The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 32

JUNIPER

I threw my hands in my face to stop Josh from hitting me again. He had never been violent with me when we were dating, and I didn’t think he was the type to hit a woman. However, he was on the wolfball team, and after seeing the violence firsthand, I shouldn’t have been surprised by his actions.

“It’s not nice to call a woman such a derogatory term,” a voice seethed behind Josh. I instantly recognized the voice as Axel.

ween Josh and myself.

re done now,” Axel growled, and his wolf energy burst out of him like an angry wave crashing down onto the beach

ith anger.

guy thinks it’s okay to hit a girl. Two, Juniper is my friend, so this is very much my business.” Axel slipped his jacket off and handed it to me. “Keep this safe for

f with Josh made the nerves come back.

p himself between Josh and me, even though it put him in a disadvantageous position.

ed him in the gut. Axel pushed him back, creating more space between the

s back. He slowly rolled up his sleeves, watching as Josh recovered from the punch.

if you try to fight me,” Axel said, extending h

lf into the wall, scared for Axel. After seeing Nathan knocked out during his game, I had no interest in seeing anyone else injured. I didn’t want Axel

o the ground. He punched Axel once, hitting him with his knuckles. He went to hit him again, but Axel caught his hand and pulled Josh forward, slamming his head into the jock at the same

ut my stomach lurched as I saw blood splatter from Josh’s

sed enough to block Axel’s next attack. Then he slashed Axel, scratching his ch

the fight to stop.

broken.”

to stand up, but he was disoriented from h

out to mess with him.

Axel walked past the stairs to the lobby and kept going to the end of the hallway where there were no lingering people from the party. I didn’t know where he was taking me, and I couldn’t bring myself to ask him. I was still in shock from Josh slapping me and then Axel showing up and beating him up. My head spun, and I didn’t know what to th

sky above us. We were on the roof of the building.

air and huffed. His wolf energy pulsed through him still. It was less now than when he was fighting Josh,

ndle his mood. “Are you okay?” My voice was quiet, and I stopped several feet aw

ped. It wasn’t towards me, but it still made me flinch. “When I walked out into the hallway and saw that guy all over you, I wanted to punch him right then. And then he had the audacity to slap you like that. I wanted to kill him. I

y head, making my chest ache.

course I care. I never want another man to lay a hand on you.”

His eyes were hard in a way I hadn’t seen. Whenever he called us friends, he smiled as if he was perfectly h

er girl broke something in me. I couldn’t keep lying to myself. I cared about Asher, but I also cared about Axel.

dating my brother!” he

true. I ran my hands through my hair and tugged on the root. Confusion coursed through my veins, and suddenly I didn’t know wh

, realizing I had said too much.

wide eyes, not saying anything. My heart pounded, and my head spun even more.

here. “Just forget I said that. I—” I cut myself off. I couldn’t say I didn’t mean i

a whisper.

o someone like I felt with him.”

e.”

uld make things less confusing.

wards Ethan, too, but I didn’t want to add his name to the list of people in my head—at least not to Axel.

“Then what is it?” My voice cracked, and I felt defeated. I was emotionally and mentally exhausted, and I didn’t want to think so

gap between us.

ause if I am, then I’ll drop this. But if you like me—if you feel this connection too…” My voice dropp

“You’re not crazy, but I can’t stand the idea of hurting Asher.”

that it was deafening. Knowing Axel had feelings for me made me feel better

eps forward, the sound of his shoes against the concrete break

you.”

I admitted. My heart thrummed against my chest at Axel’s proximity. It

and grabbed his jacket from my arms. H

k.” My heart thumped as I looked at Axel. We weren’t talking about our feelings, but the air was thick with tension. We were too close, and it was too easy to reach out and kiss Axel, but I couldn’t do that to Asher.

plit, and the scratches on his chest glistened with blood from Jo

even more.

out and cupped my cheek again.

empting, and it would be easy to lift onto my toes and close the gap, but I held back. Even if I decided to be with Axel instead of Asher, I would never do it

.

s the better choice. I promise you that.”

describable pull to him, he told me to choose his brother.

u right. I’ll be okay. As long as we’re friends, and I have you in my life, I’ll be okay with