The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 107

JUNIPER

"Ethan, welcome to the party," Craig said. "A little bit of a rude entrance though."

"Where's Juniper?" Ethan blocked the door with his body.

"She's right there with your brother." Craig gestured at us with his gun, making me flinch. He claimed he wanted to use me to manipulate Ethan and the others, but I hated how he pointed the gun so casually at us.

Ethan looked at the two of us, and his chest puffed out at the sight. "Nathan." He looked like a mix of relieved and angry to see his brother here. "Let them go. Now."

"I don't think so," Craig said. He took a step towards us, and Ethan started to lunge. "Uh-uh. Attack me, and I will make sure the girl receives a bullet through her heart before your blades can reach me."

"You're playing a dangerous game," Ethan said.

"I am. Dangerous games are more fun," Craig said.

Craig and Ethan stared at each other, waiting for the other to break. Craig was confident the threat of my life was enough to get Ethan to bend to his will, but as I stared at Ethan, I knew he wasn't willing to break under any threat. He also wasn't willing to sacrifice my life to prove his point. He was searching for a logical way to get everything he wanted.

The tension started building in the room, and when it finally broke, I knew chaos would rain down upon us. I had to get Nathan and myself out of here before that happened.

I started pulling at the knot keeping Nathan tied up with my one good hand, but the knot was too tight. I wasn't going to be able to free him like this.

"Alpha Williams is on his way to the school. He'll be here tomorrow," Ethan said. "He knows everything." He looked at Beta Burrell. "Everything. Whatever you're trying to do is over. You're not going to be able to touch the alpha or his family."

"You don't know everything, son," Beta Burrell said. "This is so much bigger than you realize. It's not going to stop here."

"Don't call me your son. I'm done with you. After everything you've done. After James. Then you took Juniper away from us." Ethan's voice was void as he spoke. "I have no interest in being associated with the likes of you."

"She was a nuisance and was trying to destroy everything. I saw the way you boys were hung up on her. It was better she wasn't near you growing up. She would've been a bad influence on you. My only regret is listening to your mother instead of killing her in that hospital bed," Beta Burrell snapped.

"Then why did you send us here?" Ethan asked. "You knew she was here, so why get her involved if you thought it was best we weren't with her. Instead of trying to kill her, you could've just left her out of this. At least she would've been safe that way." Beta Burrell didn't respond. He looked at the floor, no longer making eye contact with Ethan. "I didn't know." His words were muttered and indistinct, making me question if I heard him correctly.

"Don't try to pull that on me. You know everything." Ethan stared at his father, not giving into the act for one second.

"He knows what his informants tell him," Craig said. All eyes settled on the hunter. "Too bad Charles forgot to mention that small detail."

Beta Burrell's jaw clenched. "I should've known that your brother didn't 'overlook' that detail when I told him I was sending my sons here."

"But why would you want them here if I threatened your plan?" I asked, drawing attention to myself. I knew I should've been working on a way to get Nathan out of his restraints, but curiosity was overwhelming. "You even tried to kill me because of it, before you changed your mind about my usefulness."

"What can I say? I like games," Craig said, but I knew there was more to it than that explanation.

"I should've known Charles was lying to me about not knowing it was the Juniper that was here. That little weasel is going to pay," Beta Burrell said. "What was your plan? Have that useless omega turn my sons against me?"

"She's not useless," Ethan's claws extended as he spoke, making him lose his composure. "She's my mate, and she's been a better influence than you ever have been. On all of us. Axel actually smiles now. Asher isn't wound up so tightly. Because of her, I have never felt closer to my brothers, and you're trying to destroy that. Have you ever cared about family or is power the only thing you have ever wanted?"

I focused on my wolf as Ethan spoke, knowing I had to continue freeing Nathan. With his presence in the room, I felt even stronger than before. I just needed a single claw to cut through the ropes and free Nathan. I didn't want him to get caught in the cross fire when everything erupted.

"Family makes you weak. Your mother was supposed to breed me strong sons to help me take over, but instead, her love made you weak, just like that omega. I saw your mother's influence. I knew it was making you all become too soft, and I should've stopped it. I only wish I had gotten rid of her sooner!"

"You what?" Ethan said.

"I got rid of your mother. She was useless after James died. She didn't want to listen to me anymore. She wanted to go to Alpha Williams and admit our crimes. I had no choice," Beta Burrell said. "You killed our mother?" Nathan said, drawing attention to us.

I froze, afraid that if someone noticed what I was doing, I would lose the opportunity to free Nathan.

"Don't act so surprised. I know you know who I am by now."

"You're a monster," Nathan muttered. "You're a monster, and you deserve to die." He started pulling at his restraints, and the rope cut into his skin, making him bleed.

"And you're an ungrateful brat! I gave you everything. You are the most sought after wolfball player in werewolf history. You wouldn't have gotten there if it weren't for me," Beta Burrell said.

"No! I got to this point because of me and Juniper. I worked hard every day, hoping that if I got famous enough, one day it'd bring me back to her. There were days I wanted to quit because of you, and she was the one who kept me going." Nathan's entire body shook as he poured out his frustrations. I had never seen him like this before.

"You did that for me?" I whispered, looking at Nathan differently. No wonder he had struggled when Asher swooped in and swept me off my feet when we first met.

Nathan looked at me. His lips fell apart, but he didn't speak right away. He clenched his fists together. "Ever since the day that you left, I couldn't stand being away from you. It was the only way I thought it might be possible to find you again." "Nathan..." I grabbed his hand, wishing I had known this sooner. I didn't know if it would've changed anything, but knowing he worked so hard to find me again made me want to hold him close.

"Okay, I'm tired of this family drama," Craig said, looking bored. "Who should I kill first? Eeny. Minnie. Miney. Moe." He pointed his gun at me. "Should I shoot her to show you how serious I am? I'll make sure I don't hit anything vital." "Touch her, and I'll rip you to shreds," Ethan cautioned, no longer concerned about his father.

"Or should I kill the youngest brother? He's probably the least useful out of all of you. What a tragedy that would be, too. So young, but at least not as young as your other brother," Craig continued on. Ethan growled and took half a step towards Craig before Craig turned the gun on him.

"I could shoot you, use one of your younger brothers for my purpose instead. They seem like they'd be much more easily influenced than you," the hunter pondered, aiming the gun for Ethan's head.

My stomach twisted at the sight. Craig was having too much fun toying with our lives, and it made me sick. I couldn't stand this anymore. I forced a claw to emerge from my finger and cut the rope to free Nathan. "Get out of here as fast as you can and get help," I whispered.

Nathan's eyes widened with questions, but I didn't have time for that. I started rushing towards Craig, prepared to tackle him. No matter what, I refused to let another Burrell brother get shot.

Craig started turning to me with furrowed eyebrows. That split second of confusion was enough for Ethan. He shifted into his wolf form and lunged.