The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 133

JUNIPER

Three knocks on the door made everyone jump to their feet. I was the first one to rush over to the door and pull it open. My face lightened when I saw the familiar red-head and her vampire partner.

"Remy! Thank you for coming so quickly," I said, throwing my arms around her. I hadn't known her for very long, but it was thanks to her that I was with Ethan, Asher, and Axel like I was. If I had never had my memories returned, I wasn't sure if I would've been brave enough to ask for all of them at the same time. "When the alpha requests your presence, it's hard to say no," Remy said.

"From what I understand, you're not originally from this territory, so you have no obligation to follow me." Winston walked right up to Remy, and Blade tensed. Remy and Blade shared a glance. She had never mentioned that bit of information to us. "How do you know where we're from?" Remy asked carefully.

Winston gave a reassuring smile. "As the new alpha, I wanted to make sure I knew who I was inviting into my pack house, especially after the recent attack. I did my research. I am grateful to know that even though you have no obligation to me, you still dropped everything to come to my aid." The alpha held out his hand. "I'm Alpha Winston, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"I'm Remy, and this is my mate, Blade," Remy said. She paused, studying Winston, and then she took his hand. "It's an honor to be invited here. However, if I'm being honest, I'm here for Juniper, not you."

Winston let out a hearty laugh. "An honest woman. I like you already."

Kalli walked up to Winston's side. "I'm Luna Kalli. Welcome to our home. Would you like anything to drink?"

"I appreciate the gesture, but I think it's best if I get to the patient as soon as possible," Remy said.

"I'll show you the way," Asher said.

I started to follow the group, but Axel grabbed my arm. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

His hesitation didn't surprise me. He had expressed he was still unsure if he could trust Remy, even though there wasn't any good reason not to.

"It's the only idea we have," I said. I knew he was nervous about having Remy around. "Besides, she helped me and didn't even ask for anything in return."

"Except for a favor," Axel pointed out.

I cupped his face. "I don't think Remy has any malicious intent. Besides, she's the only option we have. She helped me. Maybe she can help Nathan."

Axel leaned forward, letting his head rest against mine. "I know. I know we've talked about this before, but I can't help but feel on edge with all of this. I don't get the sense that Remy wants to do any harm to us, but she has secrets. Why would she come to a different territory like this? What could she possibly want?"

"I don't know," I said. "But I'm glad she's here. If it means getting Nathan back, then I don't care what her ulterior motive is."

Axel took a deep breath. "Maybe you're right. It still makes me nervous."

"I know, but let's just focus on Nathan now. We can focus on other worries later," I said.

He nodded, but he didn't look fully satisfied. "You're right. We should catch up with the others before they start wondering where we are."

Axel took my hand and led me to the room where Nathan and the others were. I paused outside of the door, accidentally pulling on Axel's arm in the process. I still hadn't been in the room to face Nathan since he was moved here. I had stayed outside, listening to the horrible things he spouted out of his mouth, and just that was enough to make my heart ache.

"You don't have to go in there if it's too much," Axel said, squeezing my hand in reassurance.

Part of me wanted to stay out here and wait to see what Remy determined after her examination, but another part of me couldn't hide from this forever. The real Nathan needed me, and it was time I was strong for his sake.

"I'm okay," I said, even though I wasn't sure if it was true. All of the bruises Nathan had left on my body had healed, but the mental anguish was still there. There were no special werewolf healing abilities that could fix that faster.

I stepped through the door and held my breath. Nathan pulled against his restraints, yelling at everyone in the room to get away from him. When his eyes landed on me, he paused. A smirk crossed his lips, making the shadows in his eyes seem even darker.

"I see you have finally decided to come see me. Took you long enough-though I'm not surprised. You've made it clear over and over again that you don't care about me," Nathan snarled.

My stomach tightened, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I hated knowing that Nathan-even this version of him-didn't think I cared about him. "I have never stopped caring about you, Nathan."

Axel placed his hand on my lower back, and his touch kept me steady.

"Lies!" Nathan shouted. "You have never wanted me and never will! I should've killed you the moment I saw you."

"You don't mean that," I said, pushing through the pain of his words. "This isn't you."

"But it is! This is the new me, and I'm never going back to the weak little brother. I'm not going back to the one who is overshadowed by his older brothers. This is who I am now, and I'm glad I'm not with a w***e like you!" Nathan's words felt like bullets piercing my heart.

This isn't our Nathan, Ethan linked me. He doesn't mean it.

