When we got back into the truck, I told him that I wouldn’t mark him until he was ready and that I would wait as long as he needed. He didn’t seem to mind me openly showing him little gestures of affection. Like cupping his face in my hands or wiping his tears away. Well at least for now. I told him to tell me if I was making him uncomfortable ever, but I doubted he would do that, so I was going to make sure to be careful. It took Emil asking if we could go home for me to snap out of mothering him. I wiped away one more tear before I pulled away and started our journey home. 

I refrained from holding or touching him while I drove, not confident that he would be comfortable with that even if having contact with him would reassure me. 

I carried him inside when we got home. He tried to tell me he could walk but I just wanted to hold him. It had been a long day. I sat him in his bed and told him I would order food for us before leaving him. While I was ordering food, I caught him peaking at me through a crack in his door like he was just making sure I still existed. I smiled at him and waved. To my delight he blushed and quickly closed the door. He was so cute.  

He left his room when the food got here saying that he wanted to watch tv while he ate. I sat on the other side of the couch to give him space. Space he didn’t seem comfortable with as he cautiously inched his way closer to me. “What are you up to?” I said in a playful tone. 

“Can I sit this close?” He said settling only and inch away from me.  

His back was straight while he sat, and I couldn’t help but laugh. I took a chance and pulled him into my chest “relax you can sit even closer than that.” He froze for a bit before relaxing into my arms. I let out a held in breath. Good. Emil ate his food but mine was forgotten for I had become too distracted by the snack in my lap. I basically had my face buried in his hair. I was happy that he didn’t mind me messing with it. The only reaction he had to it was a shiver when I brushed his neck. I found this irrisistable. I buried my nose into the crook of his neck and took a deep breath, scenting him. Amazing. 

“Andy?” I was lost in the apple orchard that was his scent. So fresh, and crisp. “Alpha?” I let out a growl at the sound of the title. That wasn’t my name, and I bit his ear to show my distaste. I was lost to instinct at this point unaware that another side of me had taken over. He whined and let out an adorable high-pitched sound when I licked his neck. So delicious, so adorable. I could hardly believe he was all mine “Andy?” His voice was scared this time. It snapped me out of it. 

I pulled my face away from him “sorry!” I expected him to push to get away from me, but it never came. Instead, he adjusted so that he was face to face with me. I must have looked ashamed or something because Emil didn’t look scared of me, he looked a bit amused. “What?” I had no idea what could be funny in this situation but for some reason that made him look even more amused. 

He shook his head smiling “it’s nothing.” He put his hands on my chest making it burn and my entire attention was on him. He had me as putty in his hands. Although he probably was unaware of the current power, he held over me. “I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of stuff right now.” I nodded quickly like a child excited to listen “I’m okay with being held though and cuddled.” He braced himself for an outburst of my refusal, but it never came. 

“Okay.” He looked back at me for confirmation. 

“Okay?” 

“Yep, I’m sorry for going too far.”  

He smiles and falls into my chest relaxing once again. “I don’t know why you are apologizing but thank you for not rejecting me.” He started crying again but once I started stroking his back his sobs slowed, and I eventually found myself with an unconscious Emil in my arms. I gave him a squeeze and nuzzled my face into his fluffy soft hair. The couch on any other day wouldn’t have been comfortable but tonight with my mate in my arms, it was the most comfortable place in the world. 

*** 

In the morning I ended up regretting my decision to sleep on the couch with Emil because of the pain in my back. I was sure Emil would feel the same when he woke up, only it would be my fault for not returning him to his bed to sleep properly. My wolf whispered smugly in the back of my mind that it was worth it, and I agreed of course but I reminded him that we had just caused our mate discomfort and to that he went silent.  

I sat for a while, my body going numb. Eventually Emil woke up but only to say “my back hurts” before changing his position and falling back asleep. My attention fell to my phone on the coffee table when it started to buzz. I carefully reached for it and put the phone to my ear. 

“Hello?” I loud harsh voice came from the phone forcing me to turn down the volume when Emil shifted but thankfully stayed asleep. I repeated “hello?” 

“ANDY!”  

“Ah yes hello Alpha Carter. How may I help you.” 

“You were supposed to work at the pack house today!” I heard some whispering on the other end and Alpha Carter repeated himself only calmer this time, “you were supposed to work at the pack house today.” well he sounded like he was trying to be calm.  

I knew I had forgotten something. “Sorry sir I-” I looked down at Emil in my arms. Did I want to tell Alpha Carter that I had found my mate? Would Emil be okay with that? I shook my head. I wanted people to know. I was proud to have an omega mate I had nothing to be ashamed of. “I, I mean my mate needed me and I lost track of time.” 

He huffed “that’s fine just- wait did you just say mate?” 

“Yes Alpha.” 

I heard him growl and I had to fight from letting out a submissive whine, “are you fucking with me boy?” 

“No Alpha.” 

“WHAT?” I heard more whispering on the other side, then what sounded like a scramble. 

