The Four Beta Brothers

Chapter 12 - A Proper Proposal

JUNIPER

	Friday came too slowly. I managed to distract myself with homework and classes, avoiding being at my dorm as much as possible. Moira’s threat lingered in my head, saying things were going to get worse because of my confrontation, but she hadn’t made any moves yet. The whispers and stares weren’t any worse than before, either, so I was starting to think Moira was trying to mess with my head.

	After my last class, I rushed back to my dorm to get ready for the date. I pulled out my nicest dress, which was tight and black with spaghetti straps. The dress came down to my mid thigh and had a small slit on the side. It had been over a year since I last wore the dress, since I didn’t have very many occasions to wear something like this.

	I grabbed a shaw to go over my shoulders, did my makeup, and even curled my hair. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself for a moment. Studying and school were priorities for me, which meant I didn’t go out very often, and books didn’t care if I had makeup on. I forgot how nice it was to dress up a little.

	There was just one more touch I wanted to add. I dug through my jewelry box and pulled out a silver necklace with a rounded heart pendant. It was one of the few items I had from my childhood, so I only wore it on special occasions. 

	I checked my phone for the time and saw Asher was supposed to be here any moment. I opened my door and jumped when Moira was standing right in front of my room with her arms crossed.

	“Excuse me,” I said, trying to slip by her.

	She pressed her hand into the door frame, blocking my way. “How did you trick Asher Burrell into taking you on a date?”

	“What?” I hadn’t told anyone about the date with Asher.

	“When I heard a knock on the door, I quickly answered it, assuming it’d be for me. Guess how surprised I was when I saw Asher Burrell standing outside of our door, asking for you.”

	“Asher’s here?” I tried to push past Moira, not wanting to leave him hanging, but Moira kept my way blocked.

	“You know he probably just thinks you’ll put out easily because of those rumors. There’s no way someone of his status would actually be interested in you.” Moira’s upper lip twitched. 

	“Or maybe he can see through the rumors you put out and actually likes me for me. Would that be such a horrible thing?” I knew I was playing her game, but it was difficult not to. I couldn’t stand her tearing me down every way possible.

	“Anyone who truly knows you will just end up discarding you. Have your fun while you can, because one day he’ll realize you’re trash, just like I did.” Moira took a step back, releasing me from my room.

	Her words stung more than I wanted them to. I worked hard to make everyone see I was more than just an orphaned wolf. I thought Moira of all people understood that, since we grew up together. What if she was right? What if one day Asher woke up and realized I wasn’t worth the effort?

	I shook that thought off. Moira was just messing with my head. “I will have fun. Try not to be too jealous.”

	I grabbed my bag and went straight for the door. I wasn’t interested in engaging in conversation with her anymore. Tonight was supposed to be fun, and I wouldn’t let her ruin this either.

	I slipped outside and shut the door behind me as quickly as possible. I didn’t want Moira to listen to our conversation.

	“Sorry. I got held up. I hope you weren’t waiting for long.” 

	Asher took my hands and kissed my cheek. “It’s fine. You look beautiful tonight.”

	“Thank you. We should go before Moira comes out and interrupts us.” I glanced back at the door. I didn’t want Moira interacting with Asher ever again. I didn’t want her to fill his head with lies.

	“Oh but she seemed like such a pleasant person.” Sarcasm filled Asher’s voice, making me want to ask him what happened exactly, but I didn’t want to get held up on their interaction.

	Asher held out his elbow for me, and for the first time I realized how dressed up he was. He wasn’t wearing his typical cardigan sweater. Instead, he was wearing a maroon button up shirt with black slacks. He had a nice black jacket folded over his arm as well.

	“You look really nice. I’m glad I dressed up as much as I did.” I hooked my arm around his, and he started leading me to his car.

	“I’m glad my swooning is already working,” he chuckled.

	I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “So are you going to tell me where we are going now?” I asked.

	Asher shook his head. “As I have told you every day this week, no. You’ll have to wait until we get there.”

	I bit my lip, resisting the urge to harass him to tell me more. He was dressed up, which meant we were likely going to a nice restaurant—which also meant the food would be expensive. I thought about how much was in my bank account, and the idea of spending what little savings I had on a nice dinner made my stomach churn.

	I knew Asher would offer to pay for the meal. He insisted on paying for coffee, so I was sure this would be a similar situation. However, I didn’t want him to always pay for me. I was used to being independent, and I didn’t like feeling like I owed anyone anything.

	The idea of an expensive dinner made my nerves take over. I slowly went from excited to anxious, and the conversation reflected that feeling. Asher drove to the destination, and there was hardly any conversation in the car. He kept looking over at me and smiling. I wasn’t sure if he was nervous, too, or if I was making things awkward for both of us.

	When he finally stopped the car, a man in a vest came over and opened my door for me. Asher got out and handed his keys to the same man before taking my arm. We were in front of Ambrosia—the fanciest restaurant in town. I had never been here, but I heard how it was nearly impossible to get reservations unless you had connections—connections Asher had because of his family.

	We walked into the building, and the smells were absolutely amazing, making my stomach growl in response. I pressed my hand against my stomach, hoping Asher couldn’t hear the excessive noise.

	We walked straight up to the hostess, whose outfit looked even nicer than mine. Her makeup was perfect, and there wasn’t a line out of place on her face.

	“How can I help you?” she asked with a smile filled with impossibly white teeth.

	“I have a reservation for two under the name Burrell,” Asher said.

	Her eyes lit up with recognition. “Yes, of course. Right away, Mr. Burrell.”

