The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 57

JUNIPER

I followed Ethan out of the bathroom, so we could check on Axel. He had been moved to the couch, and his torso was wrapped in clean, white bandages. His eyes were closed, but his chest rose and fell at a steady pace. He didn’t appear to be in any pain, and he was still alive.

Ethan crossed the room and approached the doctor. They spoke in hushed tones, but there were other voices that caught my attention. Nathan and Asher stood in the corner of the room, talking to each other.

jured. His brothers deserved to know what was going on.

process. So much had happened since then, but hardly any time had passed since it actually happened.

Being with Axel felt right. I didn’t regret breaking up with Asher, either—not after the way he treated me. Yet the guilt still ate away at me, knowing the timing couldn’t be worse.

rned away from Nathan, looking at me for the first time since I had entered the room. His face was hard, but I

ave gone for a run. Axel wouldn’t have been shot.

too great to deal with. I couldn’t focus on the what ifs when Axel was unconscious and inju

my presence for the first time

at nickname after everything that happened to him. He made it clear he was upset. I didn’t return his feelings, and he even went as far as to makeout with Moira at Homecomi

me with his arms. There was no animosity left in his bones, as if everything had been washed away once he heard we were

xel protected me.”

ned? I still don’t understand how he was shot,” Nathan asked, glancing at his brother. His lips curved into a frown, showing concern for Axel for the first time around me.

said, approaching me. “I know what you saw wasn’t easy, but if there are werewolf hunters that close to the school, I’ll need to inform our father immediately.”

sher said, still standing across the room.

come out. Asher, of all people, was trying to tell Ethan to back off.

t Ethan. “No, it’s okay. I can hand

***

for me to describe everything that had happened. I couldn’t look into their

r in front of everyone like that. “Axel thought it would be good to get out of the city and get some fresh air. We booked a room in the motel there, and it was creepy. It had all of these animals mounted on its walls. There was even a wolf above the desk. I didn’t like it, but there weren’t many options.”

and myself that night, especially not Asher.

but there were no unusual scents. Once we thought it was safe, we shifted.”

Despite all of the time we spent together, we never shifted in front of each other. I couldn’t help but

gone, but then I ran across the hunter. He had a gun and started to point it at me. Axel came out of nowhere and tackled the hunter. Then the gun went off.”

Axel still made my body want to freeze. I pushed through the wave of emotions, knowing the information I was providing was important.

nd then we ran, knowing we ha

otting down any information that seemed pertinent.

still alive when we left, but we were too focused on getting away to care about him. After we shifted back to human form, I noticed Axel’s wound. He said he was fine but said we had to get out of there. It was too dangerous to stick around. We drove until we got back here, and you know the rest.”

to write down the directions of where you were to the best of your ability.”

. Ethan took the paper and looked it over.

es up.”

school.

it was. I didn’t need to, either. I would always recognize Asher’s scent. He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.

y?” His voice was soft and caring, re

I went through something traumatic.

table and touched my hand.

iled as if he was a snake trying to bite m

“June, I—”

om me. I could feel that he was sorry, and I knew he was going to try to explain himself or apologize, and I wasn’t ready to hear either of those.

said things I didn’t mean, and I know I hurt

, and he didn’t respect my wishes. “What does it matter if I know that or not? What you said hurt. It broke my heart, a

time I was done, and I hated the rage he brought out of me.

is voice was broken and

in case that day ever came. I said, without looking back, “Maybe I could handle this conversation later. Much later.”