Page 14 of Sanctuary

He stood back, watching her with the wolf in Luna’s old enclosure. He was nervous about her being in there but knew this was her job as well as her passion; plus, she was pretty smart about it. She did like to take chances he didn’t approve of though, but Gemma was a strong, independent woman, and he refused to crush that. It was something he respected and loved about her.

She had named the wolf Baron, which she stated meant free warrior. And that right there was another reason Eric loved her. She named the animals with such care, ensuring each name fit each wolf. Who did that? Gemma Stone did that, a beautiful, selfless human who absolutely loved what she did. And that was why he didn’t press her to leave with him. This was what she did. It was who she was, and if he even hinted for her to leave it all behind, he was afraid she would. It would break her spirit, and that was something he never ever wanted to do.

As he stood there, Gemma noticed him and backed out of the enclosure. Her sad face told him that she knew he was packed up and ready to go, but instead of begging him to stay, she walked up and plastered a fake smile on her face. Damn, she was one hell of a woman who made him proud every second he was in her presence.

“Baron is coming along.” Gemma’s eyes shifted from his. “Maybe by the time you get back, we’ll be besties.”

With just a short period of time of knowing her, he could read her like a book. “I’m coming back, Gemma.”

Her eyes shot to his with relief. “I know, I mean….” He watched as she thought about what she was going to say. “Okay, I’m just going to lay this out there because if I don’t, I won’t be able to focus and I just need to so well—”

“Whatever it is just say it.” Eric tried not to chuckle at her expense, but she was so damn proud that he knew what she was about to say was not going to be easy for her, but he honestly didn’t care what she had to say. Nothing would change his feelings for her.

“Why me?” Gemma blurted. “Seriously, Eric. Look at me. Are you sure you want to be mated to someone who smells like dog most of the time and has dog crap caked to her boots? I honestly think you can do much better.”

“I’ve looked at you plenty, and believe me when I say I’ve never found another woman more beautiful than you in my life.” Eric pulled her to him. “Never doubt my devotion and loyalty to you, Gemma. I know as a human it’s hard for you to understand—”

“Actually, I do understand more than you probably know.” Gemma sighed. “I guess I understand the mating thing so well that I just need to know if you’re disappointed that it’s me you’re mated to.”

Stunned, Eric didn’t answer right away, which was a mistake because her crestfallen face just about killed him.

She pushed away from him with a half grin and a nod. “Got it,” Gemma said and then cleared her throat. “Be safe and have a nice trip.”

Grabbing her a little more roughly than he meant, he grasped her face to force it toward him. “Never doubt my feelings for you again.” Eric let go of her face to take her hand, placing it on his hard cock beneath his jeans. “If this tells you anything at all, it should tell you how I have been walking around since seeing you that first time. If I could live buried inside you, believe me, I would. You own my heart, my body, and soul.”

With a needy sigh, Gemma clasped his neck and held him tight. “Please hurry back.”

Leaving her was the hardest thing he had ever done, and honestly, it pissed him off. Not knowing if her asshole neighbor would show back up was driving him insane. Leaving her unprotected didn’t sit well with him, and he swore this would be the last time it ever happened. At least Alex and Larry were with her, but it wasn’t him. Eric’s need to turn around was strong, but he couldn’t. He needed to take care of things before he could start anew. He watched as she stood alone as he drove away. Once she was out of sight, he grabbed his phone.

“Yo, bro!” his other brother Kile answered.

“I’ll be there in two hours. I want everyone ready for a meeting, and I mean everyone,” Eric ordered, knowing his tone was harsh, but he couldn’t help it. His heart was somewhere else, and so was his mind.

“Sounds serious,” Kile replied, his voice changing in tune with his alpha’s.

“Very,” was all Eric said before he hung up, already wanting to be back with Gemma, his mate.

******

“Come on, Baron,” Gemma pleaded, her heart just not into what she was doing. She knew the wolf sensed it. “I’m trying here, can’t you?”

The wolf just paced in the corner of the enclosure. Some days Baron seemed better, but then others, he retreated to when he first came there.

It was going to be dark soon, and she still hadn’t heard anything from Eric. It was driving her crazy. My God, she had just met the man, was now mated to him, and she couldn’t even go a day without talking to him.

He had been gone a week, and she was snippy with Alex and Larry, which she had apologized profusely for. She was pathetically in love with a man who lived two hours away from her. “Not a smart move,” she said to no one.

Baron kept glancing at the entrance to the sanctuary and then started pacing again. He had been that way all day.

“I think he misses Eric too,” Larry said from behind her.

“I think you’re right.” Gemma frowned; he wasn’t the only one.

“Eric talked to me before he left. He told me everything.” Larry leaned up against the enclosure to look at her. “Question is, why didn’t you trust me enough to tell me?”

She really wasn’t shocked that Eric told Larry. Eric had a good sense of reading people, and he must totally trust Larry, which she also did, to tell him what he was and what she did there in the down low. “Because I promised my grandfather.” Gemma gave him an apologetic frown. “I’m sorry, Larry, but I’ve never broken a promise to my grandfather.”

“It’s okay, but I’m glad I know.” Larry gave her an understanding nod. “It explains so much.”

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