Page 3 of Bound by the Cartel (Nightshade Wolves #4)

Norri

Pain shot through my arm as I huddled against the cold brick wall, watching in horror as chaos erupted around me. When had it all started? One moment, everything was fine; the next, it was as if a portal to hell had opened, unleashing demons into the world.

Gunshots rang out like thunderclaps, echoing off the high ceilings of the abandoned warehouse. Men shouted orders, cursed each other out, and fell screaming to the ground. Blood sprayed across crates and splattered onto rusted metal shelves. I couldn’t keep track of everything that was happening — it was impossible.

I'd never seen anything like it outside of movies — hell, I'd never even been in a fight before. But here I was, caught in the crossfire of some gang war I knew nothing about.

I came here for something I desperately needed. My life was a mess, and I needed something to make it better, even if just for a little while. I knew it wasn’t a solution, but it was the only thing I had.

And then there was him — tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair cropped close to his head and piercing eyes that seemed to glow with intensity even in the dim light. He moved like a predator among lesser creatures, graceful yet brutal as he took down anyone who got in his way. He was the one that most instilled fear in me. My heart hammered faster at the mere sight of him.

He wore black tactical gear that hugged every muscled inch of him like a second skin, accentuating powerful thighs and lean hips. I wasn’t sure if he was military or cartel, but my gut told me it was the latter.

A holster slung low across his chest held several weapons, but none of them compared to the sheer raw power emanating from him. It was something else.

Even amidst all the violence and fear, I couldn't help but notice how incredibly sexy he was. His jaw was set firm, lips pressed into a thin line as he barked orders at his men. Each movement spoke of confidence bordering on arrogance, yet somehow made him seem even more appealing rather than less.

When he spotted me cowering behind the makeshift barrier, time seemed to slow down. Our eyes met briefly before he turned away, focusing on eliminating more of our attackers. Still, that single glance sent shivers down my spine, leaving me feeling both exhilarated and terrified.

At the same time, I had no idea what he’d do after dealing with his enemies. Would he kill me too? Somehow, my gut told me he wouldn’t.

Then someone shot to kill me — or tried to; thankfully, they missed. But the sudden pain in my arm brought me crashing back down to reality. Fear gripped me tighter than ever before as I clutched my bleeding limb, trying desperately not to pass out from shock.

I didn't want to be brought back to reality. I was so happy fantasizing about that mysterious stranger.

Then, everything became a blur. The next thing I knew, the handsome alpha was kneeling beside me, pressing something against my wound while issuing commands over his shoulder. His voice was deep and authoritative, sending another shiver through me despite myself.

Up close, he looked even more imposing - and even sexier. Dark stubble shadowed his jawline, giving him an air of danger that should've scared me off completely. Yet all I wanted was to reach out and touch it, run my fingers along its rough texture...

What was wrong with me? Here we were in the middle of a goddamn gunfight, and all I could think about was how attractive he was? What? I couldn't even begin to try to make sense of what my mind was thinking about.

But then again, maybe it wasn't such a surprise. After all, hadn't I always craved excitement and adventure? Maybe this was just my subconscious mind trying to find some silver lining in this nightmare scenario.

Ever since returning from America, I’d wanted something like this. Maybe it was destiny’s twisted way of giving it to me.

Either way, I couldn't deny the strange pull I felt towards him. Even with blood soaking through his jacket where he pressed it against my injury, he managed to exude an aura of control and dominance that made me want to submit entirely.

I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if he had all of me.

As if sensing my gaze on him, he glanced up at me suddenly. Those intense eyes locked onto mine once more, holding me captive for what felt like an eternity. In their depths, I saw concern mingling with something else — something hotter, more intense. I didn't even want to think about what that meant.

It lasted only a moment before he looked away again, breaking whatever spell had held us both entranced. But in that brief instant, I swore I felt something pass between us — a spark of recognition or connection that defied explanation.

"You're going to be okay," he whispered, his voice like velvet in my ears.

I hadn’t expected him to say anything. In fact, I thought I didn’t want him to. But what was I thinking? Of course I wanted him to talk to me.

By now, everything had calmed down. The initial conflict was over, and his men were just checking the blaze, making sure nobody had escaped. I was certain no one had.

The alpha helped me up from the cold concrete floor and led me to sit on a nearby crate, his grip surprisingly gentle given the circumstances. I didn't think he was going to be gentle with me — at least, not any more than he was already being. As he examined my wound more closely, his brow furrowed in concentration and I took a moment to study him openly.

His dark hair was slightly disheveled now, falling across his forehead in tousled waves that begged to be smoothed back. I wished I could do that, but of course, wasn't even going to try.

A thin sheen of sweat coated his skin, emphasizing the sharp angles of his cheekbones and the strong line of his jaw. Gosh, he just couldn't get any more masculine than he already was.

