The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 60

JUNIPER

"You should really be resting," I said, taking the box of my things out of Axel's hands. "You're still recovering."

Axel tried to take the box back, but I deftly avoided his attempt. He still moved slowly, and despite trying to hide it, he still winced when he moved the wrong way. "I've healed enough," he insisted.

I had tried to get him to stay in bed while I moved my stuff to my new dorm, but he had refused. It had barely been two days since he was shot, and even with his increased werewolf healing abilities, it wasn't enough time to fully heal. The wound had scabbed over, but the doctor said it would take longer for the internal injuries to heal. The pain etched on Axel's face made it clear the doctor was right.

"You have not. I shouldn't have even let you come with me. I'm definitely not going to let you carry anything." I tossed a few more items into the box. It would take several trips to get all of my stuff, but I didn't care. I wanted to move my stuff away from Moira as soon as possible.

"I didn't want you to go alone, in case Moira tried to harass you." He had said that before, and while I appreciated it, it didn't stop me from worrying about him.

I had been filled with worry almost non-stop ever since Axel had been shot. First it was him, then it was Ethan and Asher. They left yesterday, and they still hadn't sent word back about what was going on. They weren't obligated to keep me updated and let me know they were okay. In fact, they may not have even been allowed to tell me, since it was an official investigation.

That didn't stop me from checking my phone every few minutes, hoping I had received a message from one of them, confirming they were okay.

To keep myself sane, I wanted to keep myself busy. That was the real reason I wanted to move my stuff, even though I planned on staying with Axel until he was fully healed.

"Okay, let's go," I said, knowing if I added any more to the box I was holding, either the box would break, or I wouldn't be able to hold it myself.

"At least let me carry something light," Axel said, scanning the room for anything.

I shook my head. "I'm not going to change my mind." I set the box on my bed and then cupped Axel's cheek. I pressed my lips lightly against his, being careful about adding too much pressure. I was worried I would accidentally hurt him if I kissed him too hard. "I'm not going to break," Axel muttered against my lips. His hand tangled in my hair, and he tilted my head back, giving him better access to my mouth. He leaned forward and hissed.

I pulled back, untangling myself from Axel. I craved his touch, but the idea of hurting him was unbearable. "You're hurt."

"I'm fine." He started to lean in again, but bending his chest caused pain to radiate through his face, and he pulled back. "Actually, we shouldn't get too caught up in here. Wouldn't want Moira to walk in on us."

I shook my head, picking my box back up again. "Uh huh. Sure." He didn't want to admit his pain to me. He didn't want to worry me more, but every time he tried to hide how much it hurt, I couldn't stop my concern. I had no way of knowing how bad his injury truly was when he continuously told me he was okay. "Let's go."

We took several trips to my new dorm. Ethan was able to get me into a single room in the upperclassmen's dorm. It was more expensive than the shared room I had been paying for, but Ethan's note said the school would accommodate the difference to make up for their lack of action towards the bullying I was going through.

I questioned if that was actually true or not. It seemed too good to be true, but I didn't want to live with Moira anymore. I couldn't afford the full price of the dorm, so I decided to just accept what Ethan said as the truth, even if something about it felt off.

The room didn't have a separate kitchen like the suit Moira and I had shared. Instead, it was all one big room with a bed in the corner, and a small kitchen on the other side. The room was completely furnished already, so there was no reason to move furniture, which made the process much easier.

"This should be the last trip," I said as we walked back to my old room. I kept my pace slow, afraid Axel would feel more pain if we walked any faster. He didn't protest the speed I chose.

"Good. Then we can have a nice, relaxing evening by ourselves." There was a sheen of sweat on Axel's forehead, despite the chill in the air.

"Why don't you go back to Ethan's apartment? I can meet you there when I'm done. It won't take long." I didn't want Axel to overexert himself, even though I had been grateful for his presence.

"I can push through a little more."

"Or you can relax. I will be fine, but I'm not sure you will be." I stopped walking and looked at Axel. He was in good shape, so for him to be struggling so much clearly showed he wasn't ready to be walking around.

Axel didn't respond right away. He looked over my head at something behind me as his jaw shifted to the side. Conflict was etched in his face.

