Felix

Over the next few days, I helped Meleri and Magnus prepare to move. They would be sharing the former alpha's house, which the pack had already prepared for them, so many of my parents' things were staying here – their furniture, their dishes, many of their keepsakes. I had told Meleri and Magnus they could take whatever they wanted, but both had insisted that it didn't feel right to remove too many of Mom and Dad's things. They wanted a home to come back to when they were able to visit.

I didn't push them. Even if I couldn't bear living here, I liked being able to go back home sometimes, too. I liked to see my parent's knickknacks spread across the shelves, to see the photos they had selected of each of us lining the hallways. I liked to crack open their bedroom door and see their things laid out exactly as they had been on the morning they left the room for the last time.

Meleri and Magnus' rooms were mostly packed up. Stella and Ryan helped them load up their cars. The two once-intruders had been pardoned since they were just acting on their alpha's orders and were truly not a threat to my family or my pack. Magnus would have to keep a close eye on them, but so far, the pair seemed harmless. They would be riding back to Tourmaline with Mel and Magnus.

With the packing done, all that was left were the farewells.

Everett was on his way with his mother and Griffin. I knew Everett had picked up on my thoughts through the bond, but he hadn't asked me any questions yet and I appreciated that he was giving me space to think.

It didn't feel right letting my siblings go without me.

I knew they could protect themselves – if that weren't true, Magnus wouldn't be an alpha now – but it didn't feel right sending them into what could be a hostile environment without me. I couldn't take Everett and Griffin there yet, though. Not while things were still so unsettled. Magnus was receiving every appearance of support from his new pack, but the reality he found could be quite different. That's why Elspeth and Patrick would be going with them. If things turned hostile, my friends would do everything they could to extract my siblings safely. Spencer had assigned them as Mel and Magnus' protective detail for the next month.

Knowing Magnus and Mel wouldn't be completely alone did a lot to settle my mind, but it wasn't enough and I was feeling unbalanced and anxious because of it.

Everett pulled up in my car with his mother behind him in her own. He climbed out while his mother got Griffin from his car seat. Everett went to her trunk and pulled out a large tote bag. He walked to me and held it between us. "I packed this for you," he said. His voice was low and I could hear the emotions in it. He sounded sad.

I reached out automatically for the bag, which was heavier than I had expected at first. "What's this?" I asked, though I had a creeping suspicion I knew exactly what this was.

"You have to go with them," Everett said. "I kept waiting for you to make the decision, yourself, but you keep dragging your feet."

"I can't just leave you and Griffin," I said helplessly as I clutched the bag against myself.

"It won't be for long. Just go long enough to make sure they're safe. You know you need to do this," Everett said. "I've already cleared it with Spencer. He gave you two weeks."

Tender feelings flooded me and I dropped the bag so I could hug Everett tightly instead. "I can't believe you did this," I said.

He hugged back just as hard. "We both know you have to go. I'm going to miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too." If only I'd known last night would be our last time together for a couple of weeks. I might have drawn things out a little more.

Everett caught the direction of my thoughts and snorted. "There's plenty of time for all that when you get back. Just make sure you come home safely. I trusted you to protect me and Griffin. Now I'm trusting you to protect yourself. I love you."

I kissed him thoroughly and our tongues were frantic as we tried to compact two weeks of passion in a single kiss. When we separated, I pressed our foreheads together. "I love you too. So much."

Everett smiled at me, though there were tears in his eyes. "Here are your keys. Make sure you video call us every day. Griffin won't understand why you're gone. I've tried explaining it to him, but he doesn't really have a concept of time yet – he just knows you're leaving."

I looked over Everett's shoulder to where Griffin was being held by Anya. I hooked an arm around Everett's waist – I wasn't letting go of him again until I had to – and we walked over to them. Anya passed Griffin to me with an understanding smile. "Take care of yourself, dear," she said.

"I will. Thanks, Mom."

She gave me a twinkling smile before stepping away to speak with Mel and Magnus, who were just about done loading up their cars. I appreciated that she gave me some time alone with my small family.

"Hey, Griffin," I said. "I've got to take a little trip, but I'll be back soon, okay?"

Griffin gripped my cheeks with a very determined look. "No leave."

"I'm just helping Uncle Magnus and Aunt Meleri with their move." He knew all about their move since we had been explaining it to him every chance we got. He had seen pictures of the house they would be living in, which seemed to help a lot.

"No leave," Griffin demanded.

"I'll call you and Daddy every day," I promised. It was no use arguing with a two-year-old.

I hugged Griffin and peppered his face with kisses, which broke him out of his pout as he squealed with laughter and pushed against me. "I love you very much," I said. "I'll be back." That was the most important thing for him to understand – that this wasn't permanent.

I passed Griffin to Everett. Griffin immediately started fighting against him, trying to get back to me. He understood that I couldn't leave if I was holding him, I thought. Smart kid. "I'll call you in a few hours, okay?"

Griffin didn't respond – he was too busy struggling. I looked back to Everett. "You're going to have your hands full with that one," I warned him.

Everett shrugged. "Mom's going to stay over tonight. She'll help keep him calm."

That made me feel a little better. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Meleri and Magnus were getting ready to leave. "I love you. I'll call tonight, okay? And I'll text when I arrive."

"I reserve the right to eavesdrop on your mind," Everett said with a small smile.

"You always have that right, except maybe right before Christmas or your birthday. I have to be able to surprise you."

I hugged him and gave him another kiss, which wasn't nearly as long as I wanted, then turned away. I picked up the bag my wonderful mate had packed for me and headed for my car. Magnus threw me a grateful smile before climbing into his car. Meleri just rolled her eyes at me, but I could see the smile she was fighting off.

"Can't let us do anything on our own, can you?" she called as she climbed into her own car.

"Never," I called back. I buckled myself in and started my engine. Magnus pulled onto the road, then Meleri. I let myself look one more time at my wonderful mate standing with his mother and our squirming son. Everett waved and smiled through watering eyes. I waved back and drove away.

I'd be back, I assured myself. As soon as Magnus and Mel were settled in, I would be back.

--

Thank you all for reading!  

This is part of a series.  The next book is called "Enforcing Boundaries," and it tells Magnus' story.  You can also jump to book 5, which is Griffin's story ("Everlasting").

Take care!

Nia