Up close, I could see flecks of gold in his otherwise stormy eyes — eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies within their depths. I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Still, it was pointless to be thinking about that. It wasn't like he would ever tell me.

"Name's Gali," he said gruffly without looking up from his task, as if reading my thoughts. "And you are?"

"Norri," I replied softly, wincing as he probed the edge of the bullet graze. "Norri Kael."

He paused mid-motion, glancing up at me sharply before continuing his movements. "Kael... That name rings a bell." He muttered under his breath, more to himself than to me.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the knot forming in my stomach. This wasn't good. If he recognized my last name... There would be trouble, to say the least.

"What are you doing here, Norri?" Gali asked without hinting he was going to do that, his tone shifting from casual to accusatory in an instant. His gaze bored into me, demanding an answer.

"I-I..." My mouth felt dry, my tongue thick and awkward. Why did he have to ask such a question? Did he really want to know so much about me? I thought he would have left me alone by now.

Gali raised an eyebrow expectantly, waiting for my response. When I hesitated too long, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping low and threatening. "You better start talking fast, pretty boy. Before I lose patience altogether."

Fear spiked through me like lightning at the implied threat behind those words. Pretty boy? Was that really how he saw me? Or was it just another way of calling me weak?

"I'm sorry," I blurted out finally, cringing internally at how pathetic I sounded. "I didn't want to do anything wrong. I swear!"

Gali scoffed, rolling his eyes heavenward as if seeking divine intervention. "Kid, you're lucky you're still alive after pulling a stunt like this. You really shouldn't be in this place."

My heart pounded wildly in my chest as realization dawned on me: He thought I was working with the Bloodletters! Panic surged through my veins, making it difficult to think straight let alone form coherent sentences.

"No!" I cried out desperately, shaking my head despite the pain shooting through my arm. "No, please don't think that! I'm not one of them!"

Gali's expression hardened further if that was even possible. "Then why were you here?" He demanded, his voice making me jolt. "What business do you have with scum like that?"

I opened my mouth to respond but faltered under his piercing glare. How could I explain myself without sounding ridiculous? Without revealing just how desperate my situation truly was?

Gali grew impatient with my silence, snapping harshly, "Spit it out already! You've got five seconds before I decide your time's run out, boy."

Four... Three... Two...

"Please!" I begged, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. "I can explain!"

One...

"I needed something!" I blurted out, hands trembling where they clutched my injured arm. "Something to help me feel better! Just for a little while, I swear!"

Gali stared at me blankly for a moment before comprehension dawned in his eyes. Disgust followed, twisting his features into a sneer.

"You came here for drugs?" He spat, his eyes judging me. "You're just another junkie looking for a fix, is that it?"

Heat flooded my cheeks as shame washed over me like a tidal wave. Hearing it put so bluntly made it sound even worse than it already was. However, I couldn't deny he was right. I was a junkie.

"No!" I protested, knowing full well how lame it sounded. "Not like that... Not exactly..."

Gali threw up his hands in exasperation, turning away from me abruptly. "Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath. "Just what we need - some naive little omega thinking he can play with fire without getting burned."

Tears spilled down my face unbidden, fueled by humiliation and fear. This couldn't be happening; none of this could be real!

"But I'm not like that!" I insisted, hating how plaintive my voice sounded. I also hated I was lying to him. "I just wanted something to take the edge off! To help me forget for a little while..."

Gali whirled back around to face me, anger etching deep lines into his face. "Forget what?" He growled, looming before me. "Your sad excuse for a life? Your dead-end job? The shitty place where you live, wherever it is?"

Each word hit me like a physical blow, driving the air from my lungs until I felt lightheaded. How dare he judge me like that? How dare he act like he knew anything about my struggles?

But given what he said, maybe he knew more about me than I thought.

"Yes!" I shouted back, surprising us both with the sudden burst of courage. "Yes, okay? Yes, all of that! It's not easy being broke and alone in this godforsaken city! Sometimes I just want something — anything — to make it all go away!"

Silence hung heavy between us for several heartbeats before Gali sighed, the sound almost palpable, running a hand roughly through his hair.

"Fine," he said, though it clearly cost him dearly to admit defeat. "I get it. Life sucks sometimes. But coming here? Doing this?" He gestured vaguely towards the carnage surrounding us. "This isn't the answer."

I nodded miserably, unable to meet his gaze. Maybe he was right; maybe there were other ways to cope besides throwing myself into danger and desperation.

If only I had already found my destined alpha mate, everything might be different. But I was just dreaming. It wasn’t likely to happen — I had no real chance of finding that person.

With that thought crossing my mind, part of me wondered if I'd ever find those other ways. Or if I even deserved to try.