The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 65

ETHAN

I rolled the shotgun shell around in my gloved hands. After days of searching, this was the only clue we had to the presence of werewolf hunters in the area. Whoever shot Axel didn't leave any other traces or scents behind-human or otherwise. "Does this mean the search is over?" Asher asked, watching me closely.

It was disconcerting. Every other case I had dealt with when it came to werewolf hunters had left a trace-all except one. If the hunter could mask his scent, it would put the school in danger. The hunter could walk onto campus without realizing a stranger was there.

Asher had been in a strange mood ever since Axel had been shot. The sour, moping mood that had been hanging over him like a cloud was gone, but he still wasn't himself. He was doing as he was told without complaint. He didn't smile, and he hardly talked. It was almost like he was a shell of himself.

"I don't know what this means," I admitted. I couldn't give up the search, knowing there was a werewolf hunter so close to the school, but I didn't know where to go from here. There was only one possibility I could think of, and I didn't like it. "We found proof that the hunter was here. That's something," he pointed out.

"It's not enough. We don't know if the hunter is still in the area, or if he has moved on. We don't know if he was just passing through and Juniper and Axel were unlucky, or if they were being targeted."

"Wait, do you think it's possible that the hunter was tracking Juniper and Axel?" Asher asked, knitting his eyebrows together. It was clear the possibility had never crossed his mind.

"Perhaps." There weren't many hunters who could mask their scents and tracks so thoroughly. It took money and training to get to that level. It was hard to believe they were so unlucky to come across someone of that skill level.

"I know that look of yours. What aren't you saying?" Asher asked.

I wrapped up the bullet shell and slipped it into my pocket. I hadn't told any of the other warriors about Asher's discovery. They were just bodies in case we needed strength to fight any hunters. They didn't need to be looped in about the specifics of our investigation.

I looked at my brother, wondering if he was able to handle the truth I was about to unfold. "The only other time I haven't been able to find any tracks of a hunter was the day James died."

Asher looked like I stabbed him. "What do you mean? I thought it was just an accident. I thought some animal attacked them, and they were too young to defend themselves, since they were too young to shift into their wolf forms."

For years I held this secret on my shoulders. I was the first to see James and Juniper after the attack. I saw the blood and heard their cries. I saw the gun in the hand of the man who killed my brother. I sent Asher and Axel away, terrified the man would come back and attack them as well.

I never told them the truth about what happened. My father and mother were the ones to tell my brothers exactly what happened, and they lied, saying it was best to protect them from the truth, since they were too young to understand. They were too young to hold the weight of knowing an assassin was sent after Juniper.

"James and Juniper were shot that day in the woods," I said, unsure of how Asher was going to respond. What I did know was he was no longer a child who needed to be protected. He deserved to know the truth.

Asher's brows furrowed. "I don't remember hearing a gunshot. I only heard Juniper screaming."

"The attacker used a silencer on the gun," I explained. That was something I understood years later after researching everything I knew about that day to put puzzle pieces together. "Silver bullets were used, so whoever shot them knew what they were. There were no traces of the attacker, either. No scent, nothing. Not even a bullet shell."

"But why would an assassin be sent to kill children?" Asher gaped. Thinking our brother was killed by an accident was easier to comprehend. He was just an innocent child. There was no reason someone should've been sent to kill him.

I didn't understand why it had happened for a long time, which drove me to research the truth. There was so little of it, and there was only one conclusion I had been able to draw over the years.

"I believe the assassin was sent to kill Juniper. She must've learned something from her parents that was too dangerous to know. James jumped in front of her to protect her. He was never the target," I said.

For a long time, I thought James was the target. If someone held a grudge against our father, it was feasible that they'd go after his children. However, the more I thought about it and the older I got, the more I realized that didn't make sense. James apologized for not protecting Juniper, meaning there was something to protect her from.

The assassin ran when I showed up. If it was someone who held a grudge against Beta Burrell, I would have also been targeted.

"That's why Father wanted us to stay away from her," Asher concluded. "In case she ever became the target again, he didn't want us near her."

"It's also why it's dangerous for her to remember the truth," I added. "She's been left alone, because she can't remember what it is that put her in danger in the first place. Whoever hired the assassin in the first place, seemed satisfied with her memory block." "Then why do you want her to remember?" Asher asked, horrified by this conclusion. "Wouldn't it be better for her to stay in the dark and never remember instead of looking for danger?"

"What happens when her memory is suddenly triggered?" I asked. "What happens when whoever tried to kill her the first time-whoever killed her parents-decides it's too dangerous to have her around? I'm surprised she's been fine for as long as she has been, but something is telling me it's not going to last." I pulled out the bullet shell again and held it up to the light, looking at the small initials cast into the metal. "And I want to be ready if anyone comes after Juniper again."

