The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 136

JUNIPER

Nathan tried to sit up, but he instantly found resistance from the bindings around his wrists. “What’s going on?” He was groggy and a little out of it still.

“Untie him,” I said, already pulling at the restraint on the hand that was closest to me.

is that really you? Are you back?”

ked at me, and his hand shook. “I actually… I tried to hurt you, didn’t I?”

d to the bed. I didn’t know what to say. I could still feel his fingers wrapped around my neck, and the thought made my heart race. I could feel that this was the Nathan I knew through the bond, but I hesitated

d past Ethan and started

he restraint on my side. I paused when Remy spoke.

ng quickly,” Remy said. She turned to Nathan, “With your permission, I would like to do a quick ex

t me, as if to ask if he should agr

back,” I explained.

the sorcerer. “You have my permission.”

d her hand on Nathan’s forehead, and her hand glowed with the familiar warmth that showed she was using her magic. It was over quickly, and she smiled as she took her hand

opened the glass-paned door and found Nathan looking out at the backyard.

to announce my presence.

ighten at the sight of me, like I had expected. Instead, his expression was stoic. Through the mate bond, I felt a heavy weight on his thoughts.

gazing, leaning his forearms on the railing.

nutes to see if Nathan would bring up whatever was on his mind, but the silence spun between us, only making the tension increase.

thing okay?”

e you sure you want to be aro

r mouths to let the other speak, but the silence grew again. I thought everything would be easy after Nathan was back to his old self, but everything felt tense.

speak this time.

s me. I could feel your terror and how much you hated me touching you, but I didn’t care.” His fingers curled into fists. “I don’t deserve you after what I did, and you shouldn’t want to be around me.”

d me for days after. Even now, the memory made me want to slink away from Nathan. However, I moved closer

said. Even though there were seeds of lingering fear, I also felt the undeniable pull towards Nathan, and I knew this version of my mate would never try to hurt me like that.

filled with the horror of his actions. “And I wanted to, too. I didn’t fight against it.”

s under the spell. I was sure there was more than I was aware of too.

gs to you.”

chest ached for my mate. I wanted to erase his pain, like none of those horrible things had happened to him, but that was impossible. It was something he would have to work through and overcome with time.

y.

sy and anger. The most important thing is how you react to your

don’t think I can go back to the person I used to be before all of this.”

the same person I was when I met you at CUW,” I said.

know, but this is different.” Nathan lifted his hands

se wer

w do I know that the spell is really gone? What if it’s just a temporary fix, and that other version comes back and hurts you again? I would never forgive myself.”

ell is gone, and I trust her. I also trust you.”

ing he wasn’t telling me. “Because you’re my mate.”

when I hurt you, too.”

I love and trust you, and I refuse to let you go through this alone.”

hurt you again.”

just take time apart.

e refused to look at me.

o, then don’t. It’s as simple as that,” I said.

he was coming from. If I had been in his shoes and hurt him or one of his brothers instea

y you even bothered to save me after what I did.”

e distance between us for another second. I grabbed his face and made him look i

“No.”

hrough this. I will be by your side throughout it. I know the urge to run. I have run away from the things that have scared me my entire life, but I’m

lse.

space, I’ll go to the other room, but I won’t let you leave me to run off to another school. I love you, Nathan, and I’ll tell you that over and over again until you can learn to love yourself again.”

said, knowing that was what he needed to hear. “And I hope you can forgive yourself one day.”

han squeezed his eyes shut. “I don’t deser

anyone else. I just hope I can make you happy,” I said.

u do. You being here mak

ed to kiss his pain away.

s and pressed my mouth against his, and the heat in my core instantly started to rise. Hi

oked up at him. “Don’t stop,” I whispered. “Pl

the gap between us again, and I knew there was