The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 63

JUNIPER

"Why would you want to talk to me?" I kept my voice calm, but I couldn't stop my heart from racing. I just hoped Beta Burrell couldn't hear the way my blood thundered against my skull. Even before I knew what he wanted, my instincts were telling me it wasn't in my favor. "Because we made a deal, and you're breaking the terms of our agreement." He twisted the titanium r und his left ring finger, not breaking eye contact with me to even blink.

"I've never made a deal with you," I said quickly. I didn't even remember ever meeting him. "Not that you remember. That doesn't excuse you from the terms," he said simply.

"How could you possibly expect me to keep up a deal I don't even remember?" The power oozing from While I didn't remember Beta Burrell, I saw the pain in Asher's face when he talked about his father. I firm man.

"That's why I'm here to give you a warning." He stopped spinning his ring and stretched out his fingers "Why would I do that?" I asked, instantly feeling defensive. I couldn't imagine he'd be able to say anyt leaving Axel behind.

"Because you made a promise to me a long time ago." The way he spoke made it seem like he just exp "How do I know you're not lying?" If everything Axel told me was true about our childhood, I had love

an in front of me told me I would be better off biting my tongue, but I didn't want to back down.

ard Ethan saying their father didn't show any concern for Axel. I heard enough stories and saw enough pain in the brothers' faces to know Beta Burrell was a

ses covered his palms, mixed with scars that had mostly faded. "Leave my sons alone. Dropout of school if you have to, but never talk to any of them again." at would actually convince me to drop out of school, abandoning everything I had been working for nearly my entire life. Even more, I couldn't imagine

me to bend to his will, no questions asked.

the brothers dearly for a long time. Even as a naive child, I couldn't imagine making that kind of promise.

But my parents left for a reason I still didn't understand. Maybe they were the ones who made the deanotime. "I understand why you might think that, but I assure you that by the time we're done talking, you'll co speak to my sons again." Beta Burrell was so assured of himself that it made my blood chill.

"You're wrong." My voice shook, my body betraying me. I felt his power, and I knew there was nothing

he same conclusion as before. Whether or not you remember your promise, you will leave without saying goodbye and never come back here. You will never do to fight against the man in front of me, but I refused to give up Axel when I just opened my arms to him.

"You think that now, but when you understand the truth-the things I know my sons didn't tell you-you'll realize leaving is for the best for everyone." Beta Burrell's confidence drove me mad. I didn't want to listen to him.

I reached for Ethan's door handle, not willing to listen to this a second longer. "I don't want to hear youth. Axel is waiting for me, if you'll excuse me." "Is your life worth the risk?" Beta Burrell asked. "Is Axel's?"

The second part of his statement made me hesitate. I looked at him, knowing I was trapped in his snare.

"Hear me out," he continued once he confirmed I was listening. "If you really think I'm wrong after one conversation over coffee, then return to my sons and do as you please." "You don't think I'll do that," I said, unable to stop the bite in my words.

"No. No, I really don't think you will," he said. "Come."

***

A ride in a limo later, I found myself sitting across the table with a hot coffee in my hands. Beta Burrell held his own coffee, taking his time to start the conversation. He had ordered on my behalf, ordering us both hot, black coffees. It was a power play on his part, as if he were trying to show me that what he wanted he got with little regard to anyone else.

I didn't bother to drink. It was a silly and simple gesture, but I wanted to prove to him that he couldn't control me or my choices, even if he tried.

I refused to speak first, waiting for him to finish testing his coffee. It felt like if I spoke, I would lose some unspoken war.

"This is excellent coffee. The flavor is particularly vibrant," Beta Burrell said.

I glanced at the man standing in front of the cafe's door, stopping other patrons from entering this establishment. He got out of the front of the limo when we did and followed us every step after. Of course, someone like Beta Burrell would have a body guard. The owner was a werewolf, and as soon as he discovered that the Beta Burrell had entered her establishment, she didn't hesitate to shut down her business to the public. She stood at the counter with a furrowed brow, watching us. Beta Burrell got what he wanted, even if others were unhappy about it.

"I'm not going to leave your sons alone just because you bought me coffee," I said, keeping my hands under the table to hide any shaking.

