The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 74

JUNIPER

"Just send me," Axel said. "Asher doesn't need to go."

"Yeah, just send him," Asher agreed.

Ethan rolled his eyes. "I know you two are having issues right now, but I am telling you both to go." He turned to Axel. "Asher has more warrior training than you, Axel. And I know you wouldn't let Juniper go alone with Asher." "Not in a million years," Axel growled.

"I wouldn't hurt her," Asher snapped back.

"You punched me."

"Years of pent-up rage resulted in that. And you've been in plenty of fights if you're going to make that argument."

"At least I never called Juniper a slut out of jealousy," Axel returned.

I watched the two of them bickering, and they seemed to revert in age. They looked like children fighting over a toy, and it made my stomach twist. While Asher hurt me, I never wanted to cause familial issues.

"Enough!" Ethan snapped, his wolf energy filling the room and suppressing the rest of us. "I don't care if you two have issues. I'm not sending Juniper across the country without multiple escorts when there's a possibility of a hunter coming after her. Work out your issues or don't. I'm not going to baby you two, as long as you make Juniper your priority."

"Easy enough," Axel said. "I can be an adult if he can be."

Asher's knuckles turned white. "I've always been more of an adult than you. I know my responsibilities and take them seriously."

Ethan looked at me from across the room and pulled his lips into a tight line, as if to apologize to me for putting me in this situation. I forced a smile back, even though I felt just as unsure about the situation as Asher and Axel. The idea of traveling with the two of them alone worried me.

I didn't know if they would end up fighting, or if Asher would make any snide remarks. I knew I wouldn't be able to act like my normal self with the two of them around. However, if Ethan thought this witch could help me, then I would do as he asked. If she could remove the curse and bring back my memories, then it'd be worth an uncomfortable trip with Asher and Axel.

"Great!" Nathan said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So I was dragged out of bed just to be told that I'm being left behind yet again. You could have just sent a text or just not said anything at all. Wouldn't have made a difference to me either way." Ethan tried to suppress his sigh, but his nose still flared as he tried to rein himself in. "I wouldn't have asked you to come over in the middle of the night without a good reason, Nathan. You should know that by now."

Nathan opened his mouth to argue, but Ethan held up his hand to silence him.

"I have a special request for you," Ethan continued. This seemed to brighten Nathan's mood. "I need you to return home. There are some documents I need you to look for.""

"What kind of documents?" Nathan asked, looking confused by the request.

"I think Father has been lying to us for years, and I need you to find the truth. I would do it myself, but I need to stick around the school in case that hunter comes back. With Axel and Asher accompanying Juniper, you're the only one I can rely on for this." Nathan tried to hide his smile. "It's about time you saw my potential."

***

Axel walked me to the car, each of us carrying our own luggage. The sun was just barely beginning to creep over the mountains, and we hadn't slept at all after the conversation with Ethan. He walked me to my dorm before going back to his to pack. I packed lightly, since it was supposed to be a short trip. The plan was to take an airplane to Atheham City where we would navigate the city to try to find this witch. Once we asked her to help us, we were to return to CUW immediately, since Ethan still expected us to go to school when this was all over.

Asher was already waiting by the car, leaning against the hood with his arms crossed. His normally soft features were hard, and everything about him made it obvious he didn't want to go on this trip.

My body tensed as I saw him, and Axel placed his hand on the small of my back. He leaned in and whispered, "Don't let him get to you. He's only here for extra support if that hunter comes after you. You don't have to talk to him if you don't want to." He pressed a kiss against my temple.

I leaned into him and whispered back, "Don't let him get to you either."

Axel sighed. "I'll try."

Asher didn't look up at us until we were right at the car. Axel parted from me and grabbed my bag to put it into the trunk.

"I'll drive," Asher said, pulling the keys out of his pocket. He glanced at me, his face still wound tightly. "You can sit in the front if you want."

