The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 52

JUNIPER

"Is that even possible?" I asked, my heart racing from Axel's explanation. It made sense in a lot of ways, but that also meant I was possibly connected to three different werewolves, which was confusing for more than one reason. Axel shook his head. "I wish I knew. Maybe there's someone out there that knows for sure, but if there is, I have no idea where or who they are."

"But if it is true, that means I mated with you, Asher, and Ethan-at least partially. What does that mean?" My heart thundered, panicking at the possibility. Right now, I didn't want to be mated to Asher in any way, shape, or form. And if I was mated to Ethan and Axel, that meant this feeling towards Axel wasn't as special as I thought it might be, which scared me. I didn't want to lose him like I lost Asher.

"Then it means you have choices." Axel laughed, but joy didn't hit his facial expression.

"What if I don't want choices?" I asked. I didn't want to be pulled in multiple directions. I didn't want to have to sort through emotions that came from a possible bond with multiple brothers.

"You may not be able to control that, but if all of this is true, I'm going to fight for you this time. I don't think I can stand back any longer and watch from the sides, not after getting a taste of what we could be." Axel leaned back and pulled my chin up so I was looking at him. "But never forget that your happiness is the most important thing to me. If, in the end, you decide your happiness isn't with me, I will never make you feel bad for that choice. Understood?"

I nodded, and my chest felt lighter. As Axel held me in his arms, I couldn't imagine choosing anyone else, but I wondered if that would still hold if I was only around Ethan with Axel nowhere to be seen.

***

ETHAN

Asher hadn't left my couch the entire day, and I was conflicted about how to handle the situation. After the way he treated Juniper, I wanted to kick him out and never speak to him. However, he was still my brother, and while his behavior was inexcusable, I also knew that the side Asher showed Juniper was not his normal self.

"Sulking isn't going to fix anything," I said, sitting down in the armchair with a book. Since it was the weekend, I had a little more leeway with how I spent my time, but there was still much for me to do.

The principal had already contacted me about the rumors of my brothers fighting at the dance, and knowing Principal Clandestine was not a fan of mine, it wouldn't be long before Father heard of the incident. He would blame me for not being able to control my brothers, and hopefully, a disappointed phone call was all I'd receive.

If he was in a particularly foul mood when he found out, a second visit could be in the future.

If Father found out I told Juniper that we once knew her, I was confident he would try to force us all to leave, abandoning Juniper in the process.

I knew telling her the truth was a risk, but after I heard her muttering James' name in her sleep, I knew I couldn't keep it from her any longer. I just wished I had more of a chance to explain things and see how they affected her. Her memory didn't come flooding back, like I originally expected.

"I'm not sulking," Asher snapped, not bothering to even look at me.

I shook my head and cracked open my book. Theories on Witchlight and the Unknown. I hoped this book would have the information I needed to find a way to bring all of Juniper's memories back. Witches were rare beings, and they kept their lives separate from werewolves. Most even lived in completely different countries, making information about them scarce.

How Father even found a witch to suppress her memories was an astonishment-yet he had connections he kept secret from even me. I needed to find out how to break the memory spell. If Juniper learning the truth was enough to put her in danger, it meant the assassins could come after her again if they ever discovered she learned about her past.

I needed to know what was locked away in her brain if I was going to fully protect her. I needed to know why they attacked her and James in the first place.

"Give her time and then properly apologize to her. I doubt you'll get her back, but maybe there's a small chance she'll at least be your friend." I flipped through the pages of the book, but all of the information sounded like some ramblings from a werewolf scholar who only hoped to meet a witch one day.

"Thanks for the pep talk." His voice dripped with sarcasm. Even still, this was not the Asher I knew. I didn't understand what was going on with him to make him act so differently.

"If you were looking for a pep talk, you came to the wrong person. I heard what you said to her. Honestly, you'll be lucky if she forgives you. You crossed a line." I still hadn't forgiven Asher for what he had said, but I wasn't about to rub salt in his wound. Asher didn't respond right away, and I wasn't sure if he was just stewing, or if what I said actually affected him.

"I didn't mean it. I don't think she's like that. I just..." Asher's voice cut off, and he let out a long sigh. He tugged on his hair and shut his eyes. "I just lost it. I don't know what came over me. I felt like I was losing her, and I just snapped."

I shut my book, knowing my answers wouldn't come from an outdated source like this. If I wanted to discover the truth, I would need to find a real witch to help.

I adjusted my glasses and looked at my brother, knowing my next words were going to cause him pain. "She wasn't yours to begin with, and by holding onto her so tightly, you made her run."

Asher sat up and glared at me. "She was my girlfriend! I had the right-"

"No. You had no right," I growled, unable to hear another excuse from his lips. "Just because she was your girlfriend, it didn't mean you owned her. She never cheated on you, and if you actually sat down and talked to her, you would've realized that. She loved you, and she trusted you, and you broke her. Until you realize that you messed up-and only you-then you don't deserve her forgiveness."

I stood up, no longer interested in coddling my younger brother. "I suggest you wake up and take a good, long look in the mirror, and then fix the part of you that thinks it's okay to treat someone as good as Juniper as horribly as you did." Asher didn't say another word as I walked out of the room.

***

AXEL

I woke up to Juniper muttering next to me. Her words were indistinguishable, but in the morning light, her face was twisted with pain. She was having a nightmare of sorts, and it broke my heart. I wondered how often she had them and how often she was left to struggle on her own.

I placed my hand on her arm, intending to wake her up, but the moment I touched her, she stilled. Her breathing slowed to a normal pace, and her face lightened. The hint of a smile graced her lips, and my heart fluttered, knowing my touch had soothed her so easily.

I desperately wanted Juniper to be my mate. Last night had been absolutely incredible, and at that moment, I had nearly marked her. I knew it would've been wrong, though, so even though my wolf was begging to mark her as my own, I held back, knowing that was something that required a serious conversation. A werewolf mark was permanent, and it wasn't something wolves did lightly, especially not knowing if the other was his mate. Especially when there was a chance she was partial mates with my brothers.

I couldn't stand the idea of losing Juniper to anyone else. As hard as it had been to stay away from her before, it was impossible to imagine staying away now. She was even more incredible now that I had held her in my arms all night. It was better than any imagination I had of her.

As much as I hated to admit it, I understood how Asher was driven to the edge of insanity by his jealousy. If he felt the same connection with her, the same desperation to keep her as his own, I could see how he reached the point he had.

However, I knew I could never say such harmful things to someone so beautiful and lovely in every way. It would shatter me if she decided she wanted to be with anyone else, but if that was what she truly wanted, I loved her enough to let her go. I would sacrifice myself one hundred times over to stop the hurt in her face that Asher had caused.

I just prayed to the Moon Goddess that it never came down to that.

I kissed Juniper's forehead and crawled out of bed. I still had a bit before she woke up, and I wanted to surprise her with breakfast.