Page 70 of Follow Your Instincts

“I understand if you want something different,” Lachlan said. I tried to interrupt, but he touched the back of my hand softly and continued. “But I think that we could be great. Our pack. With you as a part of it. If that makes me selfish, so be it. You are… incredibly important to us, to me, already.”

I took a deep, unsteady breath. “You guys are important to me, too. And I’m so sorry for what happened, Lachlan.”

He intertwined his fingers with mine. “Thank you. And thank you for letting me share and not running screaming from the building.”

“It would take much more than that to scare me away,” I said. “But I do think we need to eat some of this food before the chef comes out to kick our asses.”

Lachlan huffed a laugh.

“One more thing. I’m sorry for how I’ve acted -”

“You don’t need to apologize anymore, “I said gently. “Seriously. But you do have to start eating because I am starving, and I feel weird stuffing myself while you’re just sipping your wine.”

Lachlan smiled and finally took a bite.

The rest of the dinner was much easier. Lachlan told me about growing up in a family pack with four older sisters and how they used to dress him and Soren up like life-size dolls. I told him stories about the trouble Kira and I used to get into in high school; sneaking out and partying and vandalizing the Catholic school we attended.

By the time the server brought out two tiny cups of decaf espresso, Lachlan was more relaxed than I’d ever seen him. He was still quiet, but I could tell that talking about his past had lightened his load a bit.

“There’s one other thing we need to talk about,” he said as we picked at the remains of a tiramisu.

“Oh god, that sounds ominous,” I said.

“Your heat,” he said. “It’s going to be coming soon.”

Fuck, I thought.Here’s where he tells you he’s not ready for such a commitment.

“I’ll talk to Steffi,” I said quickly.

“Why?” he asked.

“Well… I mean… I can’t ask you guys to help or whatever if you’re not -”

“Maggie, I think you’re misunderstanding me,” he interrupted, blushing a vibrant red. It was endearing to see him unsettled when he was usually so self-possessed. “I don’t want you to call anybody.”

“Oh,” I said, my mind going blank in pure panic.

“I’ve spoken with Lucas, Ben, and Soren, and we’d like to be there for you, if you want that, too.”

Oh, I thought. Suddenly my mind was flooded with images of Lachlan thrusting into me as I sucked on Soren’s cock and Ben whispered filthy things in my ear, stroking himself.

“Um,” I said, suddenly aware that I was perfuming wildly. “I definitely want that.”

Lachlan’s pupils blew wide as my scent reached him, and he growled softly. “I think it’s time to go home.”

As soon as we got outside, he slid his arm around my waist, holding me close. Our walk back was just as silent as the way there, but this time it was loaded with something very different.

“I kept the letter you sent to me. After the… You know,” I said.

“You did?” Lachlan looked pleased and surprised.

“Of course. And I’ve read it so many times I think I have it memorized,” I admitted.

“I’m not sure it was worth memorizing,” Lachlan said.

“It was to me. It’s the only time anyone’s ever written me a letter like that. It felt really special,” I said as we walked up the front steps.

At the front door, we stopped, and he turned to face me.

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