Chapter 21
Norri
The night passed in agonizing slowness, each minute stretching into an eternity as I lay awake, staring at the ceiling above our bed. Orion slept peacefully beside me, his small form rising and falling gently with each breath. I envied his innocent ignorance, the way he could drift off without a care in the world while my mind raced without an end, consumed by fears and doubts.
Gali had left hours ago, stepping out into the darkness to confront the monster who haunted our lives. El Lobo, the cartel boss who'd tormented us both for so long. Gali was determined to end this once and for all, to secure a future where we could raise our son in safety and peace.
Part of me wanted to believe it would work, that he would come back triumphant and unscathed. That this nightmare would finally be over.
But another part, a cold, pragmatic voice in the back of my mind, whispered that nothing ever came easy in this life. Especially not when dealing with the likes of the cartel. Men like El Lobo didn't go quietly; they clawed and bit and fought tooth and nail right to the very end.
And Gali...my alpha, my love. Was he prepared for what awaited him? Did he truly understand the depths of cruelty and viciousness El Lobo was capable of? I mean, he should. He was cartel once, after all.
I rolled onto my side, curling around Orion protectively, breathing in his sweet scent to calm myself. He made soft cooing sounds in his sleep, seeking the warmth and comfort of my body.
Gali had called me 'husband' earlier. We weren't actually married — not officially, anyway. Not like I imagined we would be someday, exchanging vows and rings in front of friends and family. But there was no denying the bond between us, the deep, soul-level connection forged in blood and passion and love. In every sense that mattered, he was mine and I was his.
So why had those words sent such a jolt through me? Were my insecurities really that profound, that a simple word could throw me into such turmoil?
No. There was more to it than that. Call it intuition or instinct, but something told me that man knew more than he let on. More than just our relationship status. He'd looked at me with such knowing eyes, almost pityingly. Like he pitied me for whatever was to come.
I shuddered and forced those troubling thoughts away. I couldn't afford to indulge in dark speculation now, not when every moment felt precious and fleeting. Instead, I focused on Orion, marveling at how much he looked like Gali. The same strong jawline, the stubborn set of his little chin...
Hours crept by with excruciating slowness. I changed Orion's diaper and burped him, singing silly lullabies until he drifted back to sleep again. Then I tidied the house, washing dishes and folding laundry and trying to keep my mind occupied.
By early afternoon, tension knotted my stomach into tight coils, winding tighter and tighter as the minutes ticked by. My phone remained silent, with no messages or calls from Gali.
What if something happened to him? What if--
I cut the thought off ruthlessly, refusing to entertain such scenarios. He promised he'd come back to us. And I believed him.
Didn't I?
Finally, just as the sun began its lazy descent towards the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant streaks of orange and pink, I heard the click of the lock turning, the sound of the door opening and closing.
"Gali?"I called out, leaping up from the couch where I'd been sitting with Orion.
Heavy footsteps moved further inside and then he was there, my alpha, my love, standing before me with a grim expression etched across his face.
"Oh thank god,"I breathed, relief crashing over me in a tidal wave. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and I found myself moving forward, drawn to him even as a tiny part of me hesitated, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Because he wasn't smiling, wasn't laughing joyfully, or picking me up in his strong arms like I'd hoped. He simply stood there, looking haggard and exhausted and... different.
"What is it?"I probed, coming closer and reaching out to touch his arm."Are you hurt?"
He shook his head slightly, then seemed to deflate inward, shoulders sagging under some unseen weight."It's done,"he said heavily, glancing towards the room where Orion lay sleeping."El Lobo...he won't be bothering us anymore."
A chill ran through me, raising the fine hairs along my arms. I knew what he meant, the implication behind his carefully chosen words. But hearing him say it out loud, seeing the exhaustion and something else... something darker in his gaze...
"You killed him."The realization fell from my lips before I could stop them."You confronted him and..."
"Yes,"Gali confirmed."There was no other way. He would never have stopped coming after us otherwise."
I nodded slowly, a numb sort of understanding settling over me. Of course Gali had done it. Of course he'd taken that final, irrevocable step to protect us, to secure our safety and freedom. Because that was who he was, my fierce alpha protector.
But oh, what must it have cost him? To stand against the monster who'd terrorized us for so long, to face his own demons and fears and strike him down without mercy...
"I'm sorry,"I whispered, stepping fully into his space and wrapping my arms around his waist, pressing my forehead to his chest."I'm sorry you had to do that."
Gali's hands came up to cup my face tenderly, tilting my chin up to meet his gaze. His eyes were hard and distant, yet filled with a softness reserved only for me. For us.
"It's alright,"he murmured, brushing a kiss against my brow."It needed to happen. You know that. And now..."His gaze drifted once more to Orion."Now maybe we can start living, truly living. No more hiding, no more fearing the Nightshade Wolves."
Tears spilled freely down my cheeks then, dripping onto the front of his shirt. I clung to him like he was my lifeline, my anchor in a storm-tossed sea.
"I love you,"I choked out between sobs, the words muffled against his chest."I love you so fucking much, Gali."