I glanced at Axel who was still putting the luggage in the backseat. As uncomfortable as I felt sitting next to Axel, I knew there'd be less fighting if I agreed to sit in the front seat.

"Okay," I agreed.

Asher's eyebrows rose slightly, as if he wasn't expecting me to actually agree to sit next to him. "Look, June, if we're going to be traveling together then-"

"Let's go," Axel said, interrupting Asher. Based on the tightness in his jaw, Axel knew exactly what he was doing. He leered at his brother as he added, "Can't miss the flight, for Juniper's sake and all."

Asher gritted his teeth, but he didn't say anything. He just pushed off the car and went to the driver's side seat.

I looked at Axel, unable to contain my exasperation. "Is the entire trip going to be like this?" I asked.

Axel shrugged. "It's hard to be pleasant knowing everything he has done to you."

"Will you try for my sake? You don't have to like him. You don't even have to want to be here-I definitely don't want to be here, playing nice between the two of you-but if this witch is the real deal, it'll fix everything. Just pretend for a few days to make this trip a little more bearable. Please?"

I knew I was asking Axel for a lot. There was a time when he had sacrificed his own happiness for Asher and me. He was convinced Asher was the better twin and pushed me towards him, denying his own feelings for me. Then Asher threw that away and blamed Axel for it. I didn't blame Axel for being hurt. I was still hurting myself.

But there was a part of me that still loved Asher despite everything he had done.

And I didn't want the next couple of days to be long and uncomfortable-at least not more than necessary.

Axel let out a long sigh. "I'll try. But if he does anything-"

I cupped Axel's face and kissed him. Instantly, his body relaxed against my touch. "Let's not worry about the ifs or buts. Let's just do what we need to do to get this trip over quickly, so I can come home with you."

Axel kissed me again, this time making it last a little longer. "Okay."

***

None of us had a seat next to each other on the plane. With how last minute Ethan had to book the flight, we didn't have a choice. Even though it would've been nice to sit next to Axel, I didn't mind the peace and quiet the solitude gave me. Axel had stopped taunting Asher during the car ride, but the tension had still been insufferable.

It made me wish Ethan had just sent me on this trip by myself. I had traveled plenty, so I didn't mind going on my own. Plus, there were things I wanted to ask this witch about that I hoped to ask in privacy-like if I was actually partial mates with Axel, Asher, and Ethan. I wasn't sure if that was something I wanted to discuss in front of the twins.

I didn't know if she'd have an answer for me, but I hoped she would be able to explain the bond between us. Perhaps, with her magic, she would be able to sense the bond and determine exactly what was going on with all of the brothers. Maybe then it would help me figure out what I wanted to do.

Then there was the matter of the curse Beta Burrell talked about. Ethan was the only one who I told about the conversation with his father, and since no one else had said anything, I was sure he hadn't said anything about it to his brothers.

Until I knew more about the curse, I didn't want to tell Axel. I told myself it was because if the curse was real and there was no way to remove it, it would be easier to leave Axel if he didn't know what I planned on doing. Deep down, I knew there was more to it. I was afraid Axel and Asher would look at me differently if they knew their brother had died because he loved me. I worried they wouldn't want to love me anymore.

I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, breathing through my fears. Soon I would know the truth, I would get my memories back, and I would know what my future would look like. I wouldn't have to live in this state of not-knowing any longer. That thought calmed my senses, even though there was no guarantee this witch would be able to solve any of my problems.

"The captain has turned off the seatbelt signs. Feel free to roam the cabin as necessary, but please keep your seatbelts on if you're seated," a flight attendant said over the intercom.

The man sitting next to me got up to go to the bathroom, and I took the opportunity to stretch my limbs while I had a chance. I was in the middle seat between two people, and we had several more hours, a layover, and another flight before we made it to our destination. Without sleep, I knew this was going to be a particularly uncomfortable trip.

"Hey." Asher slipped into the seat next to me only a moment after the other guy left, making me jump.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered heavily, feeling like I couldn't talk louder while on an airplane. "I need to talk to you."