The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 20

ETHAN

As soon as I saw Juniper's name on the piece of paper, I knew Principal Clandestine was up to no good. I told him I'd handle the situation with Juniper, and he ignored my wishes. He wasn't taking my authority here seriously, and I had to change that. If Beta Burrell didn't think I was capable of handling rumors at a college, how was I expected to take over the family responsibilities?

On top of that, I promised Juniper I'd protect her from the school. I felt my promise breaking.

I wanted to dismiss my class early and rush over to the principal's office immediately. I didn't want Juniper to meet with Charles without me. I didn't trust him after our last conversation. However, I couldn't cut my class short just to protect Juniper, and I was sure the principal was banking on me finishing my lecture, which was why he called her out during my class out of all times. It was a power play on his end.

I watched the clock until class was over. It wasn't a quality lecture, but at least half of the students were too busy ogling me to properly listen anyway.

"There will be a quiz next class. Do the assigned reading, and you'll be fine. Make sure you are already working on your term papers as well. I can tell those of you who wait until the last minute to write your papers, and I expect better quality from you. Class dismissed."

I grabbed my stuff and was the first one out the door, which was unusual for me. I liked to linger in case any students had questions for me, but I didn't care about that today. My instincts were telling me Juniper needed me, and I didn't want to let her down. I practically ran across the campus, losing the demeanor I normally held close to my heart. I burst into the office, making the receptionist jump. I didn't hesitate to move right towards the door.

The receptionist stood up, trying to get in my way. "He's in the middle of a meeting. You can't go in there."

I shot her a look that stopped her in her tracks, not slowing my pace for a moment.

"...you're supposed to be protecting me, but all you care about is pleasing the people looking at this school." Juniper's voice rang clearly, and she was frustrated and distressed. My chest tightened, and the need to protect her overcame my every instinct. "Sit down now! I won't let a brat like you speak to me like-"

I pushed through the door. "That's enough, Charles."

I saw the stout, little alpha insulting Juniper, and my vision turned red. My wolf prowled deep inside of me, and he wanted to tear the principal to shreds.

"Ethan, I'm in the middle of a meeting," Charles said. He was trying to keep up his confident demeanor, but as he looked at me, his body started to shake. He may have had the energy of an alpha, but I had the mega-beta energy coursing through my veins.

The Burrell family were descendants of Lycans, and our bloodline was stronger than most regular werewolf families. We had more power and control, and our family could impose a command over werewolves so strong that we could force them to their knees and bend them to our will. I could even make an alpha, like Charles, mold to my will.

I didn't like using my power on others. I found that with my reputation and the proper words, most people listened to me anyway.

The principal had messed up. He went after the one person I wanted to protect the most outside of our family.

"You shouldn't have had this meeting in the first place," I said.

I looked at Juniper, and her eyes were wide. "Wait outside. I'll talk to you when I'm done with him," I ordered.

Her body flinched, and she scurried out of the room without question.

I turned my full attention back to Charles.

"Now listen here," he stuttered, standing up to try to make himself look taller. He was still nothing compared to me. "This is my school. I will not let some pretentious son of the Beta order me around."

I tilted my head, sizing up the man in front of me. He tried to act like he was in charge, but he only liked to sit in the seat of a ruler. He wasn't the type of leader who would fight for his people or protect them at any cost. He may have had the blood of an alpha, but this man was nothing a pack leader should be.

"You do understand that I could end your career?" I asked. My voice was dangerously low. "Maybe not now, but one day I will take over my father's empire. He sent me here on his behalf because he trusts my judgment. You have made it clear that you don't trust my judgment. Do you understand what that means?"

"Your father might control all werewolves, but this is my school."

"By ignoring my authority, you are ignoring Beta Burrell's authority."

Charles licked his lips and dabbed his forehead with the cloth from his coat pocket. "That girl is the news of the school. It's clear her situation needs to be monitored closely, and it appeared you weren't doing your job. I had to make sure she wasn't manipulating you with her body."

I slammed my hands on his desk, and my claws started to emerge, digging into the pristine wood. My eyes were level with the principal's as I leaned forward. "Are you implying that I would let someone manipulate me in exchange for s*x?"

