The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 157

JUNIPER

"I'm not leaving her," Asher said firmly.

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised. I got the impression from Winston that you were eager to prove yourself."

Asher hesitated. "I am, but Juniper is my priority right now."

"Do you think I'm incapable of protecting her?" Elijah's challenge made the room stiff.

"It's not that," Asher said slowly. "However, you have been a direct target of an attack and so has Juniper. If I left you two alone and something happened, I would never forgive myself. Neither would Ethan." Asher's entire body was stiff, and even my touch didn't seem to help. After being left out of the investigation, Asher had been especially frustrated. Denying the opportunity he wanted for me couldn't have been easy.

I wanted to tell him to go, take this opportunity in case another one didn't come up, but I couldn't get myself to say those words. I didn't want Asher to leave my side, and I knew it was selfish of me.

Elijah looked Asher up and down, sizing him up. "I understand, and I think it's honorable that you care for your mate this much. I hope you never lose that side of you."

"I never will," Asher said confidently.

"However, this does mean we'll have to reschedule."

"Might I suggest an alternative?" Asher said. He continued when Elijah paused. "Send Axel to investigate. He's clever and notices small details. He will do everything necessary." "Isn't he the one who always skipped out on training sessions?" Elijah questioned.

"He may be lacking in traditional warrior training, but Axel is one of the most capable people I know. In fact, his different way of thinking may even help in this situation," Asher said.

My heart warmed as he spoke about Axel that way.

Elijah scratched the stubble on his chin. "That would help me out, and then I can get Juniper's statement about the attack. All right. Let your brother know I trust him to do this."

Asher nodded and excused himself from the office to call Axel. The four warriors stayed in the room with Elijah and me, and it made it even harder to talk to him. I couldn't think of anything to say, and he seemed to be struggling as well. Finally, he broke the silence. "Are you doing okay? I'm sure that attack was a shock."

"I'm handling everything." It wasn't a direct answer to his question, but I didn't want to go into how I was fairing, especially with him. The attack shook me up more than I would've liked, but I wanted to be strong.

Elijah studied my face longer than I would've liked. "I don't think you have much to worry about. The attackers have been unorganized and frantic. I know it must've been scary to have been attacked like that. I can't say that the attacks will stop for sure-especially with the report of the third attack, but I don't think there will be anything to worry about. Not with your mates and bodyguards hovering over you like they are."

"What about Charles escaping? Don't you think that he might try to organize the remaining followers to try something?" I wouldn't have been as worried about the attacks, if Charles hadn't escaped. However, I also wasn't convinced the attacks were as insignificant as Elijah was making it out to be.

"I don't think Charles has the guts to do anything," Elijah said. "Even when he was plotting a coup, he used his brother to do the dirty work. He has no other support with his brother and Anthony gone. He's more likely to run off into the mountains to ensure his own freedom than to try anything. He's always been weak like that."

He was trying to calm my nerves, but his own hesitation gave away his own worries. While the attackers had been weak and easy to take down, there was no guarantee that the next attack wouldn't be that way. It was Elijah's responsibility to keep the school safe, but I had already heard rumors about how he was failing as principal. I was sure he knew about them, and it made me feel bad for him. He wasn't perfect and had made mistakes, but he was trying.

"I hope so," I said, even though I feared Charles returning to cause more issues. I wasn't sure how much more I could handle. Nathan's nightmares were getting better, but my own fears were making it harder and harder to sleep.

"Look, if this is too much, I can grant you a break from school for the semester. You can finish your degree in the fall. No one would blame you for stopping now." There was a kindness in his voice that made my chest ache. It reminded me of my mother. She always told me that I pushed myself too hard, even as a child.

I pushed down the feelings that started to bubble up. I refused to let Elijah see that vulnerability. "No, it's okay. I know myself well enough to know that if I give up now and go back to the pack, then I won't ever finish school. I have to do this now, or I never will." "Are you sure this is something you want? You don't have to have an education for what you plan on doing."

I had asked myself the same question a million times. I debated how honestly I should answer him. I didn't owe Elijah anything. Even so, I found myself saying, "My mother would've wanted me to finish school, and I want to finish school." "Your mother would be proud of who you are today," Elijah said.

My body tensed. I knew he was trying to be nice, but talking about my mother was never easy. "You don't really know who I am."

"If you give me the chance, maybe I could learn," Elijah said.

I chewed on my lip, unsure of how to respond. After the last time Elijah made the offer to get to know me, the way he brought it up triggered me. He had made the focus on my mother and not me. I still wasn't sure if I wanted a relationship with him, but maybe it was worth getting to know him better.

"Maybe we could get coffee sometime and talk?" I offered.

Elijah let a breath loose. "How about right now?"

"Isn't it a little late for coffee?" I hadn't expected him to suggest it right now.

