128- Emails and empathy


    Bemy looks a little shell shocked. I think he still forgets sometimes that he can’t just boss me around


    and stare at me to get me to cooperate like he does with everyone else. He doesn’t MEAN to be bossy,


    it justes naturally to him as a result of everyone expecting him to tell them what to do and then


    jumping at his orders. After a moment, his eyes drop to the ground


    and he groans out his frustration.


    “I get it. I’ll think on the issue. There’s still a few days. A lot can change in a few days.” He falls silent,


    then slowly, what I can only describe as a calcting expression slides into ce.


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    “Actually, if we’re changing the topic. I could use your help with something.” Bemy switches topics


    fast enough to give me whish.


    “Sure, what do you want help with?” I agree, maybe a little too quickly. I’m still feeling a


    little bad for fighting him so hard when I know he is just worried about me. Bemy stands from the


    couch, takes my hand and pulls me up then leads me to his office.


    “Well, since I’ve been filling the role of the female alpha as well as my own role, a lot of the


    Shifters have taken to emailing me their issues, arguments andints. I was hoping you.


    would help me go through them?” He asks with a question in his voice.


    “Yeah, I can try and help. Why do they email them though? Are they all non–urgent or are they


    anonymous or something?” I don’t really get it, emailing seems so impersonal which


    seems odd if they’re asking him to mediate their personal issues. Bemy just shrugs.


    “I’m not sure, they just started doing it. I think Megan might have suggested it to someone. A lot of


    Shifters have been sort of forcing the job on her and when they didn’t like her responses she of course


    told them to talk to me. But apparently not everyone isfortable talking to me in person? I guess I’m


    not as approachable. Or maybe they just assume I don’t have the time. I know emails aren’t ideal, but


    this is what I’ve got right now.” I scrunch up my face. I don’t know, this just seems like the kind of task


    that should be taken care of face to face. It’s always going to be hard to understand the intricacies of a


    situation when you can’t see how people react and having to email back and forth to get more


    information if needed seems like it would drag things out. There must be much better systems than


    this. Bemy notices my face and grins.


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    128- Emails and empathy


    “Hey, if you have a better n, feel free to take over at any time.” I roll my eyes.


    “No one would listen to me, this is definitely stuck on you.” Bemy shakes his head.


    “They will listen to you, eventually. If they don’t, it’s only because they don’t know who you are yet. All


    the Shifters who know you well listen don’t they?” He asks and I kind of stare at the floor awkwardly. He


    is right that they have been listening to what I asktely. Still, if they aren’tfortable talking to


    Bemy, why would they want to talk to a stranger like me? I point this out to Bemy and he disagrees


    again.


    “It’s already started though, hasn’t it? Shaun came to you for help getting Amber’s number. He never


    would have asked me something like that. You even noticed that he didn’t want to ask in front of others


    and took him aside so that he would be morefortable. I think you’re a lot more approachable than


    you think. Not to mention you’ll be particrly good at dealing with rtionship issues should they


    arise.” He winks at me and I stare at him in disbelief.


    “Knowing the ending doesn’t make me any good at dealing with rtionships. Look how badly I


    screwed up with us, at least at first.” I point out.


    “That was only because you were freaking out, and I think some part of you knew what you SHOULD


    have done. I probably overreacted a little too. I think you’ll find it is much easier to give advice than it is


    to take it. Plus, in more formal issues or full on arguments, the Shifters HAVE to listen to us. So that


    helps too.” I stare at him doubtfully but he ignores it.


    “Come on,e sit with me and we can go over a couple and see how you feel once you’ve tried. I


    know emails aren’t great but at least it leaves time to think.” He says optimistically. I think he is


    definitely trying to make the job sound easier than it is. Trying not to scare me off I guess. Or maybe


    trying to tempt me into taking over would be more urate.


    Bemy sits in his desk chair and waves me over. I stand by his side and he gestures for me to perch


    myself on hisp. I raise an eyebrow.


    “We’re meant to be working, that does not seem like it would result in good work focus.” I object.


    Bemy just pulls me down and settles me onto hisp.


    “Sure it will, I’m way more rxed and focussed when I know exactly where you are. Besides,


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    128- Emails and empathy


    there are two of us, so twice the focus right?” I turn and give him a look that says I definitely


    think there is something dodgy in that logic, but he’s already opening up his emails. He opens the first


    one and reads it out to me. It’s written by one of the Shifter women, a mother


    who is concerned that her youngest son still seems to be having some difficulties shifting back and


    forth. She insists that his older brother waspletelyfortable with shifting by


    and she’s worried that something is wrong. The kid is apparently six years old. Well, how the hell am I


    meant to help with that? I only know the basics about Shifters. How old SHOULD a kid be when they


    master shifting? I’m about to say as much but Bemy predicts


    this


    ΠΕ.


    age


    “Don’t stress about details like that. You can always learn that stuff, and in the meantime you have


    plenty of Shifters you trust well enough to ask for more information. In this case, most Shifter kids start


    changing from about the time they learn to walk. They often will do it identally or partially even. By


    the time they’re about five or six it usually starts to level out and they get a bit more control over


    themselves.” He exins.


    “So this kid not havingplete control at six is maybe a littlete, but not super


    concerning?” I reason. Bemy nods his agreement.


    “Yeah, that’s what I’ll tell her.” He starts typing out an email.


    *Good afternoon,


    It is not out of the ordinary for a child to have some issues with control over their shift at that age and


    children develop at different rates. I would not be particrly concerned at this


    time. *


    Bemy pauses and lets me read it.


    “How’s that?” He asks. I shake my head.


    “It’s kind of harsh.” I confess. Bemy tilts his head in confusion.


    “How so? I’m telling her not to worry. It’s meant to be reassuring.” He asks.


    “That’s the problem. This woman has had at least one other child. She KNOWS that this is within the


    range of normal, but she is still worried. Worried enough to try and reach out to


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    128- Emails and empathy


    the Alpha for help. I guess your answer seems a little… dismissive of her concerns?” I respond.


    Bemy contemtes my answer then slowly nods.


    guess I can understand that. What would you write then? Go ahead.”