Chapter 8
Norri
I didn't see El Lobo Negro coming until he was standing right there beside us, his dark eyes blazing with anger as he took in the scene unfolding before him. My hand still resting atop Gali's, our faces inches apart, breaths mingling. We hadn't noticed him enter, hadn't heard his footsteps approach over the pounding of blood in our ears.
Time seemed to freeze, every muscle in my body tensing as realization dawned — we'd been caught. Caught red-handed when we were about to kiss, our growing bond laid bare for him to see.
El Lobo's gaze flicked between us, taking in the intimate tableau we presented. I saw the understanding click into place, saw the rage boil up within him like lava ready to erupt. He knew, and he wasn't happy about it.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He snarled, grabbing me by the scruff of the neck and yanking me roughly away from Gali. I stumbled, catching myself against the edge of the bed as I struggled to regain my footing.
Gali surged to his feet, stepping forward aggressively, hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Back off, El Lobo," he growled low in his throat, eyes flashing with his threat. "You're making a mistake."
El Lobo barked out a harsh laugh, releasing his hold on me only to advance on Gali instead. "Mistake? You're the one making mistakes, Gali! You're putting everything at risk because of this little omega worm!" He gestured towards me derisively, spittle flying from his lips in his agitation.
My stomach twisted into knots at the insult, but before I could respond, Gali interjected. "He's not just some 'omega worm'!" He spat, advancing on El Lobo with a ferocity that made even me take a step back. "He matters to me."
El Lobo reared back as if slapped, shock flickering briefly across his face before morphing back into pure, unadulterated fury. "Matters to you?" He roared, slamming his fist onto the dresser beside him, sending a vase crashing to the floor. "Since when does anyone or anything matter more to you than the Nightshade Wolves and me?"
Gali's jaw clenched, muscles flexing beneath his shirt as he clearly fought to maintain control. When he spoke again, his voice was steady, calm almost, yet filled with a quiet menace that sent shivers down my spine.
"You know I've always been loyal, El Lobo. Always put the gang first." He took a deliberate step closer, their noses almost touching now. "But this isn't just about loyalty anymore. It's personal."
El Lobo sneered, pushing hard against Gali's chest, sending him stumbling backward slightly. "Personal?" He mocked cruelly. "You think this little piece of ass is worth throwing away everything you've built here? Everything we've built together?"
Before I could react, Gali lunged forward, grabbing El Lobo by the collar and slamming him against the wall behind him. "Don't talk about him like that!" He snarled, teeth bared like a wild beast ready to strike.
I cringed inwardly, knowing full well what was coming next. This confrontation had been brewing for days now, simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for something — anything — to tip the scales. And now, here it was, playing out before my very eyes in all its brutal glory.
El Lobo shoved Gali off him, sending him sprawling to the floor before launching himself at my alpha. They traded blows, each determined to land the upper hand, neither willing to give an inch despite the clear disparity in their ages and experience.
I watched in horror as they rolled around, grunts and curses filling the air along with the sickening crunch of bone on flesh. Neither seemed able to gain the advantage, each too evenly matched, too unwilling to back down.
Then, suddenly, Gali managed to pin El Lobo down beneath him, his arm pressed firmly across the older alpha's throat. Panting heavily, sweat dripping from his brow, he glared down at his boss with murder in his eyes.
"I won't let you hurt him," he ground out through gritted teeth, voice shaking. "Not ever again."
For a moment, El Lobo seemed taken aback by the sheer determination burning in Gali's gaze. Then, just as suddenly, his expression hardened once more, a cold, calculating gleam entering his eyes.
"Kill me if you want," he challenged, barely above a whisper. "But know this: If you walk away now, there'll be nowhere left for you to hide. The Nightshade Wolves will hunt you down like the traitor you are."
Gali faltered slightly at those words, uncertainty flickering briefly across his features before disappearing just as quickly. He glanced back over his shoulder at me, our gazes locking, and I knew then what he would do.
