Enforcing Boundaries

Chapter 14

Lachlan

Magnus wasn't himself today. I couldn't blame him, but I missed seeing that bright, easy smile. I really missed the way his eyes usually looked lit from the inside. How could such dark eyes hold such warmth? It was a contradiction I loved, and the only time he had looked remotely happy in the last couple of days was when he looked at me. Any other time, his eyes were dull, his smile gone, and his posture stiff with tension I had tried and failed to rub out.

Magnus wove through the forest roads on his pack lands with a white-knuckled grip on his steering wheel – he was still upset at the change of plans. I tried again to distract him. "I think I'm going to visit my cousins later," I said.

That did get his attention. "Really? I thought you didn't like to go over there much."

I shrugged. It was true, I did like to avoid the supernatural as much as possible – Magnus excluded – but I hadn't seen them in a few days. "They close their shop for dinner. I'll probably go over then."

Magnus nodded absently and already the glint of curiosity faded from his eyes. Well, at least I pulled him out of his own head for a minute.

I was starting to learn my way through the forest, something I never thought would happen, and knew that after the next bend we would be at the pack house. I watched out the window and felt a thrill of victory when the pack house did, indeed, come into view as I expected. Then Magnus gasped and he slowed to a stop. I glanced at him and took in his shaking hands and wide eyes. What could make him look like that?

My pulse raced with fear and I almost didn't dare look out the window in the direction of Magnus' stare, but my curiosity won out over the fear. Out in the field where the pack held its barbeques and bonfires there was a huge picnic set up with balloons, streamers, tables laden with food, and a massive banner that said "We stand with Alpha Magnus" in bold black lettering.

I looked from the crowd of smiling, waving faces to Magnus, who had tears rolling down his cheeks as he gaped at his pack.

I couldn't keep my hands off him, not now. Not when he was feeling so much, shaking and crying next to me. Not when he was about to go on a maybe-dangerous trip. I grabbed the hand he had resting on the shifting gear and kissed his trembling fingers one by one before pressing a kiss to his palm.

Magnus set his tear-filled eyes on me and smiled that breathtaking, bright smile I had been missing so much. "They've been" – he paused to sniffle – "they've been acting weird for days. I thought they didn't want me anymore."

"I can't imagine anyone not wanting you, Magnus." It was the truth. How could anyone pass up the chance to have someone so good, so pure in their lives?

And this wonderful creature, somehow he was mine.

More tears streamed down his face, quicker than before. "Thanks, Lach."

"Just telling the truth."

We stared at each other for a few long moments before Magnus exhaled shakily and nodded a little to himself. "Okay. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

As we drove closer, the pack cheered. Magnus parked and wiped the tears off his cheeks before climbing out of the car, but more replaced them. I followed behind him as he approached the picnic area. As soon as Magnus reached the crowd, someone broke free and hugged him. Soon he was being passed around, being embraced by some while others patted his arm or his back. I think he spoke to everyone before he made it back to me.

Felix came and stood beside me while we watched the pack show Magnus their support. Felix's eyes were shiny with unshed tears and I knew mine were too. Magnus deserved this, and there was no doubting how much it meant to him, not when he was still a little bit crying.