The Four Beta Brothers – Chapter 80
JUNIPER
“I don’t have to choose?” I repeated like a baby bird. I knew what Remy was suggesting, but the thought hadn’t even occurred to me. In some ways, having all of the brothers would have been nice, but after the way Asher reacted, I couldn’t imagine sharing any of them.
Remy shrugged. “It’s just a thought, not a suggestion. In the end, it’s up to you.”
. I don’t even know how that would work or if the others would be open to something.” The idea was such a foreign concept to me, so it didn’t make any sense. Yet, at the same time, there was a part of me that felt rejoiced at the idea of not having to choose. The more I thought about it, the more app
ing Blade.” She seemed amused by this idea.
or her arm, stopping her from getting up.
a curse placed on me when I was a child.”
the memory block spell?
need you to tell me, because I have to leave if you can’t remove the curse.”
this?”
ed, realizing I had let the family name slip. Everyone seemed to act differently once they learned they were in the presence of the Burrell family. I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to figure out how to get her to forget I had said
s.
sher are his sons?” she
my to get excited or ask for money or something.
ll depend on if I can remove it. It could have worse side effects than removing the memory block spell.”
washed over me as Remy moved on from the topic of the family. “Nothing can be worse than knowing I’m the cause of the death of those I care about,” I said. “If the curse is there, and you think you can remove it, I want you to do that, even if the process could kill me.”
.
ven the idea of leaving them makes my heart ache.” I pressed my hand against my chest to emphasize my point. The pressure began to build, but I took a deep breath to suppress it. One way or another, I would know the truth soon.
g on the level of magic and the depth the curse was woven into you—if it is real.”
you think is best.” She wasn’t happy about my decision, but s
***
ETHAN
y,” I said, sitting down at the table across from him.
flaw to nitpick. “You’ve looked better.”
I had missed.
on with the hunter near town.” I picked up the menu and started to scan the options for what suited my appetite.
hope you don’t mind.” Beta Burrell smiled at me, but there was a challenge in his voice.
ta after all, which meant he expected everyone, especially his own sons, to follow his every order. No one could convince him oth
”
to hear. Even so, he didn’t call me out. It would break the rules of the unspoken war we were fighting.
he meant to say. I expected better of you, and this failure is unacceptable.
ve told my father this. He was the beta. It was his responsibility to keep werewolf packs safe.
my head screaming at me to keep my theory to myself.
t least,” he said.
Once satisfied with the scent, he took a small sip and let the liquid roll around his tongue.
,” he said.
rp for them.”
a little, son,” he said.
otherwise.”
he pressure. That’s why she took her own life, you know? She was unhappy and needed an escape.”
his mouth.
”
through the motions of life. Only when I decided to dig into James’ death did I find a new purpose in life.
father never spoke of my mother after that day. It was alm
od. He was furious with
aid. Despite my inner turmoil, it was easy to keep my face neutral. I had had years of practice keeping a mask on to hide what I was truly feeling—even from my own brothers.
glass of wine down. Despite the other customers in the restaurant, the sound of the glass hitting the table felt poignant. “Juniper is bad news. You should’ve just let her leave this school instead of convincing her to stay. She won’t make you happy, and you won’t make her happy. If she were to choose a life with you, it would onl
?”
I can
s about to make a splash in the steady water. “No, Father. You don’t. This is just one of the
is teeth.
ymore, and now he knew it.
saw Nathan’s name on the caller ID. I answered, but the noise was muffled as the device switched to the bluetooth in my car.
han. I couldn’t hear you.”
His voice was ragged and distressed, and my chest tightened.