“Hello?” Then came the sweet voice of our Luna Abby. It seems she had taken the phone from her husband. 

“Yes hello.” I answered. 

“Hello, Andy, dear how are you.” I could practically see her smile through the tone of her voice. 

“I am well.” I smiled looking down at my mate. I was more than well. 

“Well, you should be. You’ve found your mate! Now don’t you worry about coming into work today dear you take care of your mate.” I heard angry whispering. “And don’t worry about my husband he’s just being a grouch as usual.”  

I allowed myself a small laugh at her comment, “thank you Luna Abby that is very kind of you.” 

“Andy dear you know better than to use titles with me you are basically a son to me.” my smile was starting to hurt my cheeks, “I’ll come by later to get the details of your mate. I can’t wait to meet them.” some more whispering “well I’m getting the hook dear bye bye now.” she hangs up. 

I turn my phone off and am surprised to find Emil awake looking up at me “sorry did I wake you?” 

“No,” he tilts his head “you were smiling a lot, who was that.” He looked down at my phone as if he could look to see who it was. 

“That was the Alpha and Luna.” He looked at me with fear and I chuckled “don’t worry everything is fine. I just forgot that I had to work in the pack house today.” The concern didn’t leave his face “don’t worry Luna Abby was very understanding when I told her I was taking care of my mate. She’ll be by later to meet you.”  

Shit I really was fucking stupid because instead of reassuring Emil his concern turned to horror. “Shit I’m sorry I should have asked if you were comfortable with me telling people.” 

“Sat is not my concern!” I was surprised by the presents of his accent in his statement. “You will be punished for taking me as your mate!” He looked at me with wild eyes hands on the sides of his head, “or worse! Condemned!” 

That last part made me laugh as I calmly took his hands from his head to my hands. I gave them a soft kiss, “you have nothing to fear Emil.” I rubbed circles on the back of his hands to soothe him, “look around.” He did as he was told and took in the room around us, “you are not in your old pack you are here with me in my pack, you are home.” He didn’t seem to understand so I continued, “in your home I will always protect you, and even if alphas weren’t allowed to take omegas as their mates, which they are!” I added quickly, “I would still take you as my mate with pride.” He was crying again but I could tell he wasn’t scared anymore. These were tears of joy. 

He hugged me with a strength I was barely able to believe he had. “Thank you,” he whispered. I didn’t bother correcting him and simply stroked his back. “This is all so new and it’s so overwhelming.” I nodded only listening. “I am still in disbelief that you are how you are. So, kind. You took me as your mate!” He said all of this into my chest, and I just listened as he processed everything. “The Moon Goddess has truly blessed me. I am forever grateful.” I smiled at that. She had blessed me too by giving me Emil but he in my mind deserved it infinitely more.  

I decided to enjoy my day off. I hadn’t had one since I was handed Delta Mark’s back load. Emil and I cuddled while watching TV and he happily explained to me everything that was going on. I was again reminded that Emil had spent a month in the house only watching this show. He seemed to like it though, so I didn’t feel too guilty.  

I don’t think it had really set in yet for Emil that I was holding him. He never turned his attention to me focusing solely on the TV. I on the other hand had my focus split between the TV and my adorable mate. 

It was when Emil was in the bathroom that there was a knock on the door signaling that Luna Abby had arrived as promised. When I opened the door, I was surprised to see my mother with her. So surprised in fact that I tried to close the door on them. My mother and Abby had been close friends for a long time, but did she have to bring my mom? Yeah, sure I was going to tell her about Emil but not now.  

My mom wasn’t scary, she was always the cool mom, but she was embarrassing. Her foot was in the door keeping it from closing, “Andy, open the door before you take your mother’s toes off. I reluctantly opened the door. There stood my mother with her beautiful long black hair and the only part of her I inherited was her sparkly deep blue eyes. She was two heads shorter than me and so was Luna Abby but that didn’t bother either of the women as they pulled me into hugs.  

Luna Abby was a curvy woman with some meat on her bones, but her weight was necessary to accentuate her personality of a happy motherly person. A perfect Luna. All were happy to have her, and she was quite the looker as my dad would say. No offence to my mom but her hugs were the best hands down and she always made you feel safe and at home when you were around her.  

They pushed past me, and I hurried past them to get to Emil first. He was just leaving the bathroom when I pushed past my mother. His eyes went wide, and I turned to face the women giving Emil a back to hide behind.  

My mother frowned when I did this, “Andy I barely got to see him.”  

Apparently, Abby got a good look at Emil because she stopped her friend, “hold on Sidney that’s um.” she turned her back on me to face my mother, “I will explain later but I’m afraid you’ll have to meet you son’s mate another time.” My mother was furious and was going to object, but Luna Abby held up her hand to silence her, “please Sidney this is a sensitive situation.”  

My mother glared but nodded backing out the open door closing it when she left. She turned back to us smiling, “Shall we sit?” I nodded and had her sit in a chair across from the couch so me and Emil could sit together.