Chapter 7
Gali
The sun hung low in the sky as I pushed open the door to Norri's temporary quarters, the dim light casting long shadows across the bare walls. I used the term 'temporary' because I knew he would eventually have to leave, one way or another, no matter how much I wished otherwise.
He sat huddled on the edge of the bed, knees drawn up to his chest, looking small and fragile in the oversized shirt and sweatpants we'd loaned him. He needed new clothes after what happened to him.
Our conversation yesterday had left me with a lot to think about. Not just about his near escape attempt or the ensuing confrontation with those two cartel members, but also about the undeniable connection I felt pulling me towards Norri.
I knew it was foolish to entertain thoughts of a future together when our worlds were so far apart, yet I found myself helpless against the tide of emotion crashing through me whenever I saw him. It made no sense, but then again, love often didn't follow logic or reason.
As I stepped inside, Norri glanced up warily, his eyes widening slightly in surprise at seeing me. I offered him a reassuring smile, hoping to ease some of the tension radiating off him.
"How's the arm feeling today?" I asked, crossing the room to sit down beside him on the narrow mattress.
Norri uncurled slightly, allowing his injured limb to rest gingerly in his lap as he shrugged. "Better," he admitted after a moment's hesitation. "Still sore, but manageable."
"That's good," I replied, nodding approvingly. "Make sure to keep it clean and remind me to change the dressing. I'll see if I can find some proper medication later."
His face lit up briefly at that news before falling flat once more. "Thanks," he muttered, picking at the loose threads on the hem of his borrowed shirt. "For everything."
The gratitude in his voice warmed me more than any amount of alcohol could. Yet it also stirred something else within me - guilt. Here I sat, enjoying the simple pleasure of his company while knowing full well how precarious his position truly was. If El Lobo Negro ever caught wind of the growing attachment between us...
But I shook off those dark thoughts, determined not to let them intrude upon this precious moment. Instead, I turned my attention back to Norri, studying the lines etched into his young face, the shadows lurking in his eyes. He had been through so much already; I wanted nothing more than to spare him further pain and suffering.
"You want to talk about it?" I ventured, not wanting to push too hard too fast. "About... before all this happened?"
Norri's gaze flickered up to meet mine briefly before skittering away again, uncertainty written plainly across his features. For a moment, I thought he might refuse, retreat back into silence as he seemed to do whenever confronted with anything remotely personal. But then he took a deep breath, steeling himself.
"There's not really much to tell," he began hesitantly, hugging his arms around himself again. "My life wasn't exactly exciting before. Just working at the factory, trying to scrape together enough money to survive."
"And your family?" I prodded gently, sensing there was more to his story than he let on.
A shadow crossed his face at the mention of loved ones, his mouth pressing into a thin line as if bracing himself against an onslaught of painful memories. "They're gone," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what has happened to them."
My heart ached for him, imagining the loneliness he must've endured growing up without the guidance and support a family should provide. Yet even as I empathized with his plight, part of me marveled at his resilience — how he'd managed to maintain such an optimistic outlook despite being dealt such a shitty hand in life.
"It couldn't have been easy," I murmured, showing empathy and reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. "Especially considering you never asked for any of this."
He leaned into my touch briefly before straightening once more, as if reminding himself not to get too comfortable with my affection. As much as it pained me to witness, I couldn't blame him. Trust was earned over time, not bestowed freely based solely on desire.
"I guess not," he agreed, his voice soft and his gaze fixed firmly on the floor between his feet. "But I've learned to accept what I can't change and focus on making things better for myself instead."
I admired his determination, even as it underscored the vast chasm separating our realities. While I had spent years clawing my way up through the ranks of the Nightshade Wolves, Norri had been forced to fight tooth and nail simply to maintain his basic needs. It only served to highlight the stark contrast between our lives, and the daunting challenges that lay ahead if we ever hoped to build something lasting together.
"Speaking of which," he continued after a brief pause, glancing up at me sideways with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "What about you? How did you end up... here?"
His tone implied he knew more about my world than he let on, but I couldn't fault him for asking. After all, anyone paying attention would've picked up on the underlying dynamics at play among the Nightshade Wolves.
"Not quite the rags-to-riches tale like yours," I admitted wryly, leaning back against the wall behind us as I stretched out my legs along the length of the bed. "Growing up, my dad was high-ranking within the cartel. When he passed away unexpectedly, it left me in charge of managing our territory."
Norri nodded slowly, digesting this new information silently before speaking again. "And your mom? Do you have any siblings?"
"No mom," I replied gruffly, memories of her distant and vague now. "She left when I was just a kid. Never looked back either. As for siblings..." I paused, remembering old memories. "Well, I had a younger brother once. But he's gone now."
The words tasted bitter on my tongue, each syllable laced with the poisonous venom of regret. Even after all these years, the memory of that tragic day still haunted me, gnawing at my soul like a relentless cancer.
Norri reached out, placing his small hand atop mine where it rested on the mattress between us. His fingers were cool, his touch surprisingly comforting despite the weighty subject matter we discussed.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely, his thumb brushing gentle circles against my skin. "Losing someone you care about is never easy."
"True," I acknowledged quietly, appreciating his empathy more than words could express. Yet even as gratitude swelled within me, so too did another emotion — one far stronger and more potent: love.
In that moment, looking down at our intertwined hands, feeling the soft pressure of his palm pressed against mine, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt: Norri was mine. My destined mate. The other half of my soul.
No matter how impossible the odds stacked against us, no matter the obstacles threatening to tear us apart, I wouldn't let him go. Not again. Not after finding him, after finally seeing a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed my life for so long.
But telling him that now, when he was already grappling with enough uncertainty and fear, would be selfish. Instead, I chose to keep those thoughts locked tightly within my chest, vowing to find a way to make them a reality somehow.
For now, though, I contented myself with enjoying his company. We still had time to figure everything else out; for now, this was enough.