The Pet🐾 (Completed)

Chapter 37

Ashley

"Two days?" Roman's voice carried shock as he looked at me.

"Yeah, a real stressful two days," I said, leading him into the pack house.

We made our way up the stairs and down the hall, the voices of the men inside the office seeping through the door. Roman took a deep breath, standing tall and straight, then opened the door, stepping inside. The sight of him made everyone freeze. Jared and Jasper were held back by four guards, all in button-up shirts tucked into neat dress pants. If I didn't know better, I would've sworn these guys were part of some secret agency. The office, large enough to fit double the people standing, fell silent when Roman entered, his confident stance adding to the tension.

I stood next to him while Sophia stayed next to Jasper, her face twisted in annoyance directed at everyone but him. Roman took another deep breath, looking at the two men in front of him. His voice was low and controlled, but there was a cold edge to it.

"So, you two tried to kill me?" He leaned on his desk, his gaze piercing through the room. "What exactly happened?" he asked me.

I took a breath, my stomach tightening. "Well, Jared walked in with an unmarked bottle, and Jasper followed behind. Jared told me to give you the 'medicine' every eight hours. So, Jared was the one who brought it and told me what to do."

Roman's eyes narrowed, and he turned his attention to Jared, fury written all over his face. "Well, do you have anything to say?" he demanded.

Jared smiled, his gaze flickering toward Jasper. "Should I tell him, or would you like to?" he asked, clearly enjoying the tension.

Before he could say more, Jasper's head shot up, his voice breaking through the silence. "I did it!" he yelled, his voice strained. "I tried to kill you! I got the poison from a witch a while ago and told Jared it would heal you. I told him to give it to Ashley for you, because she doesn't like me!" His head dropped again, his face clouded with regret.

I leaned closer to Roman, my heart pounding. Sophia's voice broke through the air, pleading. "No, no, no! He wouldn't! He loves you," she cried, her eyes frantic.

I took a step toward her, but she jerked away. "No! You wanted this—your stupid dreams, saying Jasper is the bad guy!" she yelled.

Roman stood still for a moment, contemplating the situation. He turned back to Jasper and the guards. "Jasper, you are blood, and I don't want you killed," he started, his tone heavy with authority. Sophia let out a shaky sigh of relief. But Roman's next words hit like a hammer.

"But this will not go unpunished. Jasper Chaton, as Alpha of this pack, I hereby banish you from our lands," he declared.

Sophia collapsed to her knees, her voice breaking with a heart-wrenching "noooo."

Jasper's shoulders slumped as the guards moved to drag him away. Sophia scrambled to her feet, chasing after him. I started to move to follow, but Roman stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"She needs time," he said quietly.

I nodded and stepped back as Roman moved toward Jared. The guards released him, but Roman's gaze was ice-cold.

"Just know," Roman growled, "if I hear you had anything to do with this, I won't hesitate, and I won't be gentle like I was with my brother."

Jared nodded solemnly, his face devoid of emotion. "Never," he said firmly.

Roman didn't say anything more. He held out his forearm, and Jared grabbed it. They exchanged a quick, tight hug, each patting the other on the back before Jared and the guards left.

Roman and I were the only ones left in his office. He walked behind his desk and sat down, but once the door clicked shut, he leaned forward and winced in pain. I moved around the desk, placing my hand gently on his arm. The tingles shot through me, sending an electric wave over my skin.

"Are you okay?" I asked, my voice soft.

Roman looked up at me and smiled, but his expression quickly shifted to something more serious. "I'm fine," he said. Then, his voice turned more insistent, "What was she talking about? What dreams?"

I shifted my gaze, suddenly feeling exposed. Roman's hand gently lifted my chin, bringing my eyes back to his. "You can tell me," he pleaded, his voice soft yet firm.

I sighed, my chest heavy with the weight of the truth. "They're weird dreams. One had you in it, another where Jared thinks I saw the moon goddess, and..." I paused, unsure of how to continue.

I placed my hand in his, and he squeezed it gently. "Jared said I might have met your father," I admitted softly.

Roman's eyes went wide. He stood up abruptly. "My father? And why did you talk to Jared instead of me?" His steps closed the gap between us, his body almost pressing against mine.

"Well—um—I was going to tell you, but you were busy, and Jared was there, so I just... told him," I explained quickly, guilt rising in my throat. I could see hurt flash in Roman's eyes, and I blurted, "But I was going to tell you first."

Roman took a deep breath, clearly struggling to control his emotions. "Anything else in your dreams I should know about?" he asked, his voice low but tinged with concern.

I nodded, the memories of the dreams flooding back. "There was a man in all white with a black wolf mask. The Moon Goddess and he were trying to tell me something. The Moon Goddess said, 'You are the one,' and then disappeared. Then the man in the black mask yelled at me, 'Don't trust Ja—' But I woke up before he could finish," I told him, my voice shaking.

Roman pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "It's okay," he whispered, his voice calm and soothing. "Relax, it's just us."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around him and holding him tighter. Roman buried his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply. "Your scent is amazing," he murmured, his voice filled with appreciation.

He pulled back slightly and looked at me with an intense gaze. "So, who found out about the poison? Do I still have it in me?" he asked, his voice more serious now.

I glanced over at the brown paper bag sitting on his desk. "A witch," I said quietly.

"Ahh, so we have a witch on our lands. I'm going to have to thank her," he said with a chuckle.

"Well, um... you have more than one," I said, glancing down for a moment before meeting his eyes again.

Roman laughed. "Oh? I thought witches traveled alone."

"She did," I confirmed.

Roman leaned back, his expression puzzled but amused. He chuckled again. "Then who's the second witch?" he asked with a teasing smile.

I hesitated, then met his gaze. "I am," I said, my heart pounding as I let the words settle between us.