Chapter 2
two
My Brother, My Best Friend
*MARCELLUS*
Mom put in a good word for me to Dad, and I also apologized like a good son, so we managed to make up before my birthday. It means I can properly celebrate my birthday week.
Even Beta Floyd seems to cut me some slack this week.
With graduation over and our birthday approaching, it feels like the world is truly ours.
Mom has invited the whole pack to our birthday party.
She always likes to involve everyone, of any rank and status.
Eugene and I don’t mind, we would have celebrated with our friends or just within the family, but none of us wants to take this joy away from Mom.
Olive was right, she is so proud of us, and so happy we are going to take over the pack eventually.
She keeps saying how well we balance each other out.
I’m rougher and more impatient, while Eugene has more control over his emotions and is more level-headed.
At the same time, Eugene is more extroverted than I am and really good with crowds, while I take risks and handle tense, dangerous situations better.
“And if you and Eugene find your lunas,” she tells me, “it will make you even stronger.”
“Our lunas,” I muse. “What if it takes years for us to find them?”
“That doesn’t matter,” she reassures me. “Your father and I don’t make that a condition for you to take over. There is no need to stress.”
“What if it’s not a girl?” I hear myself ask.
Mom turns around to look at me. “What?” she blinks.
What was I even thinking by telling her? But I hate lying to her, so I couldn’t keep it in. “Forget that I said anything.”
“I won’t,” she says. “Marcellus, do you like men? I always see you with girls. I wasn’t aware.”
“I like both,” I admit honestly.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she asks, confused. “Did you think we would judge you?”
“Uh, yes,” I admit.
“Silly boy,” she mutters. “Whoever the goddess chooses for you is welcome. Even if it isn’t a fellow shifter.”
She is so nice and welcoming. I swallow the lump in my throat and hug her. “Thanks, Mom,” I whisper. “Please don’t tell Dad yet.”
“I know you think he constantly is against you, but he would never judge you,” Mom says.
“Maybe, but I want to tell him on my own terms.”
She sighs. “Alright. Now go and pick up Eugene. He can leave the infirmary today.”
“I bet he would rather Olive pick him up,” I grin. “Yesterday I went to visit him and saw things I didn’t want to see.”
“Me, too,” Mom chuckles. “Well, they like each other. Aw, young love. You know, your father and I were like that.”
I grimace. “No, didn’t know, Mom.”
She smirks. “So dramatic.”
“Okay, I’d better go and fetch Eugene!” I blurt out and hurry away, before Mom can tell me a dirty secret about her and Dad.
The doctor agreed to let Eugene come home, because he will get his wolf spirit tomorrow and then his broken leg won’t be a problem anymore.
Together with Olive, I manage to drag him home, the three of us a giggling, laughing mess when we finally arrive.
“Should have taken the wheelchair,” Olive mutters.
“No way!” Eugene says. “I can walk!”
“Yeah, sure,” I reply, while draping one of his arms around my shoulders to get him over a few stairs.
When we finally stumble into the alpha suite, Dad spots us. “Goddess!” he groans. “What are you doing? Marcellus, why didn’t you take a wheelchair for your brother?”
“And as usual, it’s my fault,” I mumble.
“I didn’t want one, Dad,” Eugene says.
Dad sighs. “Why? For Goddess’s sake, it would just be for a day.”
“Exactly! Too much of a hassle,” Eugene chuckles. “And maybe someone else needs it more.”
“Well, it’s your decision,” Dad mutters. He glares at me, but doesn’t say anything.
“Smooth-talker,” I whisper towards my brother.
Eugene looks flustered. “Shut up,” he grumbles.
“Come,” I say. “I still need to drag you to your room. We have planned a movie night, remember? Or wait… did you two have another type of action planned?”
Olive blushes and shakes her head. “I’m meeting my sister and some friends.”
“See? I am completely free,” Eugene says.
“Good to know I’m the rebound,” I joke towards my brother.
“I just had pity on you,” he teases back. “I mean, between my hot girlfriend and my ugly brother, it’s not a tough decision.”
“You are aware we share the same face?” I grin.
“Well, I clearly clean up better,” he points out.
“Yeah, in your dreams. You know I have better hair. And that little scar over my eyebrow is a real hit with the ladies.”
“Okay, boys,” Olive smiles. “I will leave you to your weird contest.” She stretches, kissing Eugene softly. Goddess, she is smitten with him, and he is with her. He looks at her like the sun is shining out of her ass.
