine. My Alpha is here.
I am safe.