	I raised my eyebrows and whispered to Asher, “Mr. Burrell?”

	He narrowed his eyes slightly, but he didn’t say anything. We followed the hostess to a table in a private section. She moved a red velvet rope for us to enter the section, and the further into the restaurant we got, the faster my heart beat. I had never been anywhere this fancy.

	There were a few rare occasions where I was invited with Moira’s family to a nice restaurant, but even those places were half as nice as this.

	We were finally seated, and a waiter brought us water instantly. We were left to ourselves with the menus. I looked at the different dishes, and there were no prices, which could only mean this place was pricey.

	“Did I pick wrong?” Asher asked.

	I tore my eyes away from the menu, looking at him with confusion. “What?”

	“You look unhappy. I thought you would like this place. Everyone raves about it, and I wanted to treat you to the best, but based on the look on your face, I picked wrong.” His forehead wrinkled in the spot above his nose, and his lips were slightly curved down.

	“It’s not that,” I said. I knew it was amazing that Asher brought me here, but I didn’t know how to explain to him that this level of fancy made me uncomfortable. He grew up in a family with money and privileges. I grew up without my parents, mostly earning money for myself. He couldn’t possibly understand the value of money like that.

	“We can go if you want,” he suggested. “You can pick a spot, and we’ll leave right now.”

	“Aren’t reservations here difficult to get?” Even if I didn’t feel comfortable, I didn’t want to just leave.

	“That doesn’t matter. Do you want to go?” he asked.

	I looked around. I would be insane to ask to leave. “No.”

	“Is there something I can do to make you feel more comfortable then?”

	This was a nice gesture and would have been an amazing date, but I was ruining it. Asher at least deserved honesty. “I can’t afford this place. I don’t even know how much the food costs, but I know I can’t pay for it.”

	Asher’s face lightened at this admission. “You don’t have to worry about that. I asked you on the date. I plan on paying for everything.”

	This only deepened my frown. “That’s not the problem. The problem is you have money and I don’t. Doesn’t that make you realize how different we are? You come from money, and I come from…nothing.”

	Asher reached over and grabbed my hand. “That doesn’t matter to me. Besides, it’s not even my money. It’s my father’s money, and if I can spend it on a beautiful woman who deserves to be spoiled, then I want to.”

	Have your fun while you can, because one day he’ll realize you’re trash, just like I did. Moira’s words rang through my head.

	“You don’t get it. I’ll never be on your level. No matter how hard I work, I will never get the status you have. My parents were omega nothings. No one knew who they were, and I’ll be lucky if I can make a name for myself. We come from different worlds. It’s only a matter of time before you realize that I’m beneath you.” I knew these were my insecurities coming out, and I knew Moira was just trying to mess with my head before we left. However, I couldn’t stop the thoughts swimming through my head.

	Asher stood up. “Come on. Let’s go.” He tossed some money on the table and took my hand, pulling me out of the restaurant.

	“We don’t have to go.” I looked around at the waiters watching us leave suddenly.

	“We could have a fancy dinner or eat burritos in my car. I don’t care what we’re doing, as long as I get to do it with you,” Asher said. “I know who you are, and money and status don’t matter. You are incredible. You’re smart, beautiful, and funny, so don’t let anyone ever let you feel like you’re less, because it doesn’t matter where you came from. The person you are is amazing.

	“So if eating at a fancy place makes you question that, then it’s time for plan B.”



	***



	MOIRA

	I opened her door and stared at the bouquet of roses sitting by her bed. I had seen her bring them home, and I just assumed she bought them, trying to make herself feel better. I never thought anyone would have bought the flowers for her—not with the things people were saying about her right now.

	I did it. I ruined her reputation. I made everyone look at her the way she deserved. She thought she was better than me, but she could never accomplish the things I had.

	Yet, somehow she had gotten one of the Burrell brothers already. When I heard they transferred to the school, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to raise my status. I was the daughter of an alpha from a small pack. It meant that I was practically guaranteed to become the luna one day, but that was as far as I would go. 

	Since our wolf pack was small compared to some of the packs out there, most future alphas wouldn’t even look at me to be their bride. I deserved more, though. If I married a Burrell brother, I wouldn’t become luna, but I would have so much more power. The Burrell family oversaw all werewolves, and that was better than being a luna of some small, unknown pack. 

	If I was lucky, one of the brothers could introduce me to the sons of Alpha Williams. If I could sink my claws into one of them, I would be set for life.

	But somehow Juniper beat me to the Burrell brothers. No matter how hard I tried, she beat me at everything.

	“Why don’t you study more like Juniper?” my mother said to me over and over again. “Maybe you could be at the top of your class like her.”

	“Why don’t you worry less about your looks and focus more on learning how to be a better leader? I’m sure Juniper could give you lessons. She’s on the student council. She knows how to lead her people.” My father always talked about how much better Juniper was than me, and I couldn’t stand it anymore.

	I walked over to her roses and cut the head off one of the flowers. It felt good to destroy something of hers. Snip. I didn’t come in here intending to completely destroy the flowers. Snip. But with each cut, my wolf howled, pleased by the destruction. Snip. Snip. Snip! I kept cutting until there was just a mess of petals on the flowers.

	My chest heaved up and down, but I smiled, imagining that pain on Juniper’s face when she saw her precious flowers destroyed. This was just the beginning. If she was going to take everything I ever wanted, then I would destroy her. It was clear that the rumors weren’t enough. It was time to step up my game.

Chapter 13 - The Four Beta Brothers