Page 82 of Shrouded in the Dark

A small flash of amusement went through me. Our bear was adorable. Even during this grim time, he was protecting Becca’s modesty.

We worked together to strip her as quickly as we could. Once Axel threw the ruined garments into the tub, he picked her up in his arms as he took her into her room to lay her on the air mattress. I grabbed the phone where Gary was still on the line, just silent.

Cody sat on the other side of the mattress. He’d found a pair of shorts. He held his knees to his chest as he watched us silently. His eyes were bleak. They hadn’t been that way in years, not since the time his family was killed.

Jasper was at the end of the bed. It looked like he’d pulled on a pair of jeans and had the remnants of Becca’s drawing pad in his hands. He didn’t look up from it as he spoke. “I found your pants outside. Those weren’t touched.”

“Thank you.”

We were closing in on the hour that Gary had said that his friend had come back. If she was going to come back to us, it would be soon. I knew the others were becoming restless, just like me.

“If she doesn’t come back in fifteen minutes, she won’t at all.” Gary cut off his sentence with a sob.

We all stared at her. She was so beautiful. I could almost act like she was sleeping if it weren’t for her pale complexion and no heartbeat.

The room was silent as we all waited with bated breath as the clock counted down. The allotted time passed, yet we still waited, saying nothing. After another fifteen minutes, I stood, feeling faint.

“I… we’ll be there soon.” Gary’s anguish rang through the phone line as he hung up.

“She’s gone.” Those two words made my world shatter around me. “We need to… we need to...”

I’d never felt this before, I couldn’t speak. The grief was crushing.

“We need to cover her until her family gets here.” Cody stood from where he was curled up to stand in front of me. “Seth.” His hands reached to cup my face. “We’ll get through this.” His words made it feel final. She was gone.

“I’ll do it.” Jasper stood even as he wobbled.

“I’ll find something to eat.” Axel stood behind me, hugging me around the waist, letting his forehead press into my back. “I know none of us want to, but our animals need it.”

We left the room slowly, seeking the comfort of touch. Jasper stayed behind to cover Becca. I knew Cody wanted to be there but he stayed glued to my side. I scoffed quietly that our wolf was taking care of me. He had such a large, caring heart when it came to everyone but himself.

Chapter 18

Jasper

My fox was curled up as tight as he could go. All I felt from him was grief in waves. We’d only known this girl for a small amount, but she’d somehow become so important to us. I ran my fingers down her cheek as I traced her features.

“I’m sorry we weren’t here to protect you, my sweet angel.” We’d all been crying. I didn’t think I’d stop anytime soon. I wondered briefly if I could follow her wherever she’d gone. “You took our hearts with you.”

I picked up her limp hand and kissed her fingers. “Your family will be here soon. We’ll put you to rest soon.”

As I put her hand under the sheet, something in the air shifted. My fox’s ears perked up as we looked around the room. It couldn’t be the rogue. He was dead. We’d made sure of it. No one could survive what we’d done to his body, especially since his head was separated, too.

I looked back down at Becca and sucked in a sharp breath. There was a little more color in her face. Blinking rapidly, I found myself pressing my ear to her chest, I held my breath as I hoped that there would be a heartbeat.

THUMP. THUMP.

“GUYS!” My scream echoed through the house. There was a crash followed by the thumping of feet racing to the room.

As they appeared in the doorway, I couldn’t contain my grin.

“She has a heartbeat.”

Cody fell to his knees before Seth grabbed him. Axel turned white. I picked up my phone and redialed Gary’s number.

“Yeah?” Gary’s voice was hoarse.

“Her heart is beating.”