The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 143

JUNIPER

I walked through the campus, trying to ignore the stares coming my way. The news of what happened with Anthony Burrell broke to all werewolf communities over the weekend. Winston and Ethan tried to control what kind of information was released, but news reporters were vicious. They had found out everything, including the fact that I was the estranged daughter of the former Alpha Williams and that Alpha Williams and Luna Heline were getting divorced.

Axel squeezed my hand. “Just ignore them.”

them staring at me, but usually their eyes are filled with hatred. I feel like I’m some kind of celebrity.”

“Welcome to my world.”

to fawn over how attractive Ethan was as our TA or how girls melted when Asher flashed them a smile. That time felt like a lifetime ago now.

ore about status. The only girls who ever approached me before only did so because they thought they could slip their way into power by acting interested in me.”

d my grip on Axel’s hand.

sorry you had to deal with that

el shrugged. “Tha

“Someone is feeling gooey this morning.”

always feel gooey when I’m with you. Now I don’t have to hide it,” Axel chuckled. He leaned over

we were in public. If we weren’t, it would’ve been t

uilding. Alpha Williams—now Principal Williams—requested a meeting with me before my fir

ked, the playfulness disappearing from his face.

asked fo

ust showed up with you?” Axel asked, brushing off the statement.

ng was about, but I hadn’t talked to Elijah in private since finding out he was my biological father. It was one of the facts I did my best to ignore. There were too many other things I needed to focus my attention on, but I knew there was no way to avoid it now.

was.

t to laugh. I didn’t know who would win a fight between Axel and Elijah, but

ith fearing the man. In fact, part of me looked down on him for being too afraid to take responsibility for the mistake he made.

ou out here, so just link me, and I’ll rush in to be your knight in shining armor.”

that,” I laughed.

time before slipping into the office. The receptionist in the office was different from the last one I had dealt with. The previous woman had been working for the Clandestines, and while her crimes weren’t as severe as the Clandestines, she had been charged with aiding a terro

rising amount of faculty had been fired during Alpha Williams’ investigation of the Clandestines, so the school felt new with all of the new hires. The worst part was there was no way to know how long the investigation would last. Ethan said they were following paper trails Anthony left behind, but without any concrete proof, there was no way to know how many others were involved in the treachery.

to a bun at the back of her head.

illiams.”

n I imagined.”

ow to respond to her compliment. Her warm demeanor threw me off balance. “Oh, thank you.”

t animals. “Here. Have a cookie. I baked them for my daughter to take to school, and of course, I baked too many, so I brought i

tantly. “This is really good.”

e as many as you want. I have even more at home,” she said.

more than enough. But do you see that boy outside?” I gestured through the glass doors at Axel, who was pacing as he waited for me. “I’m sure he’d love one of your cookies.”

h a devious smile. “That’s one of your mates, right?”

I said.

so you can go right in.”

ponse.

h called out.

m. I stood in the center of the room, feeling my nerves creep back up.

ncipal Williams,”

n’t you think?”

said, “Perhaps.”

a seat. Get comfortable. I promise this isn’t anything formal.”

ould’ve preferred something formal. It meant personal details would be kept out of the conversation, but I wasn’t sure if

nks,” I said, slinging my backpack to the

see you met Barbara.”

dmitted. I held the cookie awkwardly, unsure of what to do with it. Normally, I would’ve finished it, but my stomach was in kn

hole process.” There were bags under Elijah’s eyes, showing the many sleepless nights he had spent trying to undo the crimes of his own beta.

to be so forward, but what is this meeting about?” I asked, not wanting to bother with small ta

re several reports of the bullying you endured, a majority of them made by Ethan, but there are even some made by other students.”

ith blind followers.

e, under the circumstances, I’m not surprised. Charles knew who you were, and since he knew Anthony wanted you dead, why would he bother putting a stop to the bullying? Maybe he even encouraged it to tear you down.”

es has lost everything. There’s not really much left to discuss about this, is there?” The bullying felt minor to everything else now, and I was ready to let it all go.

hings that we could do. For one, I’d like to give you a formal apology. CUW is a school that is supposed to be known for its prestige, and we allowed one of our students to be harassed. That is unacceptable and can’t go on any longer. We can also still deal with the bullies themselves. I have several names written down here, and I can move to expel them immediately. Once I’m done, I will ensure that no one ever dares to bully at this school again, and if they do, they will know what the consequences are.”

t that felt wrong. In the end, if Moira hadn’t gone to Ethan when I reached out to her, I may not have been here today.

aid after thinking things through, “but I don’t think that’s necessary. I don’t think expelling the students will do them any good. I think it would be better to give them community service and warn them that n

.

bullying make an effort to be better people, then that’s what I want.”

were the victim. I see why the Burrell sons are so fond of you.”

thing else to say to this conversation. “If that’s all—”

I slowly sank back into my seat.