I shook my head furiously. I didn’t want to speak. I didn’t want to bring a voice to the tears I shed. I definitely didn’t want to tell him about my mate.
“Okay, okay, son. We don’t have to talk about it right now. Let’s just head home. I know your mother is probably worried. We can figure things out later.”
I nodded and shifted back into my wolf. I felt safer that way, and I didn’t have to talk. We made it home in no time. My mom was waiting for us, pacing on the back deck. When she saw us, she rushed out to greet me.
“Embry, are you okay? Did those boys hurt you?” she growled.
I simply shook my furry head and padded in. I stayed in my wolf as I made it up to my room. I curled up on my bed and let sleep take me.
The soft voices talking downstairs woke me up. I had yet to shift, and I didn’t know what time it was. I kept thinking of today’s events, and I still didn’t know what I was going to do.
James and Lydia were downstairs. I could feel my cousin’s power, the power of the alpha. Usually it soothed me, but it did nothing for me anymore. I felt numb.
A quiet knock on my door caused me to look up as someone entered. It was James. He had a soft look on his face. “Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?”
I let loose a tiny little whine as he walked into my room and sat next to me.
“Em, I need you to shift. We need to talk about what happened. I know you don’t want to, but Tom, Rick, and Chad need to be punished for hurting you,” he said quietly but firmly.
It was a command from my alpha, and while I’d been able to run away earlier. I couldn’t deny a direct order. I shifted, my hair falling in my face. I quickly grabbed my sweats and put them on.
He chuckled. “I’m surprised your mom let you on your bed in your wolf form. Look at all that white fur.”
I smiled. My bed was covered in fur, and my mom would usually have my hide if I did that.
“G-guess I just got lucky,” I said, sitting down beside him.
“Em, will you tell me what happened?”
I squeezed my eyes closed. I needed to be brave. I didn’t want to be scared anymore, and before I could stop myself, I blurted, “I met my mate!”
His eyes widened, clearly not expecting that.
“You met your mate? Who is he?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I ran,” I said. My eyebrows shot up as I realized what he’d asked. He’d asked, “Who is he?” Not she. He knew. I stared at him in shock.
“How did you know?” I asked.
He smiled his soft smile, obviously knowing what I was talking about. “I always suspected. I know you’re shy, but it isn’t just that. You don’t seem to notice girls.” He paused and smirked. “I also saw how you stared at Jackson and Cameron as if you longed for that.”
I blushed. I did stare at Jackson and Cameron. They were the only gay couple I knew, and they were hot when they kissed.
“It’s okay, Em. I don’t care. I love you. You can love who you love, and any assholes who say otherwise will answer to me,” he said with a growl. “Now, why did you run from your mate?”
I sighed and closed my eyes again. “He w-was so big. I got scared. I’m a weak omega. There would be no way I could fight him if he wanted to hurt m-me.”
“Em, not all big men hurt. Look at your father; look at me. If he’s your mate, he’ll love and cherish you. He won’t want to hurt you. I couldn’t even think of hurting Lydia. I’d chew off my arm first,” he said.
I said nothing. I let my cousin’s words sink in.Can my mate want me? Can he really not be an alpha jerk?
“The only new people who were at the barbecue were the dragons. What did he look like?” he asked.
A dragon? Crap!I shook my head adamantly. I wasn’t ready to see him again. I still had a lot to think about.
“Okay, okay. You don’t have to tell me, but I think you should give your mate a chance. You only get one. Fate chose him for you, Embry. Now tell what happened with the three idiots.”
“The usual—” His eyes darkened at those words, but I pressed on. “They called me a f-fag and cocksucker, and I told them to leave m-me alone. They crowded me, and Tom p-punched me in the gut. You came out before they could do real damage, this time.”
