The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 88

JUNIPER

Asher grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the crowd, and Axel followed behind us. There wasn't much privacy in the airport, but we pressed ourselves against the wall to keep any unwanted ears from listening in. "Alpha Williams' son's coronation is only a few weeks away," Asher said, lowering his voice so any humans wouldn't be able to hear us.

"If Father was going to try something again, it would make sense that he'd want to do it before the new alpha was anointed," Axel said.

"We have to warn Alpha Williams. If he and his family are at risk, he deserves to know." A chill ran through my body. Beta Burrell had taken my entire life and family from me. I never wanted him to be able to do that to anyone else again. "Ethan might be able to arrange a meeting with him," Asher said, "but without proof, there's nothing Alpha Williams will do."

"Would he even listen to Ethan?" Axel asked. "Father is Alpha Williams' beta. There is a bond and trust there. Plus, we all know how Father can put on a good face."

"Without proof, I'm not sure we'll be able to do anything, but we have to try. Since Ethan is supposed to be the next beta, he has the best shot at convincing the alpha of the truth. It might be a long shot, but we have to try," Asher said. He turned to me. "When you see Ethan, you have to tell him all of this, okay?"

I nodded my head, relieved they suggested going to Ethan. Part of me wondered if I had just convinced James to do the same thing years ago if he'd still be alive today.

A flight attendant announced that boarding for Asher and Axel's flight was going to start in five minutes. My heart raced knowing my time with them was nearly out. "Okay," I said.

Asher looked over his shoulder towards the gate to their plane. "We should probably get going." When he looked back at me, his face was pulled tight. He didn't want to part any more than I did. "Can I have a moment with Juniper?" Axel asked, looking at Asher.

Asher took a few steps back, keeping his eyes on me the entire time. "I'll see you at the gate." He pulled his lips tight, and I felt the unspoken words between us. We almost kissed. There was no denying it, but there had been no chance to talk about what it meant. "Have a safe flight," I said, knowing now was not the time to talk about that moment.

Asher nodded. "You too." Then he left us alone.

Axel grabbed my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine. We had hardly touched since our fight earlier, and we hadn't had a moment to talk after. My heart raced, worried about what he was about to say. I knew he was angry with me earlier for keeping secrets from him, but I didn't feel his anger directed towards me this time.

"I'm sorry," we said at the same time.

I started laughing, and he quickly followed. It broke the tension between us, and I no longer felt nervous.

"I shouldn't have kept that conversation with your father a secret, and I should've told you about the curse," I said, taking a deep breath.

"You had your reasons. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. I was scared and frustrated, but that doesn't make it right for me to have reacted the way I did." Axel tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. His face was still tight with stress, and I knew he felt sorry for the argument.

"We're pretty good at keeping secrets from each other when we're trying to protect the other, huh?" I said.

Axel laughed and shook his head. "We should probably break that habit."

"Yeah," I agreed. I leaned into him, resting my head against his chest. His body relaxed with my touch. "Are we okay?"

Axel pulled me into him tighter. "Of course we're okay. One fight is not enough to change my mind about you. One hundred fights wouldn't be enough. I told you, J.J., I'm not going anywhere."

I strained my neck so I could look up at him. "Even if I share a mate bond with you and all of your brothers?"

Axel smiled and pressed his lips against my forehead. "Even then. As long as you want me, I don't care if you also want my brothers."

The flight attendant announced that boarding was beginning for Axel's flight, but neither of us made a move to part.

"I wish I could come with you guys," I said.

"It's better if you don't. If something were to happen to you, I don't know what I would do." Axel cupped my face. "You'll be safer with Ethan."

"I just wish I could do more to help. I feel like I'm running and hiding," I admitted. Knowing Nathan could be in serious danger made my stomach queasy. I wanted to run to him and make sure he was okay, even though I understood there was little I could do to actually help. On top of that, the last thing I wanted to do was leave the twins.

