In Which HE Cared

[NOUR]

"Tell me, what could I have done that got the universe so angry with me? What was my mistake other than accepting things for what they were?" Nour expressed frustratedly and Delbert just sighed before roughly pulling the very naked Nour into his arms, engulfing him in a warm hug.

"You won't do this alone, I'll always be here," Delbert said when Nour finally relaxed in the hug.

"It's so tiring," Nour said defeatedly.

"I know, Cass, I know… Sorry, I'm not able to do anything about the situation," Delbert said comfortingly before the both of them went into silence in each other's arms.

The lycan knew there was one thing that he could do, but Delbert also knew that Nour would hate him forever if he did that. He knew that nothing would ever be the same and while that wasn't exactly comforting, it was the one thing that Delbert couldn't live with.

He just couldn't. It hurt a little too much for him to let it happen.

"What am I going to do now? I don't even know how to look at him without wanting to smash his skull into his head. I don't know why I feel like killing him and I hate this feeling because I'm worried it will never go away," Nour admitted loudly as Delbert listened carefully.

He knew how hard it had to be for the young wolf to be in that state, but he couldn't do shit about it.

He knew that the consequences of misunderstandings were more dire than anything he had ever seen and he didn't want that for Nour; not when he could find a common ground and help the man.

There had to be a way out and he was going to find it for the young wolf. But would the young wolf really let him in this time?

"What if he loves you for who you are, Cass? What if he doesn't let his rejection ruin your bond? What if—" Delbert said and Nour let out a laugh as he pulled away from the hug gently.

He knew that he sounded insane with his laugh, but then there wasn't much of an option for him. His whole life was chaotic and nothing he believed in hard came to light. It was like he was trapped in some cycle that he couldn't snap out of.

What Delbert was saying made sense but it would have been even nicer if it was the truth. They both knew what was waiting for Nour and that wasn't something they could deny.

"We both know he still is in love with my brother. I wouldn't blame him for that. Al is stronger, more powerful, and can defend him if there comes a time when he needs defense—" Nour said, and Delbert once again interrupted him.

He understood that the young wolf was going through so much, but he couldn't let him put himself down just because of a mate who didn't know what he wanted or even how to deal with his shit.

It was crazy and something that sounded horrible, but there weren't many choices for them at the moment.

"Mira isn't you, Cass. He can never be you and if Mira heard you, I'm sure he wouldn't like what you think of yourself. I may not know much about my brother, but I know he's picky as fuck.

"He may not show it, but there is a reason my brother has a close circle of people that don't even reach ten. And you happen to be in there with his closest people. You are yourself, Nour.

"You are a good man, someone who defends the people against injustices. Surely you don't want them to know who you truly are but they know of the Ruby wolf. They know the things you do for them.

"If you were such a terrible or mediocre man, the wolves wouldn't have trusted you to get their vengeance for them. They wouldn't have loved you and even written songs about you.

"They wouldn't have tried to appeal for you to come to light. They love you, theta dore you, so don't put yourself down just because a warrior doesn't know what he's missing out on. You're a wonderful man, Burda.

"And I hope you never forget that, because whether you're the leader, or the Ruby wolf, or even the Omega, you are a good person, and someone worth defending and fighting for.

"If Grant can't see that, then it's his loss," Delbert said earnestly and Nour just stood there looking at the lycan in shock. He hadn't expected that hearty speech and much less from a lycan who clearly despised wolves.

There was always a reason for the difference between Lycans and wolves but Delbert was here being nice to him, kind and even understanding. That was something that didn't just happen in a day.

Nour wanted to think of anything about how they got here, but all he could think of was the possibility that Grant was still in love with Alanor and that the goddess had been a little cruel and given Nour the scraps from his brother.

It wasn't as encouraging, but what else could they do at the moment? It wasn't like the world was going to take a break on their behavior, no?

"You make it sound like I am someone important or even special, then perhaps the only reason you are nice to me is because I'm your brother's best friend," Nour said and Delbert let out a light chuckle.

Of course, he knew the young wolf would say that, but then Delbert wasn't going to correct him. He wasn't going to be truthful with Nour on why he was that worried about the man.

He wouldn't admit it out loud because if he did admit it out loud, then it would pose a danger to the young wolf and that wasn't something that Delbert wanted.

He still wanted to see the young wolf live freely and cause trouble during the day while defending people at night. It was what they had gotten used to and Delbert respected Nour for that.

"Well., you are right. I am being nice to you because they could give me bonus points for when I get to interact with my brother. Perhaps having you vouch for my kindness and loyalty will make him want me in his life.

"Who knows, we could be one big happy family and live happily ever after," Delbert said with a light tone and Nour let out a lunch. He hadn't expected this from the grim junior warrior but at least his night had been better having Delbert close.

Nour could tell that Delbert was on his side and while that was a dangerous assumption, that could make him a target of the Lycan's anger and cruelty, he chose to trust him. There was something about Delbert that streaked safety for nour.

There was a way in which Nour felt like the world wasn't exactly a bad place with Delbert in it and having the lycan this close to him, made him feel like he belonged and that he was worth fighting for.

Sure, they hadn't gone to war yet, but a man could hope that he was wanted, right?

"Ah of course. How could a great junior warrior be nice to a mere man like me yeah/" Nour teased and Delbert joined in with a laugh.

"Come, I know a place with nicer clothes fit for a man like you," Delbert said and Nour gladly followed, momentarily forgetting all about his pain and the hurt that he had gone through for the past few hours.

Maybe he was a little too trusting, but what else could he do when his world was several shades of gray and dark? He had nothing to live for but standing there in the night with the lycan, Nour had felt the safest.

It was almost like Delbert was his safe space and that was something the young wolf never had for a long time. Perhaps this was the beginning of a better life, right?

"Since I'm following you blindly, tell me more about yourself," Nour suggested and Delbert laughed it off, like he wasn't ready to share that part of his life, but perhaps he could go through what everyone knew about him, or rather the profile he had created for himself in Acrod.

"Well, I am a family man. Got a wife and two kids…" Delbert began as they disappeared into the night in the hope that tomorrow would be better.