***

JUNIPER

I woke up to warm caresses along the side of my face. I didn't move, just wanting to enjoy the sensation for a moment. It felt like I was in a dream as the deft fingers slid over my cheek and then down my neck.

I couldn't hide the shiver that ran down my entire spine, and when I opened my eyes, I felt like I was floating. Axel absently played with the collar of my shirt. There was color and life in his face again, and the storm in his eyes was calm.

"Hey," I said, leaning into his touch. I hadn't meant to fall asleep. I wanted to stay awake in case Axel needed anything while he recovered, but the exhaustion from back to back events had left my body and soul drained. I had told myself I'd only close my eyes for just a moment. I had no idea how long that moment ended up lasting.

"When did you get back?" Axel said, absentmindedly dragging his fingers over my torso, moving lower and lower. Maybe his movements were more deliberate than he was making them seem.

I licked my lips, trying to ignore him as he rubbed soft circles just above my hip bones. "Do you mean when did I get back and find you unconscious on the floor with a raging fever?"

"It was just a minor fever, and the cool tile felt nice against my skin." He smiled, trying to reassure me, but it didn't work.

"The doctor had to give you medication. He wouldn't stop giving me dirty looks after he found out we went for a walk, too. I knew I shouldn't have let you come with me." My voice cracked, giving away my frustration with the situation. "Axel, you have to take your health seriously. I don't think I can handle much more of you passing out on me."

Axel pushed back my hair, easily getting his fingers caught in the knots from sleep. "I'm okay. I promise. I feel a lot better."

"Forgive me for not believing you." It was easy to get lost in Axel's eyes, but I was prepared to dig in my heels with this.

"Then let me prove it to you." He didn't give me a chance to respond as he leaned in, pressing his lips against mine. His fingers danced against the hem of my bottoms, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. All I wanted was for Axel to keep going. Then I remembered where we were. I pushed against Axel's chest. "We can't make out in Ethan's bed."

"Why not?" Axel's eyes flickered, and he slipped his fingers beneath the hem of my shorts, making me inhale sharply.

My legs started to spread automatically, my body wanting nothing more than to give into Axel. I hadn't had a chance to even think about having s*x again until Axel started touching me, but I knew the thoughts would not easily fade. We had only been together once, but that was enough to make me crave more, knowing exactly what it felt like to have Axel touch every part of my body.

"Lie down," I ordered, pulling away from his touch.

Axel smirked. "Oh? Is this how we're going to do this?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, ignoring his flirty banter. I lifted his shirt up and looked at his side, inspecting the wound.

"Do I get to take your shirt off next?" Axel asked, but the seduction in his voice had settled.

I brushed my fingers around the entrance wound from the gunshot, being careful not to touch the actual wound. It had scabbed over, but there were still deep bruises on the skin around the wound. The wound looked clean, and there were no signs of infection. "Does it hurt?" I asked, looking closely, as if the wound would give me the answers I was looking for.

"There's no need for you to worry. I really do feel better." Axel grabbed my hand and kissed my fingers.

When I gave him an exasperated look, he added, "It does hurt a bit, but it's not as bad. It's a dull throb now, easy enough to ignore now."

I leaned forward and kissed him as if he would break. "Thank you for telling me."

Axel brushed his thumb over my brow, rubbing out the crinkles between my eyes. "I just don't like worrying you. I see how hard all of this has been, and I don't want to make it worse."

"It's worse when you don't tell me, because then I don't know if you're just going to pass out on me suddenly," I said, grabbing his hand. I played with his fingers to distract me.

"I really am feeling better," Axel assured.

"Good. Now, you stay here. I'm going to make you some food. I'm sure you're hungry."

Axel started getting up to follow me. "I'll come with."

I stopped, gently placing my hands on his chest. "You need to rest. I'll be back."

"I'm going to go crazy if I have to stay in this bed," Axel protested. "I promise to let you do all of the work if you let me just sit in the kitchen with you."

I wanted to tell Axel no, especially after finding him collapsed, but there was a desperation in his eyes that I couldn't ignore. With a sigh, I agreed. "Fine, but only if you let me do all of the cooking."

"Deal."

I helped Axel to his feet and led him out of the bedroom, moving slowly. Axel suddenly tugged on my arm. "Wait," he said. He pulled me towards him and then turned me so my back was pressed against the wall. He pressed his mouth against mine, taking away my breath in the process.

His touch was greedy and caring all at once, making my head spin. It made me wonder if I would ever get tired of his touch.

A throat cleared, drawing both of our attention. Ethan and Asher stood at the end of the hall with bags draped over their shoulders.

"You're back early," Axel said, seeming unphased by the fact we were just caught making out.