Without hesitation, he released his grip on El Lobo, standing up straight and tall as if daring the other alpha to try something now. "We'll see about that," he said coolly, holding out his hand to me, palm up, fingers splayed wide.
I hesitated only briefly before placing my own hand in his, feeling the warmth and strength emanating from him as our fingers intertwined. Together, we turned towards the door, prepared to face whatever lay ahead.
But before we could take so much as a single step, chaos erupted outside the room. Shouts echoed down the hallways, followed by the unmistakable crack of gunfire.
Instinct took over, driving us both to dive for cover even as bullets tore through the flimsy walls surrounding us. I hit the floor hard, rolling under the bed just as another volley shattered the windowpane, raining glass down upon us like deadly confetti.
Gali cursed under his breath, crawling alongside me, using the narrow space between the bed frame and the floorboards to shield ourselves from further injury. His eyes met mine briefly, fierce resolve shining brightly within them.
"We have to go," he mouthed, pointing towards the door where shadows danced eerily amidst the flashes of gunfire beyond.
I nodded my understanding, my heart pounding wildly in my chest as adrenaline coursed through my veins. There was no going back now; we had to fight our way out of here or die trying.
With one last glance back towards the destruction wrought upon the room, we sprang into action simultaneously, darting out from beneath the bed and sprinting for the door side-by-side. Bullets whizzed past us like angry bees, kicking up chunks of plaster and wood from the floorboards beneath our feet.
Somehow, we made it through without sustaining any major injuries, bursting forth into the hallway amidst a hail of gunfire and shouting voices.
A quick glance revealed several cartel members rounding the corner up ahead, weapons raised and trained on us. But before they could get off another shot, Gali fired off two quick rounds, dropping them both where they stood.
More footsteps sounded nearby, echoing ominously off the bare walls as more of El Lobo's men closed in on our position. We were running out of time and options.
"There!" Gali yelled all of a sudden, gesturing towards a narrow staircase leading downwards into darkness. "That way!"
Hand in hand, we dashed towards the stairs, taking them two at a time in our haste to escape. The sounds of pursuit echoed after us, growing fainter as we descended deeper into the bowels of the compound.
Eventually, we emerged into a damp, musty corridor lit only by faint shafts of light filtering through grimy windows set high up near the ceiling. Gali pulled me roughly to a halt, pressing me flat against the wall as he listened intently for signs of our pursuers.
For a long moment, nothing but silence greeted us. Then, distant shouts echoed through the darkness, growing louder with every passing second.
"We need to keep moving," Gali muttered, taking my hand once more and pulling me along beside him. "Can't stop now, not until we're safe."
Together, we raced down the hallway, turning this way and that, following twists and turns that seemed designed to confuse rather than guide. Yet still, the sounds of pursuit dogged our heels, growing ever closer, ever more insistent.
Finally, we burst forth into the open, stumbling onto a small dock overlooking a vast expanse of water. The moon hung low in the sky overhead, casting an eerie glow upon the waves below, reflecting the desperate struggle playing out around us.
To our right stood a battered old rowboat, its weather-beaten hull swaying gently with the tide. Beside it, a lone figure hunched over the engine of a speedboat, clearly working to repair some damage inflicted during our hasty departure.
As we approached, the figure straightened up, spinning around with a snarl ready on their lips. Recognition flashed in their eyes as they caught sight of Gali however, their expression softening somewhat.
"Of course it's you, Raze," Gali called out gruffly, slowing our pace as we neared the boat.
As we drew near, Raze's eyes flicked from Gali to me and back again, comprehension dawning in their depths like a storm gathering on the horizon. I saw the hatred boiling there, raw and primal, most likely fueled by years of jealousy and resentment.
I didn't know much about their past, but it was obvious he was jealous of Gali.
"You fucking traitor!" He roared, lunging forward, hands grasping for Gali's throat. My alpha managed to dodge just in time, narrowly avoiding the brutal grip aimed at crushing his windpipe. Instead, Raze's momentum sent him crashing into the side of the speedboat, denting the metal hull with a resounding clang.