I stepped forward, barely able to listen to Ethan. I knew this wasn't my Nathan, but I couldn't imagine this pain coming from nowhere. There was a seed of truth to the words Nathan said. I felt his pain through our breaking bond.

I approached Nathan, and Axel tried to stop me.

"It's okay," I said. I was terrified of what Nathan had become, but I was his mate. I loved him, and he needed me to push past my own fears to help him.

Axel took his hand back. He didn't like me getting closer to his brother, but he didn't try to stop me this time. I knelt next to the bed and stared into Nathan's eyes. I missed the calm, island-blue that used to surround his pupils, instead of whatever this swamp was that poisoned his very being.

"I'm sorry, Nathan," I said. "I never meant to make you feel unwanted. I can't change the past, but if you come back to me, I promise we can start fresh. You're my mate, and I love you. I don't want to lose you."

Nathan didn't say anything as he looked back at me. The blue in his eyes brightened, clearing for just a moment. He heard the words I said, and it reached the part of him that was drowning. If I kept pushing, maybe I'd be able to break past the barrier and save him from the poison of water suffocating him.

I reached for his hand, and the flash of the real Nathan disappeared. He thrashed and growled, scratching my hand in the process. I fell backwards and quickly scrambled away from him. Ethan, Asher, and Axel were by my side in a split second. Asher and Axel helped me to my feet, and Ethan looked at the scratch.

Their conflicted emotions swarmed my head. Each one of them was furious at Nathan for hurting their mate, but they also feared for the fate of their brother.

Nathan suddenly stopped shouting, and when I looked over at him, Remy was touching his forehead. Nathan's body slumped as he passed out.

"It's just a small sedation spell," Remy announced before anyone worried. "I won't be able to do my examination if he's thrashing around." She glanced at me, and I knew that was only part of the reason she placed the spell on him. The other reason was for my sake. She didn't want me to see or hear this version of Nathan any longer.

"We should have that wound dressed," Ethan said.

I shook my head. "I want to stay here." I had let my fear keep me away from Nathan for long enough, but not any longer. I wanted to be here the moment Remy finished.

"I'm going to get started," Remy announced.

The room went silent as the sorcerer pressed her hands against Nathan's chest. Her hands started to glow, growing brighter until there was a light the size of a globe between Remy and Nathan. Remy muttered incoherently under her breath, and beads of sweat dripped down her forehead.

No one dared to breathe as Remy worked her magic. This was our last hope to save Nathan. If it didn't work, we would be back at square one with no ideas.

Axel squeezed my hand and pulled it close to his chest. I felt his eyes on me, watching me watch Nathan. I couldn't look away. I needed the old Nathan to come back, so I could tell him how much he meant to me and his brothers. He needed to know he mattered to us all.

Remy yelped, and jumped away from Nathan suddenly. Blade caught her and steadied her. The sorcerer's eyes were wide and her hands shook as she stared at Nathan.

"What happened?" Ethan demanded.

We were all on edge, waiting for her response.

Remy's chest heaved up and down as she tried to calm herself down. She looked at me, and I felt her sorrow before she said anything.

"Do you remember what I told you when you asked me if I could break the spell to bring back your memories?" Remy asked.

I searched my memories, trying to remember what she had said. That day felt like a lifetime ago. "You said you might not be able to do it if the sorcerer who placed the spell was more powerful than you. Are you trying to say you can't fix Nathan?"

Remy pursed her lips, thinking about her next words carefully. "Not exactly. It's just more complicated. I don't think the sorcerer who did this to Nathan is necessarily more powerful than me, but she broke him before placing the spell. It allowed her to intertwine the spell in a much deeper place, making it more complicated and dangerous to break." "What do you mean she broke him?" Ethan asked.

Remy lifted Nathan's shirt. She pointed to the white scars on his torso. "He was tortured. I saw it myself. I can see people's memories as a special talent of mine. They tortured and broke Nathan until he was moldable for their own purposes. I can try to break the spell, but it's going to be a long and difficult process, and I can't promise the Nathan you knew will still be here when it's all over." "Maybe we should discuss this," Asher suggested.

I pulled away from Asher and Axel and sat on the bed next to Nathan. My heart raced, scared for and of the man lying unconscious in front of me. Nathan deserved a chance to live a happy life and to become the person he wanted to be.

I pushed his hair out of his face, knowing there was only one option. "You have to try. Nathan deserves any chance we can give him. This version of him is not the real him, so if there's any chance to bring the real him back, then there's no discussion. Please save him."