The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 108

JUNIPER

Craig tried to aim his gun back at Ethan, but Ethan sank his teeth into the hunter's arm before he had a chance to. The gun skittered across the floor. Craig transformed into his wolf form to fight back against Ethan.

In the chaos, I was pushed back onto the ground. Snarls filled the air as Ethan and Craig fought for dominance. I crawled back, knowing I didn't stand a chance in that fight. Even if I had my wolf, I wouldn't be strong enough to help Ethan, even though my heart ached to make sure my mate was okay. "You're coming with me." Beta Burrell's strong grip pulled me to my feet.

I pulled against his hold, but he only dug his fingers deeper into my skin. I knew it would cause bruises later.

"Let go!" I shouted, refusing to stop struggling.

"If my sons are so desperate to keep you safe, then you're my new golden ticket. They will listen to me one way or another." He dragged me towards the other entrance of the room, but before we made it to the door, Nathan blocked the way. "Let her go," he demanded.

Beta Burrell looked his son up and down. "Your system is filled with wolfsbane. I can smell it on you from here. You stand no chance in this fight. Let me take Juniper without a fight, and I won't hurt her."

"I don't believe you," Nathan said, not backing down. "You have been lying and manipulating us for years, but no more. I'm not your pawn."

Beta Burrell grabbed my injured wrist and squeezed my bones together. I cried out as a hot flash of pain radiated up my entire arm.

"Let her go!" Nathan jumped at his father. I twisted to the side to get out of the way.

Nathan's fist made contact with his father's face. Beta Burrell released me, and I moved away from him as quickly as I could. Nathan threw another punch before his father reacted. He stood over his father, his chest heaving up and down. He looked older as he glared at his father. He was no longer the boy his father thought he was.

Beta Burrell wiped the blood off his mouth. "You actually hit me. Congrats. You're more of a man than I thought you were."

Nathan went to hit his father again, this time stumbling forward, the drugs taking over his system. My arms were wrapped around his waist a second later to keep him stable.

"That's because you never saw me for who I was. You only saw me for who you wanted me to be," Nathan said.

Beta Burrell laughed, using the opportunity to move between us and the door. "All of this disobedience for a simple, omega girl. I hope you realize what you've done by aligning yourself with this girl. I'm sure you'll regret it."

A snarl ripped through the room, pulling our attention away from the conversation. Craig and Ethan were clawing and biting each other. It was impossible to tell who was winning, and there was nothing Nathan and I could do to help Ethan in this state. Neither of us could shift into our wolves. We needed help.

Nathan looked at me, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing. But first we had to get past Beta Burrell, who was standing in our way.

"Let us go, and it will make things easier for you when Alpha Williams learns everything," Nathan said. "You can stop this now. Don't make this worse for yourself."

Beta Burrell guffawed. "Don't be foolish. I can't stop this. The boulder is already rolling, and if you're not careful, you're going to get stuck in its path."

A yelp pierced my ears, and I didn't have to look to know that Ethan was injured in some way. My wolf stirred inside of me, desperate to be released. A wave of nausea washed over me as I tried to transform. My wolf couldn't break free.

I tightened my grip on Nathan, feeling helpless again. Ethan was strong. He would prevail in the fight with Craig.

I hoped.

"If that's the case, then let us go," Nathan said. "If it can't be stopped, then what will it matter to you if we leave? If you ever cared about us in the slightest, then let us get help. Stop Craig from fighting Ethan. Please." Nathan's voice cracked. There was still a part of Nathan that still believed there was a seed of humanity in his father, and he was trying to appeal to it.

I had little hope it'd work, but I was also struggling to pay attention to the conversation Nathan was having with his father. I kept looking at Ethan, unable to breathe as he snarled and snapped at Craig with his jaw. I wanted to run to him and tear Craig away. I wanted to protect Ethan, but I didn't see how I could possibly do that now.

"Promise me you'll join me and follow me without question, and I'll help Ethan," Beta Burrell. "You promise your undying fidelity, and I will save your brother."

"I... I can't do that. Ethan has been your favorite my entire childhood, and that's not enough for you to help him. All you have to do is stop your associate from attacking him!"

"Ethan had the most potential, and he decided to waste it when he sided with this omega," Beta Burrell said. "She has a name! Would it kill you to call her Juniper? She's not just an omega. She's so much more."

