The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 27

ETHAN

I wanted to ask my father how he knew Juniper was here. I specifically kept her name out of reports to keep her out of my father's vision. I knew the truth would eventually come out. My father found out everything. However, I thought I had more time to create a plan to protect Juniper from our father.

"I didn't think she was of relevance," I lied. I knew my father knew I was lying, but I wasn't about to throw Juniper under the bus. I promised to protect her, and I planned on keeping that promise, no matter what it cost me. "She doesn't remember us, and she wasn't the reason you sent us here."

"Did you think it was relevant that Asher was dating her?" my father asked. His voice was perfectly calm. He didn't have any of his usual ticks that showed his anger, but I could feel his wolf energy rising and trying to suppress my own. He wanted to overpower me, to remind me where I belonged, but this time, I didn't want to back down.

I was sent here as a test to prove I could take over the family role. If I backed down now, it would only show him that I was a follower, not a leader.

"No, I didn't." I made eye contact with my father and pushed back with my own alpha energy. "You sent me here to take care of the teacher who was sleeping with students to improve their grades. Juniper has nothing to do with that, so I didn't think she was relevant. I have been making my priority the school scandal."

My father leaned back and smirked. "You've changed since I last saw you, Ethan. I'm not used to so much back-talk."

Asher's eyes were glued to me as well. He didn't say anything, but I could feel the panic he felt. It was one thing to disobey the order I gave him about staying away from Juniper, but if our father gave the same order, it would be a different level of rebelliousness that would actually come with consequences.

I planned on doing what I could to stop my father from giving that order.

"I am just doing what you sent me here to do. I am handling the situation as I see fit, and if you plan on trusting me to take over your role one day, I recommend practicing trusting me now." I felt confident about my statement, which made it believable. My father could see right through lies.

"You're right. I was a little worried when Principal Clandestine called me, saying my son was being reckless, but I should've known better," my father said. He took a sip of his coffee.

"Principal Clandestine is not concerned about doing right by the students. He was more concerned with making the school look good by promoting Asher to Valedictorian," I said. "He is a weak man, and frankly, he's not really fit to rule the school." "The principal said what?" Asher asked, speaking for the first time since our father shut him down about his choice of coffee.

Our father raised his hand, shushing Asher in the process. "While I understand your concerns about the principal, he is part of a very proud family, which means something. Disposing him from his position because of a simple disagreement would not be wise. I do think he made a valid point about Asher, though."

"Asher has not earned the valedictorian position." I chose my words carefully, keeping my anger contained. Lashing out at the principal to protect Juniper was one thing. Lashing out at my father was a completely different thing.

"Of course he has. He has the grades. The only thing stopping him from being Valedictorian is his transfer to this school. He was on track for that title at his other school, and he shouldn't be punished because of a decision I made on his behalf." He picked up a napkin and dabbed his spotless mouth. He was making a power play, and I didn't know how to respond.

"Juniper is supposed to be valedictorian. I won't take that away from her," Asher said, sitting up straighter. His wolf energy burst inside of him, mixing with the energy from myself and our father. Any regular wolf in the room with the three of us would have felt suffocated.

I watched Asher closely, knowing this was a new development. He had never challenged our father like this, and I was sure Juniper's influence was responsible, even if Asher wasn't aware of that.

"Why not?" our father asked. "She lived while my son died. She should be grateful to be alive and able to go to this school. Things could've gone very differently for her. They still can."

Our father brought up the incident on purpose. He was trying to antagonize Asher, just so he could crush him. It would serve as a reminder of who was in charge, but I feared it would do irresistible damage to my brother.

Of all things to bring up, I didn't understand how our father could just so casually throw out the death of our brother like it was nothing.

"Juniper has done nothing wrong," I said before Asher jumped into a fight he couldn't win. "If you wish Asher to hold the title of valedictorian, then he and Juniper can share that title. She has worked hard to get where she is, and we will not meddle in her life to tear her down. That's final."

Asher curled his fists until his knuckles went white. I was sure he hated me stepping in to defend him. He always did hate it when I fought his battles. He didn't understand that it was necessary. Our father was relentless, and I learned the hard way just how hard he swung in a fight. I never wanted any of my brothers to ever experience that, and if it meant standing between them and my father, I would gladly be their shield every time.

"Fine," father said, backing down. "I think I have learned everything I needed to from this meeting." He stood up and looked at Asher. "If you want to keep dating that trashy girl, that is your choice, but I hope you understand you're playing with fire. Our deal still stands. If Juniper remembers what happened that day-"

"We understand," I said, interrupting him.

Asher stood up, and I could feel him ready to fight, so I linked him, Please, don't push this.

It's been thirteen years. Why does he care about keeping it a secret still? Asher linked back.

I understood his pain and frustration. Juniper deserved to know the truth about her past and the truth about her parents, but there were more forces at work than I even understood. Our father made a deal with a witch to ensure Juniper's memories stayed hidden, and breaking that deal had unknown consequences. I'll explain it to you later. Not right now. Not in front of Father.

I glanced at Asher, begging him with my eyes. As far as I knew, my brothers didn't know the extent of Juniper's memory loss. They didn't know that, for years after, I fought our father, doing what I could to get Juniper back in our lives. I failed time and time again, but I didn't plan on failing this time.

Fine. Asher nodded to our father and said, "Beta Burrell," and then left my apartment.

I held in my sigh of relief, knowing I couldn't show any weaknesses in front of our father.

"Asher is getting tumultuous," Beta Burrell said. "Make sure to rein him in before he gets out of control."

"You antagonized him. What did you expect?" I said.

"I expected my son to fall in line. He is a Burrell, after all. He should be able to keep his composure no matter the situation."

"You put too much pressure on him," I said. I was diving into dangerous territory, but I didn't care. If no one stood up to my father, he would go unchecked for the rest of my life. If I was supposed to take over his role one day, I couldn't let him push me and my brothers around forever.

"I don't put enough pressure on him. Do you understand what dating that girl could do to him? To our family? He will never comprehend it, but I know you do." Our father's tone lowered an octave.

"I do understand. I'll take care of it." Just not in the way he expected me to.

In my research years ago, I learned that Juniper and her family learned a dark secret they were never supposed to know. Her parents used to work for Alpha Williams and Beta Burrell, and they used their status to go on covert missions. They were spies for our enemies, but one day they learned something far more dangerous than any werewolf should know, and Juniper came across that information one day.

Assassins came after Juniper when she was playing with James, the second oldest Burrell brother. Juniper barely survived the attack, but James wasn't as lucky. Her parents were also attacked, but they managed to escape. Juniper lost her memories-my father made sure it stayed that way. It protected her from the secret.

After that, Juniper's family went on the run. They escaped their fate for years, but eventually the secret caught up to her family. Juniper was only spared because of her memory loss. If she remembered the past and the terrible secret, it would put her and everyone around her at risk.

I never did learn what information her family learned that was so deadly, but I saw the death that came from that secret.

I never told my brothers the reason why Juniper had to keep her memory loss. They assumed it was because of Jame's death, and I wanted to spare them the burden of the truth. I wanted to protect my brothers the way I wasn't able to protect James.

"I must be going, but I trust you understand what to do," my father said, making his way to the door.

"I do."

I understood that it was time for the secrets to stop. Now that Juniper was back in our lives, I had no intention of letting her go again. No matter what dangers that resulted in, I planned on protecting her-no matter the cost to myself.