The Barbecue Blues
Embry
“Embry! We’re going to be late! Let’s go! The Alpha is expecting us!” my mother called out.
“Why do I have to go to this stupid barbecue?” I grumbled to myself.
I’d rather stay home and read my book. I hated going to pack functions. I always got hurt in one way or another, either by words or fists. I was an omega wolf, and some pack members believed they should treat me like crap.
Being a wolf shifter was okay, especially if you weren’t an omega. If you were, it meant you were the weakest and at the bottom of the pack hierarchy. But there were definite perks to being a wolf shifter, even so. We were stronger than humans and lived longer. Like most paranormals, our average life span was arounda thousand years. We were immune to most illnesses and had advanced healing. But the absolute best part was shifting into our wolf, and being able to run free.
This wasn’t Hollywood shifting either. The moon didn’t control us, and we could change at will, turning into actual wolves, not hybrid man-wolf creatures.
“Embry Wilson Ellis!” My father’s voice boomed. “Your mother said to get down here!”
I cringed. I hated it when he used my middle name. It always made me feel like I was ten years old, rather than twenty-five. Yes, I was twenty-five and still lived at home, but I liked it. It wasn’t like I needed privacy. I wasn’t going on a date or anything.
My lack of dates wasn’t because of my looks. While I was short, only five-two, I was slim and toned. I had shoulder-length raven-black hair and olive-toned skin that enhanced my sky-blue eyes. Some might call my elegant features effeminate.
The problem was that I was shy, insecure, and had a stutter. But the biggest reason I didn’t go on any dates was that I was gay, and nobody knew. Being gay might be acceptable to most of the paranormal world, but there were still a fair number of bigots, and a handful lived here in Belle Fort. I shivered at the thought of anyone here finding out that not only was I a stuttering omega, but I was a gay, stuttering omega.
Why couldn’t I be more like my dad—a big, strong beta wolf? I asked myself for the millionth time. Daniel Ellis was six-one andhad robust, masculine features. He was powerful, confident, and no one would bully him.
I shook my head. It would never happen, so best to forget about it.
“I’m coming!” I called down, turning off my e-reader.
This was going to be hell. I got up, grabbed my shoes, and stomped down the stairs.
“Get your shoes on, Embry. Your father is already in the car,” my mother said, trying to corral me out the door.
“M-mom, I don’t know why I have to go. I’m just an omega,” I said, cringing at the stutter. Usually, I was comfortable with my parents and could speak more easily.
She looked at me in exasperation. “Because your cousin, our Alpha, has asked for the entire pack to greet the Dragon King. I know you don’t enjoy being around everyone, but it’s important that we show James our support. He’s our family and our Alpha. We owe it to him.”
I sighed. Antonia Ellis sure knew how to pull on the family loyalty strings. Even though she was human, she was all about pack and family. She was a typical Italian mama. She had dark olive-toned skin, brown eyes, and long black hair. She was shorter than I by two inches. Even though she was tiny, she was a fierce protector of her family.
I trudged to the car behind my mom and got in without saying a word. I didn’t want to do this.Dragons? Big deal, I thought.
Dragons had been thought extinct for the longest time, but now that they’d returned, everyone regarded them as the top of the paranormal food chain. They were probably big, conceited assholes. Besides my family, my experience with big alpha types hasn’t been good. They were arrogant, selfish, cruel bastards who reveled in demeaning anyone weaker.
“Embry, it’ll be fine. We’re going to have fun, eat lots of food, and have a good night,” my father said from the front seat.
I looked up and saw him gazing at me in the rearview mirror. I peered into his dark blue eyes and nodded. I loved my parents, and they loved me. They’d always been there for me whenever I needed them. They were fiercely protective of me; I was their only child. For over seventy-five years, they’d tried to have children, but never could. I’d been a surprise to them—a pleasant surprise.
We continued to drive, and I stared out the window at the passing scenery. I loved Belle Fort. It was a small mountain town in Montana. Most of the people were generally lovely.
It was summer, and it was beautiful; my wolf longed to go for a run. Smelling all the distinct scents and feeling the wind blowing through my fur as I ran through the mountains and forest was incredible. I adored running as my wolf. I didn’t do it often because of my omega status. I was always worried I would come across an asshole from the pack. I had to go with my father or James. I didn’t trust anyone else.
We turned onto James’s road, and cars filled the drive. My heart was beating with trepidation. I hated this. I bet Tom was here with his asshole friends, Chad and Rick.
Tom Spencer was the primary person who made my life hell. He was a young, strong beta wolf and had a large, muscular frame. Tom was good-looking and the ‘popular guy.’ Everybody loved him; all the girls wanted to sleep with him, and all the guys wanted to be him. The problem was, Tom always sought to victimize those he considered weaker. And with me being an omega, I was his number one target.
As we parked in the driveway, people filled the area. Damn, the entire pack really was here. I felt my heart thumping even faster. I was even more nervous around the pack than usual. My wolf, who was typically a coward, was standing and pacing in my mind, taking notice of the people and scents around us. I didn’t know what was going on.
I felt like my whole world was about to change in some way.
“Come on, Em, remember what your father said. We’re going to have fun, eat lots of food, and have a good night. So, let’s go see James and get started on that,” my mother said soothingly.
