The Contract (My Perfect Mate Continued)

Beta Charm

Bryce strode in like he owned the place, and I couldn't help the small smile on my face. Bryce looked like a f*****g peacock, strutting around with his feathers in full glory. Within seconds, I could feel the Beta charm oozing from his pores. He was gifted with an extremely charismatic personality. He walked around like nothing ever bothered him, he was the Xanax of our pack. The Goddess had gifted him with the ability to calm any situation.

Wolves tended to have a short temper and were extremely passionate creatures. All it took was a wrong look or an accidental shoulder check to send a wolf over the edge. That, mixed with our overly protective tendencies, was a disaster waiting to happen. Bryce could silence a scuffle with one single look. To me, he was just my dorky twin brother. But to the rest of the pack, he was charming and irresistible, especially to the she-wolves. Even without his given gift, Bryce was so incredibly likable. He is so easy to talk to, and is always down for a good time.

I stood so Bryce could take my seat. He smiled at Nora and I could see her shoulders drop. The stress that she had just held seemed to melt away with his mere presence.

"What's wrong Nora, tell your big brother Bryce." He scooped up her hand and patted the top of it. In my opinion, he was laying it on a little too thick. But if it was working, who was I to judge

She stared blankly at him, almost like her thoughts had dropped out of her head. When she didn't say anything, Bryce continued.

"Something is clearly bothering you. Please tell me, you'll feel so much better when you get it off your chest."

Nora sighed loudly before she spoke, "I honestly can't remember."

Bryce's smile grew wider when he realized that he had fixed the problem, at least for the moment.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to go into tonight's festivities with a clouded head."

Nora blinked a couple more times before her wits returned. Nora shot up from her spot. "God dammit Bryce! How do you do that?"

Bryce laughed at Nora's outburst, "What? I was just trying to help."

"I know, but it's not fair!" She tried to fight the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Bryce tried again, "Well, then, tell me what's going on with you. You're normally a ray of sunshine, and you clearly have some dark clouds lingering above your head."

She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Forget it. It's nothing."

Her sadness was replaced with anger and frustration.

Bryce released another wave of his Beta charm and I watched in amazement as Nora's body language changed once more. She almost looked dazed. "Really, I'm fine. I should finish getting ready. We don't have much time before the party starts." She exchanged looks between the two of us and her smile returned. "I'll be in my room if you guys need me."

Nora damn near skipped out of the room. Bryce's charm still lingered as Nora disappeared behind the door.

We both busted into laughter when we heard Nora shout in the hallway when Bryce's charm began wearing off.

"God dammit Bryce! I hate you!" There was a brief silence before we heard thundering footsteps heading in the opposite direction.

Bryce leaned back in the chair and crossed his leg with an all too pleasing smile on his face. I leaned against my desk and crossed my ankles. I placed my hands behind me to support my weight. "I still don't understand how you do that?" I said with a smile.

Bryce shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, but it worked. At least she's excited about her party now."

I shook my head and laughed, "Actually, I think she's just mad at you now."

Bryce shrugged his shoulders and quickly fixated his gaze on me now, "So when are you going to tell me what's wrong with you?"

I was taken aback by his abrupt assumption that something was wrong. I mean he wasn't far off, but I didn't think that it was so apparent.

"Who? Me? I don't know what you're talking about."

Bryce raised his eyebrows in my direction, "You seriously can't think that I believe you, right?"

I could feel his aura seeping out once more. "You know that your little parlor trick doesn't work on me."

"I know, but I was hoping that you would tell me as your twin, not just your Beta."

"Honestly, it's nothing. I just have a lot of work to finish before the party."

Bryce shook his head and pushed up from the chair. "No you don't. That s**t can wait, I need a drink, and it looks like you could use one too. Come on, let's head downstairs and blow off some steam."

As we drew closer to the staircase, Bryce turned over his shoulder. "We should probably check in with mom downstairs. I'm sure she's wrapped up with preparations."

"Yeah, I think you're right. I can hear her shuffling down there."

We prepared ourselves as we approached the commotion just below us. Mom was twirling about the room, doing the work of ten different people, even with the dozens of Omegas helping her. She was so focused that she didn't register our presence behind her. I tried several times to get her attention, but it wasn't working. I walked up closely behind her and placed my hands on her shoulders.

"Mom. Can you hear me?" I said slowly, in a teasing tone. She turned around finally and her stress melted away when she registered my face. Her smile returned when she came back to reality. It was unusual to see her like this. She was normally so laid back about things, I can see where Bryce gets that quality from.

Mom playfully shoved me back, "Yes I can hear you just fine. What do you want?" She said while laughing loudly.

"Well, I was going to offer to help, but not after that."

Mom's smile widened, "I'm actually almost done." She then looked me up and down and a frown replaced her gleaming smile. "Please tell me that you are not wearing that to the party."

I looked down at my outfit playfully, "What? I thought I would keep it casual. After all, this night is not about me."

She stared at my black basketball shorts and shook her head. "You know that I have very low standards. But I draw the line at basketball shorts." She chortled. I even heard Bryce crack up behind me. "Now. I suggest you both go upstairs and change. We have less than an hour before our guests arrive."

"Actually mother, Bryce and I were about to go grab a drink-" I was cut off by my mother before I could finish my sentence.

"There will be plenty of time for you two to get sloppy later, AFTER the ceremony." Mom gave me a playful nudge towards the stairs. "You too!" She gestured at Bryce.

I jokingly saluted my mother, "Aye, Aye captain." I waved to Bryce to follow me as I headed for the stairs.

"Don't be surprised if you bump into your uncle on the way up!" She called after us.

Bryce and I separated on the second floor as I continued up two more flights of stairs. I was almost to the third landing when I recognized a voice floating from down the hallway. I smiled internally as I stepped off the landing and turned towards the familiar voice.

"Uncle Kev!" I called down the hallway. He turned and smiled at me and began walking down the hallway towards me.

"Ah, my favorite nephew! How are you doing buddy?"

I laughed as he slapped the back of my shoulder as we embraced. "I'm going to tell Bryce that you said that I'm your favorite."

We separated, and he crossed his arms in front of his body. "I'm pretty sure he already knows."

Uncle Kevin and I stood there and reminisced until I heard another familiar voice. Aunt Celia appeared moments later.

"Andy, it's so good to see honey. How's Alpha life treating you?" She reached out for a hug.

"I can't complain much. Dad is still running most of the day to day, I still have a lot to learn through."

She patted my back before letting me go, "You'll get it, it just takes time."

The three of us stood in the hallway chit-chatting, "So where are Tuck and Georgia?"

Celia glanced over her shoulder towards the guest room, "Georgia is still getting ready and Tuck went for a run. He should be back any minute."

"Ah okay, I'll see them in a little bit then. I have been sent to my room. Can you believe that mom said that I was under dressed?" I said sarcastically.

Kevin laughed, "Yeah, running shorts and flip flops don't exactly say, Alpha."

I matched his smile before checking my watch, "Yeah, I should probably head upstairs. I'll see you guys in a little bit?" I said as I jogged backwards towards the stairs.