The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 25
NATHAN
The thrill of the game pumped my adrenaline. For as long as I could remember, my dad had put me in a training camp. Apparently, even at a young age, I surpassed my brothers in speed and agility. He wanted to foster those abilities and turn me into the greatest wolfball player of all time.
Somewhere along the lines, his dream had become my own. Or perhaps it was always mine. That was a blurred memory for me, but it didn’t really matter. What I did know was that as I scored the first goal of the night, I etched myself into this school’s history. I lived up to the hype surrounding my skills for the game, and I planned on showing everyone my true value.
gging me to sign onto their teams.
d again and again, showing up right where I needed to be. One of the opposing team’s players fumbled the ball,
ll that I could be. I could see in her eyes that she still thought of me as a child. She always had. I was three years younger than her, so I understood where she was coming from. It
rstood that I had just as much experience as them, even if I was younger.
e Juniper see me as someon
other team was struggling. They had nearly made a goal before Josh intercepted it, and then I snatched the ball, almost immediately making a goal for our team instead.
was going to be a shut out. The morale of the opposing team was quickly diminishing. Scowls were aimed at me, and normally I hated anyone being upset with me, but during the game, it filled me with pride. It meant my skills were so overwhelming that they felt hopeless.
I was ready to hear their cheers explode as I made the final goal before the time out.
into my side. He came out of nowhere, and teeth sank
***
ASHER
ght.
right away.”
y think he’s going to nitpick about a little dust on a shelf?”
gotten who the man who raised us is?”
.” I leaned back and took a deep breath
.”
a robot.
l doesn’t seem to respect my authority, and the woman we were told to avoid years ago is not only here, but you are basically dating her.”
you here.”
han, wondering if I had slipped into an alternate dimension. “Y
straight.” Ethan turned back to
was possible for my older brother to feel nervous.
nervous. “You needed me. I didn’t think that was possible.”
iding them. Don’t get too cocky. You’re here to just take some of the heat off of me.”
It changed my perspective of Ethan, and I planned on holding onto this new perspective. It made Ethan more human, and I liked that side of him. “If
than and I snapped our attention to the sound, freezing in the process.
at him, his eyes wide. “Don’t bring up Juniper’s name or the fact that you’re dating
ached the door with Ethan. I tried to brush the wrinkles out of my shirt, suddenly regretting not wearing something nicer.
as harsh as ever. We got the blue in our eyes from our mother—one of the few things she left behind for us.
call me weak without hesitation. He was testing to see if we had gone soft in our time away from home.
Burrell,” Ethan sai
t affected my brother, he didn’t show it.
me in. I have hot water ready for tea.” Ethan gestured for our father to come in.
have a fresh pot of coffee brewed. Let me get that for you.” Ethan walked t
and I learned at a young age that he always sat at the table first.
ounce the moment Ethan messed up.
ng his tea. “Would you like any cream or sugar?”
g a deep inhale. “This is high quality coffee grounds. Impressive.”
you, father,” Ethan said.
ps, so I suggest you start learning to drink it that way now.”
,” whether or not I agreed with him. Things went smoother that way.
father said. “Ethan, I’m curious to know why you kept the fact that Juniper Johnson is here and that Asher is dating her.”