[Gemma]On the last night I was staying at Carmen and Rock’s house, I made an angel food cake with mixed berries and handmade, not too sweet, whipped cream. Austin told me when we were talking about our favorite foods that he had never really gotten to have a dessert until the pies I brought for Thanksgiving. I knew that meant he hadn’t had a lot of sweets and I didn’t want to over-sugar him. He loved it and so did Rock. I was pleased at both of their praise. Carmen didn’t look too mad that I was getting compliments from her mate. I was glad. Some women didn’t like it when their mate praised other people. When we went to bed, though, it was bittersweet. I had to leave in the morning and I couldn’t really come back until next Friday evening because of my heat. Carmen said she was going to see about getting me a charm from the healer because I wanted to come be with Austin. I hoped she could get me one. I wasn’t ready to force Austin to be more physical than he wanted to and I didn’t think either of us was ready for a pup while he was healing. After he had healed, though, I was eager to start a family. It would be amazing to have him in the pack and thriving. He told me about his desire to be a photographer, and I would support that, but equipment was expensive and I didn’t think he would be happy if I just went and bought him everything he needed. As we curled up in bed together, I traced little pictures over Austin’s stomach. He sighed contentedly. I would miss this. Going to bed alone every night didn’t sound appealing after spending the last three nights with my mate next to me. Austin rolled over and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close to him. I sniffled a little. He kissed my lips gently. “Don’t cry, Gemma. It makes me sad when you cry.” “I’m going to miss you. Maybe I can come back here every night instead. I can commute,” I whispered. “You hate commuting. That was one of the things you told me you hated most about working for Rock. You can be strong for me, right? You can call the house and we can talk every night, if you need that.” “Are you going to miss me?” “Of course, I am. This is what needs to happen, though. I don’t want you to be upset with me because you have to drive all the way to the pack lands every day.” I held him to me tightly. He was always worried about upsetting me. I hated that he was still afraid I might leave him for talking. Nothing would ever make me leave him.“Shh, Gemma. Let’s sleep now. You need rest if you’re going to do your best at work,” Austin murmured and rubbed my back. He had opened up a lot more during the long weekend. I liked that. What I didn’t like was all the stuff he told me about happening in his pack. I could tell he was upset by it, too. As I drifted off to sleep, Austin kissed my forehead and kept rubbing my back. It was so soothing to be in the cocoon of his arms. Even if I wanted to stay up and spend as much time with him as possible, I couldn’t resist the pull of sleep. That night, I had dreams about being lost and not being able to find Austin no matter how hard I looked. It was as if he disappeared and no one knew who I was talking about when I asked about him. Even when I found my way home, he wasn’t there. When I woke, I felt as if I hadn’t slept at all. I got out of bed and took a shower, then changed into my clothes for work. There were dark circles under my eyes and I was exhausted. I went back into the bedroom and started gathering my things. Austin woke up and watched me moving around the room. He got up as I stalled out and stood, staring into space. How had Carmen managed this back when she met Rock and when she was in heat? I vastly underestimated her strength. “Hey, it’s going to be alright. I’ll see you in two weeks, right?” My heat would be starting in a few days and would likely go through the weekend. I couldn’t come back for two weeks. I hated that reminder. I wrapped my arms around him and he hugged me back when I started squeezing. “Gemma, it’s not forever. We found each other and you said you’re never giving me up. I’m never giving you up, either. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything.” I looked up into his eyes. “You love me?” “Of course, I do. You’re my mate. I can feel how much I love you. My heart aches at the idea of not seeing you for two weeks, but you are very important to your pack and you know neither one of us is ready for a pup.” With a nod, I let him go. He was right and I knew that. Austin wiped my tears away and kissed me. It had taken a few days before he believed me when I said he could kiss me whenever he wanted. “That shirt brings out the green in your eyes. I think it’s my favorite color. You’re beautiful, Gemma, even when you’re crying. Two weeks may feel like forever, but it’s not. I had so much time without you that I know what forever loneliness feels like. This isn’t it. Trust me, Gemma. Please,” he murmured. For a long time, I thought I had felt forever loneliness, but the feelings I felt from him when he talked about it made me realize that I had no clue what it was. The desolate feeling in my heart was nothing like anything I had ever felt before. He would never be alone like that again. I would be with him forever. “You make sure to rest and eat a lot. I want to see you healthier when I come back in two weeks. Be good for me, Austin. Promise you’ll be good.” Austin chuckled. “I promise I’ll be good, Gemma. You be good, too. Work hard and stay healthy. Call me every night.” “I will. I have to get going or I’m going to be late.” He pulled me against him and kissed me again. I could feel a franticness in him. He didn’t want to let me go, but he was trying hard not to show it to me. When he let me go, I picked up my bag and grabbed my phone. He walked me out to my car and gave me another kiss before I got in. Rock and Carmen were coming out to leave for work when I pulled out of their driveway. Rock waved to me and I waved back. For all that I was on my way home, I felt like I was actually leaving home. My resolve steeled, I knew what I had to do. Staying on the outskirts of town, I headed for the pack lands. I needed to talk to Ben. -After arriving at the