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The Twin Brothers of Blue River

*MARCELLUS*

Ifeel sweat dripping down my neck while I finish my last set of push-ups. I’ve pushed myself further than ever today. “Not bad,” Beta Floyd mutters. “Still room for improvement, but I commend you for trying.”

I hold back a groan. When I complain about his lack of praise, he usuallymotivatesme by letting me do some extra exercises. He is a rather serious and strict man, and at times, as a teen, I hated him so much I would have liked to slap him against the wall… if only I could. However, his training pays off. I have to give him credit where credit is due.

The only warrior better than him in the pack is Dad, and he is the alpha. He barely trains my twin brother and me, though.He thinks it’s going to ruin our relationship with him if he does so. Judging by the way Eugene and I complain about Beta Floyd, I’m starting to believe Dad might be right. It’s better to hate the beta than our own father.

“You look like you would like to murder someone,” Beta Floyd says. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” I say, finally getting up from the ground and grabbing my towel.

“With you turning eighteen soon, your potential will go through the roof. You need to work hard to nurture your gifts,” he laments.

“Sure,” I say.

When he frowns, I make sure to nod politely. Between Eugene and me, I’m known to be the rebellious one who pushes boundaries, but I certainly don’t need to over-exhaust myself further. The last time I gave Floyd attitude, he made me run some extra laps.

“I will visit Eugene,” I tell him. “He is still in the infirmary.”

“That’s a good idea,” Beta Floyd agrees.

I bid him goodbye before hurrying to the alpha suite of the packhouse, where I live together with my parents and my brother. While Eugene is waiting for my visit, I doubt he would appreciate me coming to him stinky and sweaty. So, I decide to take a swift shower and switch into fresh clothes.

“Where are you heading off to, dear?” Mom calls after me as I am about to make my way out of the suite again. “Please tell me you aren’t sneaking out again.”

“Mom,” I say. “If I were that stupid to sneak out in broad daylight, taking the front door, I wouldn’t deserve to be considered the future alpha.”

Mom smiles, reaching out her hand to straighten my collar.

“Dad’s still mad at me, huh?”

“He is just worried,” she says.

“Didn’t sound worried when he yelled at me,” I point out.

“Well, you didn’t sound apologetic when you got busted for sneaking out of pack grounds and getting drunk at that party,” she retorts.

I groan, hating that she is right. I can’t be mad at her, though. Mom is always nice and tries to mediate between me and Dad when we butt heads. Eugene is the more level-headed one of us. He is more serious, good with people, and gets along better with our father.

However, Mom seems to understand me.

“I plan on visiting Eugene,” I tell her.

She smiles. “That’s sweet. He will be happy. I just spent a couple of hours with him, and he feels pretty down.”

“He should be lucky,” I say. “You know I would have convinced him to come with me to that party, otherwise.”

Mom snorts. “His luck is your misfortune,” she says. “Because he would have smooth-talked your father better.”

I grin. “That was a low blow, Mom, but funny. I’ll give you that.”

“Just leave and visit your brother,” she chuckles.

I nod and wave her goodbye before hurrying out of the suite and down the staircase. On my way, I meet some girls who are in my class, although not from my pack. They must be visiting some of their friends here. They wave at me, and when I wink at them, they giggle. I briefly contemplate flirting with them and inviting one of them out on a date, but then I remember that Eugene is waiting. I doubt he would take it kindly if I ditched him for a girl or a ‘meaningless fuck’ as he calls my dates.