Chapter 119 My Angel | 012
NOELLE
“Dumpster?"
The voice slices through my haze of bliss, laced with that fake sweetness that always makes my skin crawl. My body goes rigid, Azren's arms still wrapped around me.
Alex and Eleanor are standing near the exit doors, half-turned towards each other like they've been arguing.
Alex's face is red, and Eleanor's got that pinched look, one hand already digging in her purse.
They're dressed up, I guess. Alex is in a rumpled suit that screams "trying to impress," and Eleanor is in a flashy gold dress that clings too tightly to her frame. But they look disheveled, like whatever fight they were having just got interrupted.
Their eyes land on me, and shock flashes across their faces.
"You?" Eleanor spits, her voice cracking with disbelief. "You were supposed to marry Haden. The deal was done. What the hell are you doing here with—with him? Attention seeker much?"
Alex's gaze darts to Azren, sizing him up, then it returns to me with a sneer. "Yeah, look at you, all dressed up like you're something special. Still ugly as ever, though. Who'd want that?"
The words sting, old wounds reopening. The same crap they flung at me to keep me small. But I'm not small anymore. Not after what Azren just did to me in that corner, especially with his ring on my finger.
I open my mouth to fire back, but Azren moves first. He steps in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking them from view, but I peek around him.
Eleanor's already pulling out her phone, her thumb flying across the screen. "Mum's going to flip when she hears this. You ruined everything, you little—"
Azren's hand shoots out, snatching the phone mid-sentence. There's a loud crack. He snaps it clean in half, then he drops the pieces into her open palm without a word.
Eleanor gasps, stumbling backwards. "What the—?"
Azren's eyes meet hers, and I see the spark of madness igniting there. It sends chills down my spine.
"Call her that again," he says. "Or try to dial anyone. And I'll make sure you never hold a phone or anything else with those hands."
Eleanor's face pales. She clutches the broken shards, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Serves her right.
Alex puffs up stupidly, stepping forward with a forced laugh. "Hey, man, back off. She's just—"
Azren turns to him slowly. That mad spark shines brighter, his eyes narrowing to slits. Before any of us can react, he grabs Alex by the collar, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. Internally, I'm screaming. Because that is so fucking hot. Can he bench press a car too? Dayum!
Alex's feet dangle, kicking uselessly, his face turning purple as Azren leans in close.
"You spineless animal," Azren says, his voice deadly soft. "You hurt her. And now you're standing here, breathing the same air as my wife. Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right now."
Alex chokes, his eyes bulging helplessly. A dark stain spreads down his pants, the putrid smell of urine hitting the air. He's pissing himself, his legs twitching in terror. Talk about hilarious.
This is so satisfying, it makes me want to cry tears of joy. Eleanor whimpers, backing up against the wall.
I should feel bad. I don't.
Instead, I step up beside Azren, my voice steady despite the adrenaline roaring in my ears.
"Put him down," I say. Azren glances at me, the madness fading slightly. He drops Alex like trash, and Alex crumples to the floor, gasping.
I look at them both—Eleanor clutching her broken phone and Alex curled up in his own mess.
And a heady wave of triumph floods me.
"You two spent years calling me ugly, attention seeker, and worthless," I say, my voice rising. "You laughed while I bled inside. But look at you now, pissing yourselves because you can't handle seeing me happy with someone who actually wants me and fights for me. So yeah. Go call Mum. And if you ever come near me again, my husband won't be the one you’ll have to worry about."
Eleanor's eyes dart to Azren, then me. She doesn't say a word. Alex whimpers something incoherent, still on the floor.
Isn't he being too dramatic, though? His cheating ass deserves worse! Maybe plucking out his eyes will—
Azren's hand finds my waist again. "We're leaving."
I nod, but I'm still fuming, blood pounding in my ears. Azren sighs, then he scoops me up, tossing me over his shoulder.
I clutch at his broad shoulders, still glaring at the duo.
Azren strides towards the exit, Eleanor and Alex shrinking smaller, frozen in their humiliation.
Right before we reach the car, Azren slows. He lowers me carefully to the ground, his hands steady on my waist until my feet are solid.
I'm breathing hard, my chest heaving, my fists still clenched.
Azren cups my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks. His beautiful blue eyes search mine, glinting with fierce pride.
"Are you good, Angel?" he asks gently.
I nod, letting out a shaky laugh. "They... he pissed himself."
Azren's mouth curves. "Yeah. He did."
He pulls me close, resting his forehead on mine. "My fierce little wife."
Warmth floods my chest, a giggle slipping out.
His gaze dips to my lips, and I lean up on my tiptoes to kiss him. A feral groan vibrates from deep in his chest as I deepen the kiss.
His soft lips devour mine, every stroke of his tongue leaving me breathless and shaking like a desperate little slut.
When the kisses end, I look up into his eyes and rest my hand on his chest.
“Do you hate me?” I ask, and he arches a brow.
“Hate? Come on, Angel. I wouldn’t marry you if I hated you.”
I bite my lower lip, uncertain.
“I’m worried that you will regret helping me or getting involved. Hayden is not a good person, and I worry—”
He chuckles softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Sweetheart, do you really think I’m a good person? I’m probably much worse than Haden. I should be asking you if you’re sure you want to get involved with someone like me,” he tells me.
I crinkle my nose at him.
“You keep saying that, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to see or if I’m too blind to see it. But, Azren, all I see is your generosity and your kindness. Why are you so determined to make me afraid of you?”
He exhales slowly. “Because then you wouldn’t have the biggest expectations.”
I lean up to plant a kiss on his jaw.
"Screw expectations. I just need you. You said I'm your mate. Will you claim me?" I say, and he smirks, leaning over.
"You seem to know a lot about werewolves," he points out, and I blush.
"I've read so many werewolf books. That's why."
He grins. "That explains why you accepted me so easily. Fine. There’s no backing out, okay? I’m claiming you, body, soul and all.”
My throat goes dry. Still, I nod.
“I, Azren Miles Lakewood, accept you…Noelle Amber Lakewood, as my fated mate.”
The moment he utters those words, a thick pulse ignites in my chest. Like a second heartbeat. I let out a gasp, bringing a hand to my chest. I’m breathless at this point, overwhelmed too. But I push myself to reciprocate.
“I, Noelle Amber Lakewood, accept you, Azren Miles Lakewood, as my fated mate,” I breathe.
Warmth spreads all over my body, my fingers tingling. A slight dizzy sensation grips me, and I sway a little, bringing a hand to my temple.
“Noelle,” Azren suddenly says, and I look at him.
His eyes are wide and shimmering with moisture. But his gaze is fixed on my hand.
“What is it?” I ask, worried.
He slowly takes hold of my hand to expose the inside of my wrist, where a strange mark like an incomplete flame is etched into my skin. My eyes go wide. I didn’t have this before.
So, how is it here? Wait, is it something supernatural—
The thought comes to a grinding halt when Azren suddenly pulls me into a crushing hug. My eyes go wide when I feel how hard he’s shaking.
“It’s you,” he croaks. “It’s really you.”
I part my lips to ask him what he means, only for my gaze to land on the hole of a gun which is trained at us, several feet away. Blood drains from my face. But before I can alert him, the gun goes off.