"Then we can get ice cream or burgers or whatever you want."

"What about the attack on the school?" I knew I was coming up with excuses, but I couldn't help it. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this yet.

"If Asher says Axel can handle it, then I'm sure he can."

"You weren't this confident in my mates before. You wouldn't even let Asher help you interrogate the man who attacked me."

Elijah paused. "I like to be in control. I spent half of my life being in charge of not only my life and my pack's lives, but also the lives of all of the werewolves alive. Anthony was never a great beta, either, so I often took on more than my share of work. It makes it hard to delegate. Not only that, but your mates share the name of the man who betrayed me. I know they are not him. I have seen that, but it makes it...difficult to let go of that hesitation."

I thought about asking why Elijah hadn't gotten rid of Anthony as his beta if he didn't fulfill his responsibilities anyway, but then I thought better of it. The Burrells came from a strong bloodline mixed with lycan blood. Plus, it was typical for wolf pack leadership to be passed down by bloodline, even if the successor didn't earn the position.

"You shouldn't have to take on these burdens by yourself," I said.

Elijah smiled as he closed his laptop and started gathering his stuff. "That's why I'm going to delegate. Now, where do you want to go?"

I thought about his offer for a moment. I knew I could insist he just take me home or that the others would worry if I left. I could make up an excuse or just tell him honestly that I didn't want to spend time with him today. However, the glow in his eyes made me hesitate. He was excited, and I couldn't bring myself to say no.

"How about we get ice cream? I know a place that's pretty good near campus," I suggested.

"Sounds great."

Asher stepped back into the room. "Axel is on his way now. He is going to write a full report to you and send it over as soon as he's done. Shall we get to business?"

Elijah stood up, beaming. He was overjoyed that I had agreed to go out with him. "Nope. We're getting ice cream."

Asher looked at me, clearly confused. "What did I miss?"

"We're getting ice cream," I said with the best smile I could manage. Then I added in a private link, He wants to get to know me better.

My explanation didn't erase the confusion from Asher's face, but he didn't press any further. I was sure he'd ask questions when we were by ourselves, though.

Charles grabbed his keys. "I'll drive. Although your warrior friends will have to find their own way there. I only have room for five in my car."

He led us out of the office, and when Barbara saw us, she quickly said, "That sounds great, sweetie," and then she hung up the phone.

Elijah smiled at her. "I'll be gone for a little while. Feel free to go home early today."

"Where are you going?" she said.

"Just to get some ice cream. Have a good night, Barb."

"Oh, before you go, you should take home the rest of these cookies." She scurried around her desk and shoved the plate into Elijah's hands.

"I'm going to get fat if you keep feeding me cookies like this," he laughed, taking the plate.

"Nonsense. You should enjoy yourself at your age. Now go on. Spend some time with your daughter."

I felt Asher's eyes on me, but I didn't look at him. I knew he was worried about how I was taking all of this. I wasn't even sure what to think. I wasn't keen on getting to know the man who abandoned me, but it wouldn't hurt to spend a little time with him. It wasn't like he was going anywhere in my life.

We all filed out of the building, the air stiff from Barbara's simple statement.

"Did she just call me old?" Elijah asked after the door shut.

I laughed, and the brief tension broke. "I think she did."

"She's decades older than me."

"Which is why you should listen to her advice," I laughed.

He held the plate out towards me. "Honestly, she's been feeding me cookies daily since I started this position. She practically force fed me two this morning, and I already feel queasy. I don't think I can stand the idea of eating another one. Why don't you take them back to the rest of your mates? They look like they have a big appetite."

"They do," I laughed, taking the plate. I quickly passed it to Asher, who immediately started eating a cookie. "Sometimes it astounds me how much they can eat, especially this one. I keep telling him sugar will be the death of him one day."

"Sugar makes life worth living," Asher said with a mouthful.

"To be young like that again," he laughed.

"This is me," Elijah said when we stopped in front of an SUV. It looked like something for a big family with kids, which wasn't the type of car I had expected from the former alpha. I had imagined something more like a sports car.

He clicked his keys, unlocking the car. "Juniper can have the front, The rest of you can squeeze into the back."

"Fine, but I'm not going to be in the middle," Asher said.

I laughed, but when I looked at Elijah, I cut off the laughter. He was pale and sweating, and he looked like he was going to be sick. The playful expression on his face was gone, and he stared off into the distance. I tried to follow his gaze, but I didn't see anything. "Are you okay?"

"I'm...fine." Elijah took a step and started falling forward. I rushed to try to catch him, but he was heavier than I expected, making us both fall to the ground.

I looked at Asher for help, but they looked just as out of it as Elijah. "A little help," I said.

Asher stumbled forward, looking just as pale as Elijah. I didn't have time to process what was happening before footsteps surrounded us.