The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 70
JUNIPER
I pressed the ice wrapped in a cloth against Axel’s face. His lip was already swollen from his fight with Asher. After I put my stuff in my dorm, I got anxious waiting for Axel, so I went to find him. I wasn’t expecting to see him and Asher fighting the way they were.
Asher left before I could say anything to him, so I focused on taking care of Axel. Neither of us had said anything, other than me ordering Axel to sit while I got the ice. I didn’t know what to say.
ht maybe with time we could be friends again.
out him on such a deep level that it ached anytime I thought about leaving him.
re you okay?” I asked, unable to take any more silence
d?”
e I should be mad. Once again, Asher was acting crazy, only this time he had a
“You can’t always control how you feel, but you can control your actions.”
elt like a poignant knife to the heart.
I spoke them, and they felt worse when I saw the way Axel’s face twisted.
asked.
ce and leaned down so I was eye-level with him.
hing with you,” I said with confidence. I wanted to kiss Axel to show him I truly meant what I said, but with his sw
hat was holding the bag of ice against his face.
hen I found out Josh was cheating on me, it stung, but it wasn’t devastating. Even when Moira turned against me, ousting
was hurt him back. Despite all of the pain and broken trust, I still cared about Asher. Part of me knew I even loved him, even though it wasn’t something I had ever been able to tell him.
the rest of the week to prepare to leave.
le to protect Axel and the others.
leave tonight.
n, I would’ve fought harder for you. I would’ve never told you to choose him.” He looked down, dropping both of his hands into his lap. He looked defeated and frustrated.
… He did it all because he thought he was doing what was best for me. He put his feelings aside to make sure I had the best chance at happiness.
what I was abou
stop tears from spilling from my eyes. I wanted to tell Axel everything that was going on in my head. I wanted to tell him that I loved him, but if he said it back to me, I didn’t know if I’d be able to leave the way I k
to fight for me anymore,” I whispered.
I know all of this has been complicated and messy, and I know there has been a lot of pain, but don’t blame yourself for any of it. I will always fight for you, no matter what, got it?”
ut a word?
***
nting to sleep by myself, but I knew that wasn’t an option. I had to pack and leave as soon as possible, and with Axel here, that’d be impossible. Every moment I spent with Axel only put him in more danger.
ed on the trip. I didn’t have a car, and I didn’t have a lot of money, so I still had no idea what I was going to do. All I knew was I had to leave before the curse hanging over my head got anyone else killed.
him understand or forgive me for what I was about to do to him.
first. I just didn’t know if he would understand or if he would still be there for me when or if I was able to return to him.
s a chance that when I figured out this curse thing, there would be no one waiting for me when I returned.
suddenly I didn’t want to go. I wanted to be selfish and stay, but I also knew that if Axel or anyone got kill
d writing, tears dripping down my face.
uldn’t be writing it in the first place. In a perfect world, things wouldn’t be so hard. First of all, I want you to know just how sorry I am for keeping this from you. I have wanted to tell you every day
you’re finding out the truth in this letter, but this is something I have
the truth more than anything, and I knew if he was standing outside of the door, everything would come spilling out of my mouth.
ing here?”
s disheveled. His top buttons were undone, and his hair was a mess. Sweat coated his forehead as if he had just run here.
made me want to crumple.