"You're not. The things you remembered are going to save lives, and it wouldn't have happened if you weren't brave enough to travel across the country to find a sorcerer that could help. Not many people would've been brave enough to do that," Axel said. "I wasn't being brave. I was being selfish. I thought I was cursed with magic that could kill you, and it was either find the sorcerer to help or leave you, and I really didn't want to leave."

Another announcement for boarding was made, but Axel didn't move.

"Well, I'm grateful that you were selfish then, because I hate the idea of the other option." He glanced back, and Asher was waving him over to the plane. "I really have to go, but I'll see you soon, okay?"

I nodded, biting my lip to force back tears. It was silly to be upset. Asher and Axel would return to CUW as soon as they found Nathan. Everything would be okay-at least that was what I told myself.

I grabbed the back of Axel's neck and pulled him into a kiss. I needed to taste him one last time, since there was no way of knowing when we'd see each other again. Axel deepened the kiss, and we only parted when the flight attendant announced the final boarding call.

We didn't say anything else as Axel pulled apart. I held his hand until the last second, and then I didn't move until I saw Asher and Axel get onto their plane. My flight left after theirs, but there wasn't much time until I had to board.

I slowly made my way to my gate, my feet feeling heavier with each step. My body wanted to run back to Asher and Axel. I hated knowing that I would have to leave them, but I kept moving because I knew going back to CUW was the only option. I had to help Ethan warn Alpha Williams.

I stood in front of the gate to my flight, staring down at my ticket.

We needed proof to incriminate Beta Burrell to stop him from hurting anyone else ever again. Our words wouldn't have been enough to convince Alpha Williams of his beta's betrayal. But how were we supposed to get the proof? Maybe Nathan found something that would help, and his phone simply died. Maybe Asher and Axel would find something when they find Nathan.

Maybe didn't feel good enough. There had to be something I could do to help.

There was something I could do.

I threw my ticket in the trash as I walked away from my flight. There was one place I knew there was a chance to find the evidence of Beta Burrell's betrayal, and I planned on searching for it. I had to do something while everyone else did their part. I refused to cower in fear when there was something I could actually do about it.

I pulled out my phone and called Axel, but it went straight to voicemail. I left him a message, knowing he would get it once they were off the plane. I didn't have time to wait for them to agree to my plan.

***

ETHAN

I checked my watch every couple of minutes, feeling anxious every second that passed. Juniper's flight was supposed to land in just a few minutes, and I couldn't wait to see her again. Between what Nathan had discovered in my father's office and what Juniper remembered, I felt on edge knowing she wasn't by my side.

I hated even sending her back on a flight by herself. I wanted to have either Axel or Asher escort her home, but I needed both of them to go after Nathan, since he was likely in active danger. Juniper would be fine for a few hours on a flight back here. As long as she was in a public place, the chances of the hunter trying something were slim.

Even knowing that, I couldn't relax. Even if the chances of an attack were slim, any possibility of Juniper getting attacked while no one was around her put me on edge.

Just a few more minutes, and she would be safe in my arms again. I could protect her and make sure nothing happened to her. I'd never let my father go through with his plan to get rid of her, even if it meant killing him with my own hands.

He was the reason James was taken from us too soon. He caused the grief that killed my mother. Now, he was trying to kill the woman I loved. And all for what? A little more power than what he had.

I had always known my father was a wolf in sheep's clothing. What I didn't realize was that he was so much worse. He was a demon of the worst kind, ready to inject venom into anyone who dared to cross him.

Juniper's plane landed, and I searched for her, expecting to see her emerge from the crowd. I knew I would spot her instantly. My eyes were automatically drawn to her no matter where she was. Even when I couldn't see her, her scent filled my nose, setting my body on edge until the moment her eyes crossed mine.

I waited and waited, but she didn't get off of the flight. She should've been here already. My stomach sank as it became clear she wasn't coming. All of my fears rushed through me, even worse than before. I tried to think of a good reason she wasn't here, but nothing made me feel better.

Something was wrong.