The Pet🐾 (Completed)

Chapter 15

*graphic and bloody content ahead* \(*0*)/

Jasper

We followed the roadway out of our territory. It took about half an hour before we reached an abandoned house. It was large—almost the size of a pack house—but nature had begun reclaiming it. Vines and moss climbed the walls, and it looked like someone had been trying to take it back for the wolves.

I peered around a tree and saw an SUV driving away from the house. Roman mind-linked us: No need to follow that car. She's inside—I can feel it.

Roman and I went around to the back while the other two entered from the front. Half of the back of the house had collapsed, making it easy to slip inside. Immediately, the smell of rogues and Ashley hit us. Roman and I spread out, checking each room. All I saw were old, cracked photos and layers of dirt.

Roman called for me. I ran over and found him standing in front of a trapdoor. I knelt, gripping the handle, and started counting down.

3...
2...
1...

We jerked the door open together. Roman jumped down first; I followed immediately. In the basement, we saw two rogues. Roman, ever the big shot, went after the bigger one while I handled the other. I punched him square in the face just as he tried to kick me in the jaw. He fell back, and I jumped on him, pinning him down.

I looked up to see Roman hurling the larger rogue through a wall. He was angry, no doubt about it. I turned back to my rogue, whose nose was bleeding, but he was still conscious. I screamed into his face, "Where is she?!" locking eyes with him.

His hand twitched, pointing to the left. I glanced toward the doorway with stairs and punched him again in the head, knocking him out.

"What did he say?" Roman asked, walking over.

"Down there," I said, nodding toward the doorway.

We darted down the stairs, taking two—no, three steps at a time. On the next floor, which was smaller, four rogues waited. Two more entered from a back door. One had keys, and—

"Bro," I whispered.

"Hmm?" Roman mumbled.

"Do you see the one with the keys and the scars?" I continued. Roman nodded. "He also has Ashley's pajamas—the ones she was wearing. She—" I didn't finish. Roman lost it.

He shifted, his clothes ripping off as his beast took over. He leaped onto the rogue with the pajamas and ripped his neck open. The others tried to attack, but Roman was too fast. One by one, the bloodbath spread. Once the last rogue fell, I ran to calm him.

As I pinned Roman's wolf form, one of his paws slipped and slashed across my chest. I stumbled but held him down.
"Listen! Do you want her to see you like this? Because when she saw me, she threw a book at my head!" I yelled.

Slowly, his breathing steadied. I released him and looked around. Blood covered the floor. Everyone was dead. Roman stood, shifting back into human form, clothes shredded.

"Grab some pants from one of the guys. I'm going to check on her," I told him.

He gave me a death stare. "No. I'm going to get her," he said, snatching a pair of pants from a body.

I might be the younger one, but sometimes he's like a four-year-old with his toys. I followed him down the narrow hallway. Torches flickered, barely lighting our path. After the last step, we found a long row of cells.

Roman stopped at the first one on the right. I leaned in, seeing Ashley curled up, asleep.
"Hold on, let me get the—" I didn't finish my sentence.

Roman ripped the door off its hinges. Ashley jolted awake. She looked at me first, then at Roman. Her eyes widened.
"W-wait, you w-were—?" she stammered.

I took off my jacket and handed it to Roman.
"I'm going to go get the others," I said.

He nodded, taking the jacket and giving Ashley an awkward smile. In all the years I'd known him, I'd never seen him look awkward—or scared. I mind-linked him quickly.
Just be yourself, and she'll love it. Trust me.

He looked at me, surprised, but relaxed.
"Thanks... I hope so," he replied, linking back.

I glanced down at the claw marks he'd given me earlier. They'd mostly healed—thankfully, not too deep. I started up the stairs, but the last thing I heard before leaving was Ashley whisper,
"I saw you before..."