The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 57

JUNIPER

I followed Ethan out of the bathroom, so we could check on Axel. He had been moved to the couch, and his torso was wrapped in clean, white bandages. His eyes were closed, but his chest rose and fell at a steady pace. He didn't appear to be in any pain, and he was still alive. Ethan crossed the room and approached the doctor. They spoke in hushed tones, but there were other voices that caught my attention. Nathan and Asher stood in the corner of the room, talking to each other.

I should have expected Ethan to call them. Axel was their brother, and he was gravely injured. His brothers deserved to know what was going on.

Yet, the sight of Asher made my chest tighten. The last I had seen him was when I got onto the motorcycle with Axel, breaking up with him in the process. So much had happened since then, but hardly any time had passed since it actually happened.

My stomach knotted with guilt, knowing I jumped into bed with Axel so quickly after breaking up with Asher. I didn't regret that night. Being with Axel felt right. I didn't regret breaking up with Asher, either-not after the way he treated me. Yet the guilt still ate away at me, knowing the timing couldn't be worse.

Asher turned away from Nathan, looking at me for the first time since I had entered the room. His face was hard, but I didn't sense any anger. However, pain and regret filled the air between us, reminding me of what could've been with him. If he hadn't let his jealousy get the best of him... If he hadn't accused me of cheating on him... If he hadn't sided with Moira, saying her rumors were probably true...

I would've never left with Axel. We wouldn't have been in that motel. We wouldn't have gone for a run. Axel wouldn't have been shot.

I tore my eyes away from Asher, the pain of what could've been too great to deal with. I couldn't focus on the what ifs when Axel was unconscious and injured.

"Juny!" Nathan said, noticing my presence for the first time.

I was shocked he used that nickname after everything that happened to him. He made it clear he was upset. I didn't return his feelings, and he even went as far as to makeout with Moira at Homecoming. I thought he would be just as upset to see me as Asher. Instead, Nathan crossed the room and enveloped me with his arms. There was no animosity left in his bones, as if everything had been washed away once he heard we were attacked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I answered. I blinked at Nathan, still unsure if this was actually happening. "Axel protected me."

"What happened? I still don't understand how he was shot," Nathan asked, glancing at his brother. His lips curved into a frown, showing concern for Axel for the first time around me.

"I would like to know that, too. In detail, if you feel up for it," Ethan said, approaching me. "I know what you saw wasn't easy, but if there are werewolf hunters that close to the school, I'll need to inform our father immediately." "Don't push her," Asher said, still standing across the room.

I held in the snort that wanted to come out. Asher, of all people, was trying to tell Ethan to back off. Only if he had taken his own advice.

I swallowed hard and looked at Ethan. "No, it's okay. I can handle it."

***

Ethan dismissed the doctor, and we all gathered around the table. They waited for me to describe everything that had happened. I couldn't look into their eyes, knowing I was the reason that Axel was hurt. If I had acted faster, he wouldn't have had to jump at the hunter to protect me.

I clasped my hands together and focused on them. "We went to the lake after-" I quickly cut myself off, not wanting to bring up the situation with Asher in front of everyone like that. "Axel thought it would be good to get out of the city and get some fresh air. We booked a room in the motel there, and it was creepy. It had all of these animals mounted on its walls. There was even a wolf above the desk. I didn't like it, but there weren't many options."

I took a deep breath, skimming through the memories that happened after that. No one needed to know what happened between Axel and myself that night, especially not Asher.

"The next day, we decided to go for a run in the woods to exercise our wolves. It had been awhile since I had done that. We hiked several miles away from the little town there, and then we ventured off the path. We checked for human presence, but there were no unusual scents. Once we thought it was safe, we shifted."

Asher's face twisted as I described that last part. Despite all of the time we spent together, we never shifted in front of each other. I couldn't help but wonder how he felt hearing that part of the story.

I tore my eyes away from him and focused on my hands again. "We were running through the forest. Axel was behind me, but then suddenly he wasn't. I still don't know what happened or where he went. I went looking for him, trying to figure out where he had gone, but then I ran across the hunter. He had a gun and started to point it at me. Axel came out of nowhere and tackled the hunter. Then the gun went off."

I had to pause my story. The sound of the shot ringing through the air and the sight of blood on Axel still made my body want to freeze. I pushed through the wave of emotions, knowing the information I was providing was important.

"Axel said he was okay, and then we ran, knowing we had to get away."

"Did he kill the hunter?" Ethan asked. He took notes as I spoke, jotting down any information that seemed pertinent.

"I don't think so, but I'm not sure what kind of injuries he sustained. He was still alive when we left, but we were too focused on getting away to care about him. After we shifted back to human form, I noticed Axel's wound. He said he was fine but said we had to get out of there. It was too dangerous to stick around. We drove until we got back here, and you know the rest."

Ethan touched my hand. "I need you to write down the directions of where you were to the best of your ability."

I took the pen and paper and drew a crude map of the path we took. Ethan took the paper and looked it over.

"Thank you." He stood up, taking his notes with him. "I have to make a few phone calls. Nathan, Asher, move Axel to my bed. I want to keep him here until he wakes up."

The three brothers scattered to do as they were told. Ethan didn't give me any instructions, but I wish he had. Instead, I sat at the table, playing with my fingers, wondering what the discovery of a hunter would mean for the school.

Footsteps rang out as they approached me, but I didn't have the energy to look at who it was. I didn't need to, either. I would always recognize Asher's scent. He pulled out the chair across from me and sat down.

"Are you okay?" His voice was soft and caring, reminiscent of the boy I was falling for not that long ago.

"I'm fine." My voice was icy, but I didn't care. Asher had made it clear what he thought of me. I didn't want his sympathy just because I went through something traumatic.

"You're not fine, June. I can see it on your face." He reached across the table and touched my hand.

I recoiled as if he was a snake trying to bite me. "Don't."

"June, I-"

"Please. I don't have the energy for this conversation." I placed my hands in my lap and looked at the man across from me. I could feel that he was sorry, and I knew he was going to try to explain himself or apologize, and I wasn't ready to hear either of those. "I just want to say I'm sorry. I said things I didn't mean, and I know I hurt you. I just need you to know that."

Anger flared in my belly. I told Asher I didn't want to hear his apology, and he didn't respect my wishes. "What does it matter if I know that or not? What you said hurt. It broke my heart, and it doesn't matter if you apologize. You can't take back your words. You were the one I was supposed to be able to trust most, and you stabbed me in the heart."

I was practically shouting by the time I was done, and I hated the rage he brought out of me.

"I'm so sorry." His voice was broken and barely audible. Under different circumstances, it would've hurt to see him so upset, but not now. Not while Axel was fighting for his life after protecting me.

I stood up, my fists clenched at my side. "I told you I couldn't handle this right now." I started walking away, wanting to check on Axel. As I reached the hallway that led to the bedroom, I hesitated. I didn't know why, but the pain Asher was feeling stirred something inside of me. I wasn't ready to forgive him, and I wasn't sure if I ever would be. But maybe I could give him a small kernel of hope in case that day ever came. I said, without looking back, "Maybe I could handle this conversation later. Much later.