The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 48

JUNIPER

I took a step back, completely horrified. I had basically jumped Axel like a crazed woman. I just assumed he’d want to kiss me, too.

“I’m so sorry,” I muttered, turning around and wrapping my arms around myself. More tears streamed down my face, and now I felt rejected on top of everything Asher had made me feel.

t the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply. “Trust me. I want to.”

to stop. But he had.

om the moment I saw you at this school.” He placed feathered kisses along my neck, making goosebumps spread down my arms and legs.

my head back, giving him bette

sed skin. “Not like this. You just broke up with Asher, and he broke your heart. You need time to heal. I don’t want to just be a rebound while you get over my brother.”

d to. I couldn’t stay away from you, but I thought Asher was the better choice. You even said that yourself. I thought he was the one who wouldn’t hurt me.”

u’re in a lot of pain right now. I promise I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be wherever you want me to be, whether that’s right by your side or waiting on the sidelines, but I also want you to think about it for a bit, because I don’t want you to regret anything with me.”

y. “Because when you’re mine, I may never be able to let you go. So I want you to be absolutel

adn’t worked out. Maybe Axel was right. Now wasn’t the best time.

. “Can I still hug you?”

Of course. Like I said, I’m here for you J.J. For whatever you need.”

y head against his chest and breathed in his scent. Tears streamed down my face again, but this time they were from overwhelming relief. As much as I wanted to kiss Axel again, having his arms around me made me feel safe. It m

ss on my cheeks, and even though part of me felt empty, I became painfully aware of my body.

a ledge looking over the lake, my body was thoroughly chilled. I wasn’t even wearing shoes.

same conclusion as me. “You’re freezing.”

to go back there,” I said. The last thing I wanted to do was go back to my dorm and face Moira, and if I went back to Ethan’s apartment, Asher co

where do you want to go?

oo tired to think straight. “I don’t know. I just don’t want to go back there

d wrapped it around me. “Okay, then I have an idea.”

I asked Asher about his plans, he never told me, wanting to surprise me const

d. We can stay there until you’re ready to go back,” Axel explained, to my surprise.

e in. I didn’t have to guess or worry he was leading me in the wrong direction.

returned.

never ditched a class before. Even when I was sick, I dragged myself to class.

kay to miss a single day, but you don’t have to decide right now. You have a few days,” Axel said.

y.”

I worried about him being cold, but I knew it’d be pointless to say something to him. He’d insist that my warmth was more important, and right now, I didn’t mind that.

, and we both hopped off.

Maybe some clothes if they have any,” Axel said.

there in a moment.”

t I’d never see any of these people again.

erseys.

ip-flops, which wasn’t ideal, but it was better than walking around barefoot.

ind me.

too close to me. I tried to take a step back, but I ended up bumping into the shelf.

you though.” I shifted the basket in front of me to create a

ave to do is help me out.”

help.”

rude. Someone is offering to help

would cause even more problems I didn’t want to deal with.

no,” I said firmly, looking him straight in the

owled and reached for my basket. “Such a brat. Didn’t your paren

g it wasn’t worth fighting over stuff. He stumbled backwards, and his nose flared.

ver teach you that no means no?”

meone needs to teach you a lesson.” He dropped the b

suffocating. “I’d think twice before trying to hit a lady.”

no sound came out.

of here before I make you regret every life decision you’ve ever made,” Axel snarled.

rambled backwards, tripping over my basket in the process. He flipped over and half crawled away, desperate to get

man before. I had seen plenty of werewolves submit to those stronger than them, but I had never seen that level of fear

l grabbed my basket and started picking up the spilled contents. I quickly helped him.

at was impressive,” Ax

ed at him like he was crazy. “What

we get out of here?”