I shouldn't have even come with Beta Burrell in the first place. I didn't care about what he had to say. I wasn't going to give up Axel and the others. Yet, I found myself following him out of the apartment building and to his car. "No, that would be absurd." He took a sip of his coffee and let it wash over his tongue. "The floral undertone is surprisingly delicious. I will have to ask where the owner buys her coffee beans."

Talking about coffee felt like a waste of time. It made me want to leave the coffee shop and go back to Axel.

I didn't move.

"Tell me why I should leave your sons alone, or I'm going to leave," I said. I was grateful I sounded more confident than I felt.

"You're brave. You don't let my status make you cower. I think I see why my sons are so drawn to you," he said. His cup clinked against the ceramic saucer. "Or maybe it's because they remember a version of you that isn't real." "What do you-"

He held up his hand, and I bit my tongue.

"You see, my sons are naive. They don't want to see the truth about what happened in the past, what happened to James."

I couldn't hide the tension that suddenly filled my body. Even though I couldn't remember James, the pain from that day still wracked my body whenever his name was brought up.

"So they did tell you about what happened. Who gave in first? Axel? He never did regard my commands well."

I bit the inside of my cheek, refusing to answer. I wasn't here to provide this man with information. "What happened to James?"

"You did, of course. Well, you and your curse. It's an awful thing, really. Such a waste of a pretty face." The way he looked at me made me shift uncomfortably. I wanted Beta Burrell to look anywhere else, but he held his gaze firm. "Curses don't exist," I said. He had to be desperate, willing to make up anything to get me to leave his sons alone for whatever reason.

"Are you sure about that?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. "I know you're well educated. Witches, vampires, and other supernatural beings live alongside humans. Werewolves are not the only ones, even though the others are not as common in this territory. I know you're smart, Juniper. You are on track to be valedictorian. You've always gotten straight A's. You're president of the student council. I know you're not so naive to think that curses don't exist."

I didn't have a response. He was right about everything he said.

"Think about it," he continued. "You can't remember James' death. You don't even remember my sons. When you try to remember, it's like you're slamming your head against some invisible wall." "How do you know that?" I quickly asked. I hadn't told anyone about that sensation, so there was no way for him to find that out.

"Because I'm the one who ordered a witch to curse your memories to make you forget everything about my sons. You didn't get amnesia because of some head injury. I ordered your memories to be erased." He took another sip of his coffee as if what he said was completely normal. "Lavender. That's what I'm tasting. I didn't expect to enjoy lavender in coffee this much."

"Why?"

"Why what? You're going to have to use your words." Beta Burrell knew exactly what I was asking, but he wanted to force me to spell it out. He wanted to manipulate me in every way possible while he could.

"Why would you have a witch curse me? Did you hate me so much that you had to get rid of me? Did you hate a child that much?" I wondered what kind of life I would've lived if my parents never whisked me away from the Burrell family. I wondered if I would have felt as lonely if I hadn't lost the memory of the boys who made me laugh and smile and feel seen. I wondered if my parents would've died if we had never left.

"You were already cursed when you met my sons," he said. "You have a curse of death hanging over your head, and before you try to argue with me, think about it. First, James died because of you. Then your parents. Now, you almost killed Axel. Anyone you love who loves you is destined to die as long as you are close to them.

"You were the one who asked me to make you forget, because you didn't want to hurt anyone else. Per your request, I asked a witch to block your memories to protect the rest of my family. I begged your parents to take you away to protect the sons I have left. I thought that would be enough to keep my sons safe, but they found you against all odds. Now, I ask you to leave again to protect what little family I have left."

My head pounded as I tried to process his words. It didn't make sense. I grew up around Moira, and she was always fine-except she never loved me. She insisted she never even liked me as a friend. I couldn't be cursed with something so heavy. It didn't make sense. Yet, it did.

***

BETA BURRELL

I watched Juniper walk into Ethan's apartment building in a daze.

"Do you think she believed you?" Charles asked from the front seat of the limo.

"I believe she did," I said. "She's as foolish as her parents are to believe such a thing."

"And if she decides to stay or tell your sons what you said?" Charles asked.

"Then I have other ways of disposing of people," I said simply. I had gotten rid of Juniper's parents after they betrayed me. If Juniper didn't fall for this trick, I would resort to other measures. She slipped through my fingers too many times before. I wouldn't let it happen again.