The Pet🐾 (Completed)

Chapter 43

Sophia

I heard Javiare stand up, stretching as he did so. "Well," he said, his voice a little strained from the stretch, "it's getting late. Let's get you back."

I sighed and nodded, standing up to follow him. The cool fall air brushed against my skin, sending a small shiver down my spine. It was nice, though, the kind of refreshing that made me feel alive, like I was escaping all the chaos and pain inside me. As I walked out of the gazebo, I couldn't help but think about Jasper. Where was he? What was he doing right now? My mind kept circling around him. I wanted to believe he was okay, but a part of me feared he was far from it.

I glanced at Javiare, who was walking beside me, his presence strangely comforting. He had become a friend I never knew I needed, someone to help distract me from the storm inside. But still... Jasper. I wished there was something more I could do, something to fix it all.

Ashley

After dinner, Roman had decided to walk Christine to her carriage, leaving me alone for the first time that night. I made my way upstairs, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. When I opened the door to our room, I was surprised to see Jared sitting on the bed. "Oh, Jared," I said, a little startled. "What are you doing here? Do you need to talk to Roman? He's walking Christine to her wagon. He should be back soon."

Jared stood up and walked over to me, a strange glint in his eyes. "Oh no," he said, his voice lower than usual. "I was just here for you."

Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in my neck. A gasp escaped my lips, but everything went black before I could process what was happening. My body went limp, and I heard Jared's voice, faint and distant, as he wrapped his arms around me, ripping the necklace my mother gave me from my neck.

The last thing I remembered before slipping into unconsciousness was the sound of Jared's cold laughter.

Roman

I walked Christine to her carriage, making sure she was safe before I turned back toward the pack house. The air had grown colder, the crisp fall wind biting at my skin. I could feel the tension building inside me as I walked, my thoughts constantly on Ashley. She had been so much on my mind lately, and when she said she would be okay with me marking her, I couldn't contain my excitement. It was the next step in solidifying our bond—something I had been waiting for. But, of course, my mother had to walk in at the wrong moment, ruining everything. Tonight, I was going to make it happen if she would let me.

When I arrived back at the pack house, I passed by Javiare and Sophia, walking upstairs. I could smell the anger on Sophia, the frustration. It wasn't the best time to approach her, so I made my way around them, deciding to give them space. When I reached the top of the stairs, I noticed something odd: the guards who were normally posted around were missing. It was rare for them to be absent. Something felt off.

I walked to our bedroom door, peering inside. The room was empty. Panic hit me in an instant. I rushed inside and checked the closet and bathroom, but she wasn't there. My mind raced as I quickly mind-linked the pack, ordering them to report if anyone had seen her. No one had.

My feet carried me downstairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I could barely pick up her scent—someone must have masked it. The fear clawed at me. If she was taken, they had to have been quick. They had to have planned this. I should have been faster, should have stayed with her. The guilt hit me hard.

I stepped into the entryway and looked down from the balcony. My eyes landed on Jared, who was walking in. "Hey!" I called out to him, urgency creeping into my voice.

He looked up at me, then nodded. "Ashley is missing. We need to find her," I said, trying to stay calm despite the rising panic.

Jared didn't seem surprised, but that only unsettled me further. "Come this way," he said, his tone unbothered. "I saw her head toward the basement after dinner. Thought she was just exploring, so I didn't stop her."

I frowned, confused. "Why would she go there?" But I followed him anyway, my mind spinning with questions.

"I'll mind-link the pack to keep them calm before they panic," Jared advised, his calm demeanor almost unnerving.

We descended into the basement, and Jared led me toward a door at the far end of the room. As we got closer, I could smell Ashley's faint scent, growing stronger. My heart sank as I realized she had definitely been here.

We reached the door, and Jared stopped. "She's in here," he said, his voice low.

I didn't waste any time. I rushed into the room, but the moment I stepped inside, I saw it: the necklace. Ashley's crystal necklace was lying on the floor, just in the center of the room. My blood ran cold.

I froze, realizing something was wrong. As I took a step forward, I heard the unmistakable sound of a metal door slamming shut behind me. My heart dropped, and I spun around just in time to see Jared standing there, his eyes twisted with malice.

"What the hell is going on?" I growled, trying to force the door open with everything I had. My arms burned with the effort as I slammed my body into it.

Jared's smile grew, a wicked, cold grin stretching across his face. "Bad wolf," he sneered. "You didn't even know we had a whole room made of silver, did you?" His voice was filled with mockery.

My eyes widened in shock, and panic surged through me as I realized what he meant. The room was lined with silver. The pain in my body would get worse with every second I spent here.

"What are you doing?" I demanded, my voice thick with anger.

Jared's eyes glinted with a dangerous edge. "The weak do not deserve to lead," he spat.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Jared, my own pack member, was betraying me. All this time, he had been hiding his true intentions.

The truth began to sink in—he was the one behind this, the one who had taken Ashley.

And I had to stop him before it was too late.