"Go. Rest. I'll be faster without you. I may even make it back to the apartment at the same time as you," I insisted w hen he didn't respond.

His breath was loud as he exhaled through his nose. He didn't want to leave me, but he was starting to accept that he needed to. "Okay. Don't take too long."

"I won't." I only wrapped one arm around his good side, being careful not to squeeze him in our half-hug. "Message me when you get back to the apartment or if you need anything. I'll drop what I'm doing."

Axel kissed the top of my head and inhaled slowly, taking in my scent for a moment before letting me go.

We parted ways, and I hurried to my old room, already feeling the emptiness from not being by Axel's side. It was the first time we were really separated since we went to the lake, and it was a strange feeling. While the connection had been there before I broke up with Asher, it was like it grew ten times stronger after spending the night together.

I never felt this ache when away from Asher. I missed him and wanted to spend time with him, but this was different. With Axel, I felt it in my bones. It was a consistent, dull throb that was there with each step I took.

It was confusing and terrifying. I never thought I'd be the girl who had to be glued to her boyfriend's side-not that Axel was officially my boyfriend. We hadn't discussed what we were. Too much had happened in a short time, and even though I wanted Axel by my side, it felt wrong to even think about him as my boyfriend when the breakup with Asher felt so wrong.

I was pulled out of my thoughts as I reached the door to my former dorm. It was wide open, and voices rang out from inside. I recognized the voices instantly, making me hesitate to step inside. After a moment, I knew it was unavoidable, so I stepped across the threshold.

"Juniper, darling!"

"Luna Miller. Alpha Miller," I said, smiling the best I could as I faced Moira's parents.

Luna Miller walked across the room with her long legs and wrapped me in one of the warmest hugs she ever had. Moira was the spitting image of her mother from the blonde hair to her deep, brown eyes, yet Luna Miller had a sparkle to her that made her shine brighter than any other female in the room.

"We were just asking Moira where you were. She said you were off studying as usual. No wonder you are on track to be the valedictorian. Such a smart cookie. Only if you'd rub off on Moira a little more." Luna Miller poked my nose, missing my skin with her long, perfectly manicured nails.

I glanced at Moira, who was standing in the corner of the room. She shrank in the presence of her mother, and she looked nothing like the head cheerleader filled with confidence. Instead, she stared at me with a fear-stricken face, begging me with her eyes not to say anything.

I quickly realized her parents knew nothing about what was going on between the two of us, and based on the fear in Moira's eyes, they wouldn't be on her side. If I told her parents what was going on, the way their daughter had been treating me, there was a chance all of this would stop.

Moira's face paled as the realization crossed my mind. She knew I had all of the power.

"Let's go get lunch," Moira said, drawing her parents' attention. "If we leave now, we can miss the lunch rush."

Luna Miller turned to me. "Juniper, darling, would you like to join us for lunch?"

"She can't," Moira practically shouted. "She had a big test she has to study for." The look Moira gave me was a dangerous one, and I knew if I agreed to lunch, she would only take it out on me later.

"Only if you studied more," Alpha Miller said. He shook his head. "Maybe your grades could compare to Juniper's then. Then we wouldn't have to be ashamed of our daughter's academics."

Moira shrank at her father's comment. "I'm the head cheerleader. We have won nationals ever since I started leading the team."

"That nonsense will get you nowhere in life. Just look at Juniper. She doesn't need some silly sport to get recognition. She will go far in life as valedictorian," Luna Miller said. "All cheerleaders are good for is looking pretty next to a man. Don't you actually want to contribute to the pack you end up with?"

Moira wrapped her arms around herself, trying to make herself as small as possible. "Cheerleaders do a lot of work. It's not just that." Moira had never sounded less confident in her life.

As I looked at my former best friend and current bully, I knew three things. One: it would be easy to crush her and get revenge for everything she had done to me. Two: I wouldn't sink to her level. Three: her parents were the reason she hated me.

I didn't know how I had never seen it before. Her parents never loved me like a child, but they bragged about how the orphan child they brought in was doing so well under their guidance. I thrived on their praise, but I never saw how it crushed Moira in the process. No wonder she hated me so much.