The Pet🐾 (Completed)

Chapter 26

Ashley

"What!? She's dead?" I asked, my voice catching.

Jared nodded, leaning back in his chair. "Three years ago," he said quietly.

"How did she die?" I asked, my stomach twisting.

Jared froze, his hands tightening in his lap. "Oh... um, you don't have to know. It's... okay." I paused, feeling a pang of awkwardness. "Let's get the tour started, okay? I'm ready to figure out where everything is," I said, trying to shake off the heaviness.

Jared looked back up, his eyes clear again. "Yeah, okay. Let's get you familiar with the place." He stood, and I followed him out the door.

We stopped in front of the white double doors, and he threw his arms out theatrically. "Welcome to the grand tour of... The Pack House!" he announced. I giggled at his dramatics.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "As you can see, this hallway is completely empty. That's because this is the Alpha's floor—only the Alpha and Luna—" he shot me a wink, "—which is you, by the way. Anyone else can only come up here in emergencies."

"So... all these rooms?" I asked, gesturing to the doors along the hall. "Just for two people?"

Jared's smile widened. He beckoned me closer and whispered in my ear, "For the babies, of course."

I felt my cheeks heat up. Babies? Me? I'd never thought that far ahead. Jared chuckled at my reaction. "Let's move on to another floor," he said, holding out his hand. "Would you please join me?"

"It would be my pleasure," I said, taking his hand.

He led me down one level, where a few people moved in and out of the doors, but none made eye contact. "These are the higher-level quarters," he explained. "Our best warriors live here if they choose not to live in a house. This is also where extended family of the Alpha resides."

My mind immediately jumped to Sophia and Jasper. "Where's Sophia's room?!?" I asked, excited at the thought of a potential sleepover.

Jared guided me to a dark wooden door. "Right here," he said. "This is Sophia and Jasper's room."

"They're sharing a room?!"

"They're mates, yes," he said, looking slightly confused. "That's... what couples do."

I quickly opened the door, bursting in—and froze. Sophia was clinging to Jasper on the bed. They both jumped at my sudden entrance, but Sophia relaxed when she realized it was me. Coco, meanwhile, jumped up, barking happily.

"Oh, it's just you, Ashley! What are you doing here?" Sophia asked.

"Umm... I should be asking you that!" I said, grinning.

"Oh... well, I've been getting to know Jasper, and he seems really nice," Sophia shrugged. "So, I decided to give the whole soulmate thing a try. Please don't be mad—you'll understand once you get to know Roman," she added.

I nodded slowly. That was true—I had felt some weird sparks myself—but still, after I told her about my dream and Jasper, why wouldn't she take my warning seriously?

"Okay, I understand," I said, glancing at Jasper. "But if I see one scratch on her or one tear fall, I will personally hunt you down," I warned before walking out.

Jared had waited outside the whole time. I stepped out and closed the door behind me.

"Next floor?" he asked.

I nodded, following him as he showed me Roman's office and the meeting rooms—just in case I ever needed to be there. We reached the bottom floor. "Over there is the dining room," he said. I nodded, recognizing it. "And next to it..." He led me to smaller double doors. "...is the kitchen."

It was smaller than I expected—stainless steel appliances, wide countertops, and three ovens.

"There are three ovens because we make so much food," he explained. "We feed the entire pack three meals a day, and snacks are available if you want them on your own." He guided me to the pantry, which was packed with every kind of chip and snack imaginable.

I fell in love instantly. "Wow!"

"It's great, right? Let's get you back to the Alpha's floor, shall we?" he asked, gesturing toward the stairs.

I couldn't resist glancing back at the snacks. I grabbed three jumbo bags and dashed out of the kitchen, laughing all the way. Jared chased after me, two-liter soda bottles in hand. "Yes!" I shouted as we ran up the stairs.

My ribs no longer hurt from the cream, thankfully. I sprinted down the hallway, not caring who saw or judged me. I got to the end and flew up the stairs to the Alpha's floor. Jared was close behind, laughing like a maniac.

I reached the top and called out, "Open up!"

A guard opened the door for us. "Thanks!" I yelled back, then rushed inside the white double doors and jumped onto the bed. I tore open one of the bags of chips and looked up. Jared stood in the doorway.

"You're pretty fast for a human," he said.

"Well, you run pretty slow for a werewolf," I shot back, shoveling a handful of chips into my mouth.

He laughed and plopped down at the end of the bed. "They've got TVs downstairs if you want to watch a movie," he suggested.