Gali wasted no time capitalizing on his opponent's loss of balance, launching himself at Raze and tackling him to the ground. They grappled, each fighting to gain the upper hand, fingers clawing at flesh, teeth bared in snarls. The air filled with grunts and curses, punctuated by the sickening crunch of bone on bone.
"Always knew you were weak," Raze spat, landing a solid punch to Gali's jaw. My alpha staggered back slightly, blood trickling from his split lip, but he recovered quickly, delivering a sharp elbow strike to Raze's temple. "But I never thought you'd stoop so low as to betray your own people."
"And I never thought you were capable of such pathetic jealousy," Gali retorted, driving his fist into Raze's stomach. Air whooshed from his lungs in a pained hiss, yet he refused to yield, counterattacking viciously even as Gali rained blow after punishing blow down upon him.
Back and forth they went, each driven by an almost feral intensity, fueled by decades' worth of pent-up aggression and bitterness. It was clear now that this wasn't merely about me or our attempted escape; this was a battle long in the making, a clash of titans playing out under the watchful eye of fate itself.
Raze landed a solid kick to Gali's knee, sending him sprawling to the ground with a cry of pain. Seizing his opportunity, Raze leaped atop him, pinning his arms above his head, raining blows down upon my helpless alpha's face. Each strike left me wincing internally, my heart aching for the man I cared about.
"You're finished, Gali!" Raze howled triumphantly, blood spraying from his mouth as he spoke. "Your life ends here!"
I couldn't let him do this, couldn't stand idly by while the one person who meant something to me was beaten within an inch of his life. Driven by desperation, I lunged forward, grabbing hold of Raze's arm mid-strike, digging my nails into his flesh hard enough to draw blood.
He reeled back in surprise, turning on me with murder in his eyes. But before he could lash out, Gali recovered, throwing all his weight into rolling them both over, sending Raze crashing to the ground beneath him.
"I'm done being nice," Gali growled menacingly, straddling Raze's chest, raining blows upon him with renewed vigor. His voice dripped with venom, his body shook with rage. "You've pushed too far this time."
I watched in horror as they fought, knowing full well that only one would emerge victorious from this brutal display of male dominance. And God help me, I wanted it to be Gali. No matter the cost.
With a final, ferocious roar, Gali landed a devastating punch squarely against Raze's jaw, snapping his head sideways with a sickening crack. The other alpha went limp in the same moment, eyes glazing over as consciousness slipped away, leaving him slumped unconscious underneath Gali.
Panting heavily, my alpha rose slowly, favoring his left leg. Blood trickled from numerous cuts and bruises marring his handsome face, matting his hair, and staining his shirt crimson. Yet despite the injuries, his stance remained proud, dominant, every inch the alpha he truly was.
Turning towards me, concern etched deep into the lines around his eyes, he reached out cautiously, as if afraid I might recoil from his touch. "Norri, are you okay?" He asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did he hurt you?"
I nodded numbly, still stunned by the brutal spectacle. "No... I'm fine," I managed to reply, finding my voice once more. "Thanks to you."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, though it faded quickly, replaced by the harsh reality of our situation. "We need to go," he said gruffly, gesturing towards the speedboat bobbing gently beside us. "Now."
Together, we moved towards the vessel, Gali helping me aboard before casting off the ropes securing it to the dock. As we pulled away, I cast a worried glance back towards the compound looming large behind us, half-expecting to see a horde of angry cartel members pouring out onto the shore, guns raised.
But none came. Either they hadn't realized their precious prize had slipped through their fingers or, more likely, El Lobo had ordered everyone to stay put until he arrived to assess the damage personally. Either way, it bought us some much-needed breathing room.
Once clear of the immediate danger zone, Gali took control of the wheel, steering us expertly through the choppy waters surrounding the island. I huddled near him, shivering despite the relative warmth of the night air.
"Here," Gali murmured, draping his leather jacket around my shoulders, its worn leather scent enveloping me like a shield against the chaos around us. "That should help."