My Neighbor's Secret

Chapter 20: Ashton

Rose smiles up at me, not an ounce of pain in her eyes. Not a drop of fear. I take a step forward, smoothing her hair back like I have so many times before. She sighs, leaning into my touch.

"Rose," I whisper," I love you."

She loops her arms around my neck, flexing her dimple happily. She kisses my chin, then my cheek. And then dangerously close to my mouth. I close my eyes and duck my head down so my lips meet hers. Before I can savor the kiss she pulls away.

"I love you too," she murmurs, taking a step back," Ashey." I look down and see Bret's with Rose in his arms.

He has a evil grin and a dagger in his hand. Before I can react the dagger is being pushed into Rose's chest slowly. I try to lounge at her but my feet are frozen to the ground and all I can do is listen to Rose scream out her last breath, right before she dies.

Bret disappears and I'm able to move again. I rush to my mate's side, sobbing uncontrollably. No. This can't happen! She never knew! I love her. Her blood is on my hands, her last breath still rigging in my ears. I catch one last whiff of her perfume before everything goes black.
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I gasp loud enough that Sam turns his head towards me. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I Try not to think about the realness of my dream. I could even smell Rose's perfume.

I know I'm breathing heavy, probably sweating, and look like a total mess. Sam's brow creases but he stays silent, careful not to wake Caroline who is asleep on his lap. Rose's mom had busted in here an hour ago, ripped me a new ass after we explained in detail what had happened, and agreed not to call the cops. Now my mate's mother knows I'm Rose's mate before she does.

I glance at the clock, 1:30 am. All of the sudden Kayden, who I didn't know was still at the computer, shouts and stands. At first I think something bad happened, but then he does a happy dance," I DID IT!!! I FOUND HER!"

My eyes go wide and I stand in front of the computer, starting in awe at the address in bold letters. Only 20 miles from the house. Sam catches my arm.

"Look I know you need the girls, I really do," he says knowingly," but it's not even light out yet. Sleep first because what's the point of trying to save her if you can't even survive the drive?"

I nod reluctantly, realizing just how exhausted I am. But how can I sleep when I know Rose and Abi are maybe being tortured? Sam looks at me pointedly and I clear the bed thoughts from my head. The only image that sticks is Rose crumbling to the ground in my dream.

A little while later, I'm staring at the ceiling in my room thinking about the image of Rose dying. It haunts me, taunts me. The dream told me I couldn't save her, what if that dream becomes reality? I fall into a half sleep, just nearly grasping my thoughts.

I catch one, thinking about just how much I love Rose and how much I miss her. The pain of that single thought pulses through my Veins as I fall asleep.