Shifting Boundaries

Chapter Eleven

Felix

I started worrying over Everett when he hadn't returned twenty minutes after leaving to take a call from his alpha. He still wasn't back after another twenty minutes, when the movie had ended.

Meleri stretched and headed for the coatrack, getting ready to leave for the night. Magnus looked over at me with bright eyes. "So," he said eagerly, "things are finally on track with Everett?"

I felt myself smile goofily but couldn't stop. "We seem to be getting there," I hedged. Everett still hadn't actually committed to anything – I was painfully aware of that – but it was impossible not to get my hopes up after a day like this one.

He was an incredible kisser.

Magnus smiled, too, and stood up, joining Mel by the door. She already had her coat and boots on, but for once she wasn't tapping her foot in impatience. In fact, her expression looked kind of soft. She was happy for me.

"We'll get out of your hair," Magnus said. "Mel and I both have to get back to work tomorrow, so we probably won't see you until dinnertime."

That only made my smile grow. I loved my siblings, but right now I needed time alone with Everett more than anything. "I'll make eggplant parm," I promised.

Magnus flung his arms around me, squeezing hard. Eggplant parmesan was his favorite meal and I didn't like to make it often because it was a lot of work – I liked to hand-make the pasta, too. I didn't mind the idea of spending a lot of time cooking tomorrow, though. Everett would be with me.

"Good night!" Mel called on her way out the door. Magnus followed, also calling "Good night!" over his shoulder.

I shut and locked the door behind them, smiling to myself until I remembered that Everett wasn't back yet. He wouldn't have shut himself into his room for the night without saying goodnight to me, would he?

I walked quietly down the hall and listened hard for the sound of talking, something to indicate that Everett was still on his phone call. I heard nothing, though. Deciding to give him a little more time, I went to the bathroom and got ready for bed. After some debate, I decided to forgo a shirt since I usually just slept in boxers. Everett probably wasn't quite ready for that visual, but surely he could handle me just wearing pajama pants.

Finally, I couldn't delay myself any longer. I knocked softly on Everett's door and waited anxiously. I didn't want to interrupt a conversation with his alpha, but I also didn't want to go to bed without seeing him again.

Everett opened the door and pulled me immediately against him in a hard hug. I hugged him back, but any enjoyment I took from the contact vanished when I realized he was shaking against me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, suddenly terrified.

Everett just shook harder, seemingly unable to speak.

"Okay, we don't have to talk. Let's just sit down, okay? Can I just hold you for a while?"

Everett just kept shaking and hugging me. After a while, he said, "Can I sleep in your bed tonight?"

His voice came out rough. My mind raced through reasons his alpha might have called, but I simply didn't have enough information. "Of course."

Everett let me lead him to my bedroom, where I climbed onto the bed with Everett settling next to me. The room was dark, but I didn't need to see him to know he was still shaking a little. I settled the blankets over us before pulling Everett into my arms. I couldn't do anything to comfort him except hold him, not until I knew what had happened.