packhouse, I headed straight for my office. Ben would have his morning meeting with the other ranked members. I needed to get some stuff done and organize what I would talk to him about. The morning went quickly as I focused on my work and organizing. Most of my work could be done remotely. I was going to talk to Ben about that. One day in the office and the rest of the week working from Carmen’s house. I could focus on my work if I knew Austin was nearby. Ben responded to my request for a meeting by telling me he had time after lunch. We scheduled it and I finished the other work that needed to be done in person. Though my title was ‘assistant to the Gamma’ I wasn’t like a personal assistant. I took on part of his work and Darla’s assistant took on part of her work. All requests came in through emails and phone calls. I could talk to the tech guys about forwarding phone calls to my cell during the days I was working from home. After lunch, I went to Ben’s office. He had always been like a big brother to me. I was grateful for him. He never treated me different from Ashley, even though she was his real sister and I wasn’t. “Hey, Gem,” he said with a smile, getting up from his desk when I entered his office. “Hi, Ben,” I replied. He hugged me and waved me over to the couch in his office. Ben closed the door as I took a seat. He came over and sat next to me. I took his hands when he offered them. “Please tell me you’re not quitting because you found your mate.” I laughed. “You couldn’t survive without me. No, I don’t want to quit, but I want to change the way I work. I have been thinking of this all morning. I would like to come into the packhouse once a week and work remotely the rest of the time. I already assessed everything and I think it could work. Just until Austin is ready to come to the pack.” “You think he’s going to get to the point where he trusts us enough?” “Yeah. Austin had a bad experience, but that doesn’t change the fact that we have a good pack. It might take him a while to be willing, but I’m sure he’s going to. A pack is much safer for him than a collective is. Our pack is exactly the place he needs to be, with me.” “Gemmina, you aren’t pushing him, are you? No matter how much better we know it is, you can’t force him into the pack,” Ben chided. “I would never push my mate into anything. I’m allowed to plan though, Ben. We have a good pack, a lot better than his old pack. When he realizes it, he’ll want to join the pack. If I were trying to force him, I wouldn’t be asking to work remotely.” “That’s true.” He reached onto the table and picked up a folder. “This is everything you’ll need to work from home. I will need you in twice a week. On Monday and Thursday, you will have required office days. On Thursdays, you will have lunch with my mom and dad. They want to know you’re alright,” he said. I smiled and hugged him. “Thank you! I can’t believe you were thinking the same thing. I really thought I’d have to convince you!” He laughed and patted my back. “We’re related and I know your Gamma blood makes you more sensitive to the needs of others. He can’t come here to be with his mate and he’ll heal better if he has you by his side.” Ben pulled away and reached into his pocket, pulling out an envelope. He handed it to me and I set the folder in my lap as I opened it. There was a necklace like Carmen’s in it. I looked up at him. “Is this what I think it is?” I asked. “Yes. We contacted Queen Maeve on Friday and she had it delivered this morning. Apparently, now that they know how to make them, it doesn’t take too long. Now, you can go pack some clothes after work and go back to your mate.” He helped me put it on. I was practically bouncing with excitement. I had only been gone half a day and I was struggling. Knowing I was going home to Austin after work today made the stress and strain less. “You have some work to finish. Trent wants to see you before you leave. He’s the only one who hasn’t given his congratulations to you yet.” “I’ll see him as soon as I’m done with my work. Thank you so much, Ben. You have no idea how much this means to me,” I replied with tears in my eyes. “You were never this teary before. I may not know how it feels, exactly, but I understand. You deserve to be happy, Gem. Go on, get your work done early and you can leave early.” I got up and gave him one more hug before heading off with my folder of papers. When I got back to my office, I dug into my work more than ever before. I wasn’t going to stop until I had it all sorted. I read through the folder Ben gave me. It had how to switch my calls over to my cellphone and other important things. About an hour before I normally got off work, I finished and went to the Alpha’s office. His door was closed, so I knocked. It took a few moments, but Trent answered with a big smile on his face. I grinned back at him. “Congrats on finding your mate, Gemma,” Trent said, ruffling my hair. With a laugh, I swatted his hand away. Trent was the only one without a sister my age, but that didn’t mean he didn’t consider himself an older brother in a sense. All three of the boys were always looking out for us and taking care of us. “Thank you, Trent. I’m hoping he’ll want to come for Beth’s baby shower. I could show him around the pack and he could get to know you in a more relaxed environment. He’s okay around Mike because of that, I think he needs it,” I replied. “Focus on healing and loving your mate, Gemma. Let us focus on how to get him into the pack. He should never feel pressure from you to make this decision. Let him just feel love from you. After what I heard he went through, I think he needs that more than he needs us.” “I will, Trent. Thank you for being so understanding about everything. You’re the best Alpha in the world.” He laughed. “No, I’m not, but I appreciate that you think so. If you’re done with your work, you should go get your things. I bet you’re eager to get back to Carmen and Rock’s house. We’ll see you on Thursday.” “See you then!” I headed out of the packhouse and to my car. I needed to get home and pack my clothes. Austin liked it when I wore green. I would pack up every green piece of clothing I had.