The Pet🐾 (Completed)

Chapter 27

Ashley

I jumped off the bed, ready to go watch a movie, when Roman suddenly burst into the room. Confusion hit me before panic set in as he scooped me up and sprinted down the hall.

"What's going on?!?" I shouted, struggling in his arms.

"Rogues. They're attacking. I need to get you somewhere safe," he said, running in the opposite direction of the stairs.

I glanced back to see Jasper, Sophia, and Jared running behind us. We reached the end of the hall, stopping at a jet-black door. Roman pulled out a key and locked it behind us.

"You ladies will be safe in here while we handle the rogues," he said, setting me down.

"What about everyone else? Where are they?!?" I yelled.

Jared stepped forward calmly. "You don't have to worry about them. They know where to go."

I nodded, pressing my hands and head against the door as Roman started to leave. Before he disappeared from sight, I heard his deep voice, steady and sure:

"I love you."

I fell to the floor, tears streaming. Please don't take him away... I've already lost too much...

ROMAN!!!

I slammed my hands against the door. Inside, Roman had sealed the safe room, his own hands pressed to the door as he whispered back, "I love you."

Roman mind-linked with the pack's best warriors, directing them to strike the rogues first, while lower-level fighters protected the weaker ones. Inexperienced fighters escorted women and children to the safe rooms.

We reached the balcony overlooking the front entrance, spotting a group of rogues cornering a mother and her child. My instincts kicked in, and I jumped, landing on two attackers while three more remained standing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jared guiding the others to safety. I gouged out the eyes of one remaining rogue and slammed the heads of the last two together until blood stained my outfit.

The real battle was outside. A mischievous grin spread across my face as I stepped onto the grounds, spotting their leader attempting to take down one of my best warriors. I shifted, lunging at him, sending him sprawling to the ground. I nodded at Jared to continue protecting the pack while I focused on the rogue leader.

He began to shift mid-fight. I backed away, circling him. Three laps around before he lunged, snapping at the back of my neck. I moved forward, biting under his jaw, ripping out his vocal cords. Blood dripped onto the earth beneath him.

Another rogue struck me, biting my previously injured shoulder. My wolf growled fiercely. I grabbed his foot in my teeth and broke it in half. He collapsed in a puddle of blood. Pain throbbed through my shoulder, but I buried it. My pack—and Ashley—needed me.

I shifted back, looking around. A deep rumble erupted from my chest, silencing everyone. "If anyone wants to fight my pack... they go through me first!" I shouted.

Eight rogues leapt onto my back, sinking their teeth into me. Blood soaked my fur and clothes. The only thing driving me was the thought of Ashley—her face, her lips. I hurled them off, seizing one wolf, snapping his neck, and throwing him at two others charging me. Claws extended, I shredded four more as they closed in.

Finally, the remaining rogues fled. My beast roared in disappointment at not having more to fight. Pain flared across my body, and black spots danced before my eyes. I dropped to my knees, pressing my hand to my throbbing head.

Jasper and Jared sprinted toward me as I collapsed into the blood-soaked ground.