"Are you really trying to play into my emotions, Nathan? You are more like your mother than the rest of them."

"You say that like it's an insult, but that's the best compliment you can give. Mom was strong and caring. You should've died in her place. We would be so much better off without you." Nathan's voice turned cold again. Any hope he had before was gone. This time Ethan sank his teeth into Craig's side, and the hunter yelped. Ethan was winning for the moment, and I found myself loosening my grip on Nathan. I heard the words they were saying, but my brain was unable to process any of them.

"Too bad I'm the one you're stuck with. The question is, can you suck up being around me enough to save your brother? Ethan is injured. He's clearly losing strength, and if he doesn't get help soon, then he might die, and it'll be your fault," Beta Burrell said. "Come with me, and you can save Ethan."

This pulled my attention back to the conversation. "Don't listen to him, Nathan. Ethan is doing fine on his own. He's stronger than Craig."

"Maybe normally, but the Clandestine family has been blessed with magic. Have you ever stopped to question how someone of Craig's size can go undetected by sound and scent?" Beta Burrell pointed out. "The Burrell's may have the superior bloodline in a fair fight, but this isn't a fair fight."

As if to emphasize his point, Ethan cried out again. The hunter had him pinned to the ground and snarled in his face as a warning. He was trying to get Ethan to submit to him, but I knew he wouldn't submit.

"If I go with you, you have to promise to help Juniper and Ethan," Nathan said.

"Nathan, no!" I snapped, tightening my grip on him. As much as I wanted to help Ethan, I couldn't sacrifice Nathan like that. Not when I had barely any time with him.

Nathan pulled away from me and looked down at me with a sad smile. "It'll be okay. You'll still have Ethan. You don't need me."

"I do, though." My throat tightened, knowing that was a deep truth. The idea of Nathan leaving made it feel like I was about to lose a part of myself.

Nathan leaned in and kissed my forehead. "It'll be okay. Ethan has sacrificed so much for me. I can do this for him. I'll see you again some day."

"You better hurry," Beta Burrell cautioned. "You don't have much time left. Come with me, and your brother will be spared." He held out his hand to Nathan.

Nathan started pulling away from me. I tried to tighten my grip, but I was too weak to stop him.

"Don't go with him," I begged, desperate to get Nathan to listen. Ethan was in trouble, and Nathan was leaving. I felt stuck.

"It'll be okay," Nathan repeated. He stepped fully away from me and stood next to Beta Burrell.

I stepped towards him, ready to grab him and drag him back to me, but Beta Burrell stopped me.

"If you want to save Ethan, you better grab that gun Craig had. It had silver bullets in it, and that's probably the only way you can save his life," Beta Burrell said. "Better hurry. Time is ticking."

I looked back at Ethan and Craig, fighting it out. Craig was still on top, but Ethan was refusing to submit to him. Then I noticed the girl from earlier, standing in the corner of the room. Our eyes met, and I knew she heard what Beta Burrell had said.

She started moving towards the gun, and I dashed across the room. I needed to get to it first, otherwise it could be the end for Ethan. The girl got to the gun first and pointed it towards Ethan and Craig.

"You don't have to do this," I said, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

"If I do, I'll be rewarded," she said.

"Please, he's my mate." Fear invaded my body, and I could no longer feel any of the pain. The panic was too strong. I had to stop her.

She looked at me and frowned. "In that case, I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."

She aimed the gun and pointed it at Ethan. I knew she was going to pull that trigger, and I didn't think. My body moved on its own, putting me between the gun and Ethan. A loud bang echoed in the room, and I felt the impact in my chest before the blinding rage Ethan's roar made the entire room shake. I fell to my knees, and my hands went to my chest. When I pulled them away, they were red, just like the day James died.

came.

James...

I missed him.

I wanted to see him again.

"It's not time for that," a female voice whispered in my ear. Her voice was velvety and soothing, just like a mother's. I looked up, and then a blinding white light filled my vision. I blinked a few times, trying to process what was happening. Then a woman appeared, dressed in white with hair to match. Her skin glowed with an ethereal beauty, and I knew I was safe with her.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"You already know," she said with a smile. She knelt on the ground in front of me. "I'm the Moon Goddess. I've been looking forward to meeting you, but it's not time yet. It's too soon. Your mates need you."