“Well then, let me soothe your aching heart,” I say after Olive has left us, and Eugene looks like a lost pup. “Because Goddess knows what you will do if you are apart for a couple of hours.”
He smacks my arm. “Just wait until you fall in love!”
I raise my brows. “You didn’t just say that? That’s just a Dad thing to say.”
“It really is,” he groans. “Pretend it never happened.”
“For that alone, I’m going to pick the first movie tonight,” I say.
Eugene chuckles. “Good thing it’s so easy to make up to you.”
“Well, I’m a simple man,” I joke.
Despite all the jokes, I’m happy that Eugene chose to spend the evening with me. It’s the last night before our birthday. We didn’t see each other as much as we used to over the last couple of weeks. I get it, because Eugene is in love and has a girlfriend now, but sometimes it stings a little.
Mom has scheduled the party so that we’ll begin the evening before our birthday and celebrate into the next day…
into the day we were born. She thinks it’s going to be magical for us.
Eugene and I were barely able to stop her from turning this into a matchmaking party, where she would have invited unmated girls from several other packs.
She even tried to bribe me by telling me she would also invite the unmated males.
Not going to lie, that almost got me, just to see if she would truly do it and if she could pull it off. But I know better than to challenge my mother.
“How’s your leg doing?” I ask Eugene while we get ready for the party.
“A lot better,” he says. “I can feel my wolf getting stronger the closer it gets to our birthday. I bet at midnight it’s fully healed.”
“Great! Meanwhile, try to look fresh and happy,” I say. “Or mom will get mad that we stayed up so long.”
“Your fault for choosing that weird movie,” he points out.
“I didn’t know it was an erotic, action splatter!” I defend myself.
He raises his brows.
“Believe me, I have better things to do than watch an erotic movie with my brother,” I say.
“It had alien porn,” Eugene snorts.
“You say that now, but that guy with the tentacles…” I muse. “You are sleeping on that one. Just imagine-“
“No, I won’t imagine,” Eugene groans. “Just shut up. You are making me want to start getting drunk already.”
“Aw, we can’t have Dad’s favorite boy getting wasted too soon,” I tease.
Eugene tries to punch my shoulder, but I dodge swiftly. We both laugh. “You are such an idiot,” Eugene sighs after we have both calmed down. “Dad loves you, too, you know.”
“Maybe, in his own way,” I admit. “I am just not the child he hoped I’d be.”
That was Eugene. I know Dad favors him. As kids, it made me jealous sometimes, but Eugene didn’t let it get to his head, and Mom always had my back, so I kind of learned to accept that Dad and I just might not be each other’s favorite person.
“Marc,” Eugene mutters.
“You think I would look good with Mom’s eyelashes?” I ask, grabbing the box of fake lashes my mom sometimes uses when she meets with her friends in a bar.
Eugene stares at me and then at the box. He grins, teasing me for being silly. I’m glad I was able to distract him, because the last thing I want is to ruin my evening and birthday party by talking about my father.
There is a knock at the door. “Are you two ready?” Mom asks. “Olive is already here, too.”
I open the door for her, stretching out my arms. “How do we look?”
“Dashing,” she beams. “Both of you look amazing.” She hugs us both before taking Eugene’s face between her hands. “I’m so happy to see you doing better.”
“Thanks, Mom,” he smiles. “So, Olive is here already?”
“Yes, make sure to hurry and greet her,” she says, before she turns to me. “Do you also have a date for tonight?” she asks me.
“No, but thanks for reminding me that I don’t have one,” I say.
“I can be your date,” she offers.
“Wow, Mom, that wouldn’t be cringey at all,” I laugh.
“Or-” she says.
“Oh no, you did something, didn’t you?” I groan.
“Well, I just happen to know that my friend, Lucy, has a boy who is totally into you,” she says. “And my other friend, Bridget, has a daughter with a crush on you.”
“Mom!” I groan.
“They are both beautiful and so sweet, and funny,” she blabs.
Goddess, save me!
“I will talk to them,” I say. “Just like with all the other guests. I can’t play favorites at my birthday party… You know, as the future alpha and all.”
Mom seems to buy my feeble excuse, but not without grumbling. She is such a matchmaker, always has been. She doesn’t care about rank or status; at least I have to give her that. And at times it’s funny, but only when she tries to play wingman for others.
“Are you coming?” Eugene yells from downstairs. “We are waiting!”
“Sure, the fifth wheel is coming!” I call towards him, before making my way downwards. Finally, this is the night that will hopefully change everything for us.