The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 64

JUNIPER

I was in a daze as I walked back to Ethan’s apartment. I didn’t want to leave Axel or Ethan. I didn’t even want to leave Nathan. A part of me didn’t want to leave Asher knowing we were on such rocky terms.

However, if what Beta Burrell said was true, then Axel was hurt because of some curse that was placed on me. I didn’t want to believe it. It had to be a coincidence, but why else would Beta Burrell want me to leave?

emester,” I had said in response. I still wasn’t sure if I was going to do as Beta

truly a curse that killed his son and nearly killed another, how did he speak to me so calmly?

en considering it.

“Do you think it’s worth the risk?”

idiculous. My parents would’ve told me if I was cursed. They wouldn’t have stayed around me, knowing I’d cause their deaths.

covery of wolf hunters, I hadn’t had a chance to talk to Ethan about everything.

y time to think about all of it.

bility that Axel was injured because he had grown close to me.

ting.

. I didn’t know what to think of Beta Burrell’s words. I didn’t know if I should believe him. I didn’t know if I should stick around, in case I was truly

I knocked or didn’t knock when there were so many other concerns?

hadn’t even thought about checking my phone while I was with Beta Burrell, but it didn’t matter. There were no new messages.

nt. When I made it to the kitchen, I saw his feet peeking out from behind the counter. I rushed to his side, shouting his name.

ath.

as burning up. He must have pushed himself too hard earlier. I shouldn’t have let him come. I should’ve stayed home with him to stop him from even trying.

***

me if he gets any worse.”

him out of the apartment.

gone, Nathan approached me. “Have you eaten anything t

had breakfast,”

e?”

t me. “No.”

sure me. Even thinking about telling Nathan that I spoke to his father made the pressure in my chest increase.

n offered.

others were preoccupied in one way or another.

ning for me to join him. “I added mayo, just like you like.”

h to Nathan, which meant he remembered this from my childhood.

food was the last thing on my mind.

mind.

lying on the kitchen floor in pain, Beta Burrell’s words rang in my head like a heavy truth.

you,” Nathan said. “It’s not your fault that he’s hurt.”

t sounded so simple when Nathan put

m?” I asked, knowing I probably sounded crazy.

, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not cursed. I know finding out about James and then seeing Axel get shot has been a lot, but you’re not cursed. It’s just bad luck.” Nathan touched my hand, trying to comfort me, but it made me want to pull back. His words didn’t con

I didn’t say the words in my head. I knew what I had to do, and there was nothing Nathan or anyone else could say to make me

e food, ignoring the tightness i

***

rrell.

t was clear Axel wasn’t doing well, I wouldn’t have been outside of Ethan’s apartment. Beta B

in the end. Everything had already happened, and there was no changing the past. There was only moving forward, knowing what I had to do to protect everyone around me, knowing I had to leave the brothers to protect t

e I had to leave, or at least I was giving myself time. There were too many moving parts I had to figure out before I left this life behind, and I planned on treasuring every moment I had left with Axel while I still had it.

if Axel asked me to stay.

as so new and undefined. Not when he nearly sacrificed himself to save me.

s exactly why I had to leave, though. He risked his life for mine. I could risk m