His hold tightened by reflex, crushing me to his chest in a bruising embrace."And I love you,"he growled lowly."More than life itself, Norri. More than anything in this whole damn world."
We stayed like that for several long moments, lost in each other, pouring everything unsaid into that singular embrace.
Then Orion started fussing from the other room and Gali pulled away with reluctance, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth."Go take care of him,"he urged, releasing me from his grip."Get him settled back down. I'll go wash up and join you both."
I hesitated, searching his face for any signs of distress or pain, but saw none. Only determination and quiet satisfaction. Nodding with a jerk, I turned and hurried down the hall to Orion.
As I lifted Orion from his crib, cradling him close and breathing in his sweet scent, I caught sight of Gali disappearing into the bathroom beyond the half-open bedroom door.
In that moment, watching the broad line of his shoulders beneath his shirt, the strong column of his throat, I felt something shift deep within me. A sense of rightness, of belonging, and completion unlike anything I'd ever known.
This was it. This was the family I'd always dreamed of having, the future I'd fought to build alongside my alpha.
Gali emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, clean and fresh-scrubbed, the lines of strain and tension noticeably absent from his features.
Settling himself on the couch beside me after Orion fell asleep again, he reached out to take him from my arms, nestling the baby securely in the crook of one muscular bicep while draping his free arm across my shoulders.
"We did it,"I marveled quietly, snuggling deeper into his side."After everything... we actually made it through."
"With flying colors,"Gali agreed, nuzzling into my hair."Though it feels like so much time has passed it's like Orion has grown overnight."
I laughed softly, tracing idle patterns across his thigh as I listened to the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my ear. It felt surreal, sitting here like this in peaceful domesticity when just hours ago he'd been engaged in deadly combat.
As Gali held Orion close, gazing down at his sleeping face with pure adoration, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion. In that moment, seeing my two most precious people together, safe and unharmed, it struck me just how far we'd come. The trials and tribulations we'd endured to reach this point…
Slowly, reverently, I leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to Gali's jawline, trailing soft pecks along the rough stubble of his cheek before finding his lips. He met me halfway, his mouth slanting hungrily over mine as his hand slid into my hair, holding me in place.
We kissed deeply, pouring months worth of longing and fear and love into that single perfect moment. Our tongues danced, twined, caressing, and claiming as tears streamed freely down both our faces. Orion cooed contentedly between us, unaware of the profound shift taking place around him.
When we finally parted, gasping for air, I rested my forehead against Gali's, marveling at the raw vulnerability in his expression. So rarely did I see him let his guard down like this, allowing his true self to shine through the stoic mask he wore for the world.
"I thought I might never get to do that again,"I whispered, my voice thick with barely restrained emotion."Kiss you, feel you like this..."
Gali's grip tightened around both me and Orion, tucking us closer against his solid warmth."Never,"he vowed fervently, his eyes burning into mine with fierce intensity."No more separations, no more hiding who we are to each other. From now on, we face whatever comes our way united as a family."
I nodded without saying anything, unable to speak past the lump lodged firmly in my throat. He was right. We'd wasted too much time cowering in the shadows, afraid to claim what was ours by right and law of the heart.
El Lobo may have tried to tear us apart with violence and intimidation, but he failed. Because in the end, love proved stronger than fear. Love conquered all.
And our love was the strongest force of all. An unbreakable bond tested by fire and tempered by sacrifice.
"I love you,"I managed to choke out at last, the words inadequate yet necessary nonetheless."More than anything, Gali. More than life itself."
His smile then, brilliant and incandescent, lit up the room brighter than any sunrise ever could."As I love you,"he returned fiercely, sealing his declaration with another searing kiss that left me dizzy and breathless.
Orion squirmed between us then, his little face scrunching up in displeasure at being jostled. Gali laughed softly against my lips, breaking the kiss with reluctance.
"He's got your stubborn streak already,"he teased, bouncing our son."Demanding attention even now."
I swiped at my damp cheeks, grinning through my tears."Just like his father,"I agreed fondly."Always wanting what he wants when he wants it."My tone turned wry, playful.
Gali mock-scowled at me, his eyes dancing with mirth."Careful there, omega,"he warned, his voice low and teasing."Keep sassing me like that and I'll put that smart mouth of yours to better use."
Desire unfurled low in my belly at his heated promise, a delicious shiver racing down my spine. But practicality intervened before things could progress further.
"Not in front of the baby!"I scolded, extricating myself from Gali's embrace with great reluctance."Let's get him settled back down first. Then maybe we can continue this discussion in private."
Gali sighed with heaviness, though his eyes remained alight with wicked mischief."Fine,"he conceded grudgingly."Duty calls. But don't think we're done here, omega."
I smirked at him over my shoulder as I carried Orion to his crib, putting an extra sway in my hips."Oh, I know we're not. I'm counting on it actually."
His low groan of anticipation followed me down the hall, igniting a smoldering heat deep in my core. It seemed my alpha still had plenty of stamina left after his earlier exploits.
Good thing I liked a challenge. Because I intended to test his limits once Orion was fast asleep again.