The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 42

JUNIPER

"I'm still shocked you know how to dance," I commented as Axel expertly turned me around on the dance floor.

He had one hand on my upper back and the other hand held mine. We were close, but he made a point to keep a respectful distance from me. It was different from the way Asher held me, and I was grateful for that. Just the idea of Axel holding me closely clouded my head. This was how friends danced.

"As part of one of the most respectful families in the country, did you think I wouldn't be put in dance lessons at a young age?" Axel said, raising a single eyebrow.

"I just didn't think you'd go. I thought you'd ditch the classes."

Axel let go of my waist and spun me out. He twirled me back, raising his arm to spin me underneath him. He caught me as I nearly fell into him, but he quickly returned to the respectful position.

"I like dancing. There is something about giving up your body to the rhythm of the music that is therapeutic." He stepped with ease, guiding me with every step, even though I didn't know what I was doing.

"Plus, it's a great way to woo women," I said with a smile. I didn't mean anything behind that comment, but Axel looked down at me with darkened eyes, as if my statement was a challenge. "Perhaps it's a benefit, but I don't woo women who are taken."

I licked my lips and looked away from him. "I didn't mean... I know we're just friends." My heart ached as I said it out loud. I was happy with Asher, but there was still a part of me that wished it was different. "It's better to be friends, anyway," Axel continued on.

This statement made me snap my head back towards him. "How do you figure?"

"Friends are there for you no matter what. Relationships don't always last. As your friend, I'll be there for you through anything."

"Are you implying Asher and I will break up?" I raised my eyebrows, challenging him.

Axel chuckled and shook his head. "I hope you two have a long and happy relationship. However, I also know that not every relationship works out. If something goes wrong between you and Asher, then at least I'll be there to comfort you."

"Is that so?" Asher stormed up to Axel and shoved him, tearing Axel and me apart.

"Asher!" I gasped, shocked at the sudden violence.

Axel looked at his brother in disbelief, after taking a few steps to gather his balance. "Dude, what's your problem?"

"You," Asher snapped.

"Asher, what's going on?" I asked.

Asher's skin was flushed, and his eyes were a little crazed. His beta energy sparked out of him in waves of flurry. I could tell he was upset when he left me standing on the dance floor by myself, but this was different. He was enraged as he glared at Axel. I didn't think a single dance with Axel would spark this kind of behavior.

"I'm going to need more than that, because I'm at a loss as to why your panties are in a wad," Axel said.

"You said that you thought it was a bad idea for us to associate with Juniper. You said you wanted nothing to do with her, but that was all a lie, wasn't it? You were just trying to throw me off, so I wouldn't see you lurking behind my back while you tried to steal her from under my feet." Asher rolled up his sleeves, and the veins in his hands were popping out.

"I told you I changed my mind and wanted to be her friend. I haven't been sneaking around with her," Axel said. His shoulders were still relaxed as he faced his brother.

"Asher, what happened? Why are you so angry?" I asked. I tried to approach him, but he pointed a finger at me and glared at me.

"I'll deal with you and your lies later," Asher snapped.

I took a step back as a sharp pain radiated through my chest. It was as if his words had physically attacked me.

"I don't know what your problem is, but you shouldn't talk to your girlfriend like that," Axel said. He took a step towards me, but Asher stepped between us, blocking Axel from me.

Axel's jaw tightened, and he stood up straighter.

"My problem is that while you acted like you were in support of Juniper and me, you were actually trying to seduce her behind my back. You couldn't stand the idea of me getting the girl, so you had to ruin it," Asher growled.

A crowd started gathering around the three of us, and they whispered to each other, trying to figure out what was going on. I heard the word "fight" mentioned more than once.

"I haven't gone behind your back on anything! I'm happy for you and Juniper, and I wouldn't do anything to ruin that," Axel said.

Despite the moments of s****l tension between us, Axel was right. He made it clear that Asher came first, and he never crossed the line.

"Then tell me you don't have feelings for her," Asher said. His body shook as he stared Axel down. He was so confident that Axel and I had done something behind his back, and I had no idea where it was coming from. Asher both scared me and hurt me with his accusations.

"Whether or not I have feelings for her doesn't change the truth," Axel said. His voice was low and unnervingly calm. "Juniper is your girlfriend, and I would never do anything to ruin that."

Asher stepped forward and slammed his hands into Axel's chest. "Liar! I saw the video."

"What video?" I demanded, trying to move between them. I hated seeing them fight like this, especially not knowing why Asher was so convinced there was something going on between Axel and me.

"Don't act like you don't know," Asher growled.

"Calm down!" Axel snapped. Despite Asher shoving him multiple times, he still hadn't pushed back.

"How can I calm down when the two of you have been keeping secrets?" Asher snapped back.

He went to push Axel again, but this time I stepped forward and grabbed his arm to stop him. I didn't know why Asher was acting like this, but I knew violence wouldn't solve this issue. I needed to get Asher away from the dance and talk to him in a one on one setting to figure out what had happened.

As I grabbed Asher's arm, he jerked back. His elbow hit my face and a throbbing pain spread from my nose. I let go of him and fell back.

Axel's eyes grew wild, and he lunged at Asher. "You bastard! How dare you hit her!"

"It was an accident!" Asher said, his eyes widening.

Axel didn't care what kind of explanation Asher gave and swung at his brother, hitting Asher square in the jaw.

The crowd started chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Axel was ready to swing at Asher again, but Asher looked like he had lost the drive to fight. He looked at me, horrified by his actions.

"Enough!" a voice boomed, silencing all of the students.

Axel and Asher both froze, and their faces paled.

Ethan pushed through the crowd. When he broke into the ring created by the students egging on the fight, the music cut out, and the air grew thick. Ethan's eyes were hard as he looked at his brothers.

"When I agreed to chaperone this dance, I never thought I'd have to stop my own brothers from fighting. What's wrong with you two?" Ethan looked between them, shaking his head. He was the spitting image of a disappointed father. He then turned to me, and his expression softened. "Juniper, are you okay?"

I touched my nose, and while it was still throbbing, there was no blood. I nodded at Ethan, unable to say anything else. I was shocked and confused by Asher's behavior. I knew he didn't hurt me on purpose, and I didn't care about my physical pain. I cared more about my chest feeling like it was collapsing after Asher basically accused me of cheating on him.

Ethan walked over to me and offered me his hand. He pulled me up and looked over my face. His eyes burned into me, and his close proximity made my heart race. "We'll get you some ice for your nose."

Asher took a step towards me, looking like a kicked puppy. "June, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-"

"Go cool off," Ethan snapped, stepping between Asher and me like a protective barrier. "You don't deserve to come near her right now."

Asher opened his mouth to protest, but a sharp look from Ethan cut off his brother's voice. Asher looked at me with his wide eyes and then shook his head. He pushed through the students still gawking at the situation.

As he walked away, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I didn't want to leave things between us like that.

I looked up at Ethan and said, "I need to talk to him."

"You shouldn't talk to him by yourself," Axel said. Fury still filled his voice, but it wasn't directed at me.

"He won't hurt me," I said. "Not on purpose. I have to talk to him and find out what happened."

Ethan nodded, understanding my plea. "Call me if you need anything."

"I will." I pulled away from Ethan and started in the direction Asher had gone. Whatever reason he had for accusing me of cheating, I needed to talk to him. I needed to figure it out, because the idea of losing him made my heart ache like never before.