He broke eye contact, and his throat bobbed up and down. "I just needed to be sure. You're still young."

"Look at me while you insult me," I snarled.

He looked at me, but he couldn't breathe as I held his gaze hostage. My commanding energy filled the room, and my fury boiled my blood.

"Juniper is innocent. I have looked through her records and cleared her name myself. If you go after her again, I will make sure your position here gets replaced. If you insult me again, I will make sure you lose more than your family's legacy. Do you understand?" He nodded, and his entire body shook. His instincts were telling him to curl into the corner of the room as far away from me as possible, but I refused to let him.

"I need to hear the words. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes," he stuttered.

My claws retracted, and I stood up straight. "Good." I turned and left the room without another word. I didn't want to waste another second on this man. I needed to find Juniper and make sure she was okay.

***

JUNIPER

My heart thundered as I left the principal's office. Principal Clandestine's insults left me feeling small. It was one thing for my classmates to think so poorly of me, but it was completely different hearing an authority figure suggesting the same things. Then the way Ethan showed up out of nowhere...

I didn't know what to think of his arrival. He was furious, and his beta energy was nothing like I had ever felt before. It was suffocating and overpowering...

And it was exciting...

My stomach stirred with butterflies, thinking about the way he came to my defense when I needed someone to stick up for me.

Ethan was there for me.

He was normally so calm, so it was strange seeing his protective side emerge like that. Deep down I knew it was just for me. If it was anyone else on the other side of that door, Ethan wouldn't have burst in like that.

It didn't make any sense. He didn't know me, and he especially didn't owe me anything, but he said he wanted to protect me, and he did just that.

The problem with that was that Principal Clandestine already suspected Ethan's judgment was being clouded by me. That kind of reaction would only reaffirm the principal's suspicions. As much as I appreciated Ethan bursting in like that, I wished he hadn't. It was only going to cause issues for both of us.

"Juniper!" Ethan called out from behind me.

My legs almost stopped working at just the sound of his voice, but I forced myself to keep going. I couldn't face Ethan right now, because I didn't know if I wanted to yell at him or hug him, and it was too confusing.

"Slow down," Ethan said, his voice closer now.

I ignored him, unsure of where I was going. I just needed to get away.

His hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me to a stop. "Juniper. You can't just run away the moment things get too difficult."

I twisted to face him. "I can do whatever I want," I snapped.

Anger took over.

"No, you can't. You nearly got suspended because you couldn't control your emotions. You're lucky I showed up to stop the principal." Ethan's own anger burned, and his werewolf strength flooded the air. "Lucky?" I repeated. The audacity of this man. He acted like I needed him. "You're the reason I was called in there."

"What are you talking about?"

"This special treatment you're giving me was obvious to Principal Clandestine. He accused me of sleeping with you to clear my name. That's the rumor I'm trying to eliminate, but because you insist on trying to protect me, now you look suspicious." I shouldn't have been angry. Ethan was just trying to help clear my name. No one had fought for me before like he was fighting for me, but it was putting his own reputation at risk, and I hated it.

"Would you rather I just ignore your situation and let everyone tear you down for something you didn't do?" he growled.

"Maybe."

"Don't be ridiculous, Juniper," he huffed. "I'm not just going to abandon you. I told you I wanted to help you, and I meant that."

"You're making things worse, and I don't understand why. I'm just a random girl to you. Why would you risk your reputation to protect me? I did nothing to deserve this treatment." I tried to rip my arm out of his grip so I could leave, but he refused to let me go. He pulled me closer and pushed my bangs out of my eyes. "Why are you so afraid of letting someone protect you?"

"Because everyone dies or leaves!" My eyes widened, realizing how dramatic that sounded. I didn't even know why those words came out.

"I'm not going anywhere, okay?" Ethan said.

My chest collapsed, my anger disappearing. Without frustration driving my words, fear took its place. "The things they're going to say about you... It's not worth it."

Ethan pulled me into his arms, holding me against his chest. His scent filled my nose, and my body relaxed against his touch. "Why don't you let me decide what kind of risks I'm willing to take?"