Barely Breathing

Chapter 27: She is mine

He had found me.

I couldn't be wrong. His voice etched in my soul like a scar tainting the skin. Somehow, I knew we were meant to cross paths sooner than never. For fate had already linked our paths since we were a child.

"You sure are a remarkable one, toy doll I must say. Hiding from me all these years, you kept me on the watch." His silhouette came out from a large rock beside the lake. My enhanced senses started to kick in, trying to see through the dark.

Snow slightly covered his bare feet up to his ankle. He was wearing dark fitted pants which were purposely cut loose below his knees. His black shirt was printed with the words 'DAMN RIGHT!' in white. Push-back blond hair fell just above his shoulder and he has two small black pearl earrings on both ears. Jasper's face portrays that of a very confident yet dangerous man.

He didn't change much but grew manlier and looks stronger. A haunting smile glazed his lips as we assessed each other's features. He leaned on the rock and crossed his hands across his chest.

"Purple, eh? I thought you would get that bloody color your mother was so proud of." He smirked insultingly and muttered something like 'stupid royals'.

A loud vicious growl escaped from me at his disrespect. Paws outward grazing the cold winter snow, I roared once more with another threatening sound.

I may not know her well except for some short memories locked in my childhood dreams but I would never let him mock my mother in any way and get away with it.

"Hush toy doll, easy, easy there."He said while waving his hand like I was some sort of dog to tame with. A lopsided smile drew on his face and his eyes lit up.

"Why don't you shift toydoll so I could see how much I'd been missing these past cold years without you." He said unashamedly.

‘How dare he!’ I felt my anger morphing into pure loathe, I gritted my canines together and prepared myself to attack as I bend my paws and head and was about to lunge when a shadow flew past me in a wink of an eye akin to lightning speed. So fast that I had to blink my eyes out of shock.

The air was disturbed by the sudden motion and a wisp flew on my face. I was left gaping at the scene ahead as my eyes settled on a shirtless man holding Jasper on his neck high above the ground. Xyrus!

My heart twisted in a thousand knots and my breath caught up. He is here. Xyrus is here!

"No one talks to Willow like that and gets away with it," Xyrus whispered low in a threatening way. He lowered Jasper on his eye level, unaffected by the latter trying to get away then bam! He slammed Jasper on the rock with all force that the rock even smashed into many cracks and let his limp body fell.

My heart quickened its pace, shock at what has just transpired when I felt a hand softly caressing my fur. Xyrus was already standing beside me, a shirt in his hand, and motioned on a tree nearby.

"Dress up princess." Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Still dumbfounded, I took the shirt on my teeth and trod behind the tree. I scanned the area first before I shifted back and put his black shirt on. It fell an inch above my knee.

Jasper must have recovered because he laughed while shaking his head. He was still on the ground sprawled and visible pain shows on his eyes at probably some broken ribs healing.

"Bad toydoll, you've got yourself a boyfriend." He said in a scratched voice and spit blood. He tried to sit up and face us.

"Pray tell me why should I spare your life because believe me when I say you won't see the sunrise tomorrow." Xyrus spat dangerously, balled his hands, and took a threatening step forward.

Jasper just brushed it off and tried to stand up. He managed but with difficulty.

"Won't you even ask who I am?" He looked my way and smirked. "nor who I am to her?"

Jasper's hungry stare made me feel sick worse than dirt I can't wait to scrub off my skin. Xyrus suddenly shielded me from the devil's prying eyes with a grunt.

"Take your eyes off her, she is MINE!" He said with pure loathing. "You just gave me another reason to kill you."

"She was mine first, my slave," Jasper said irritated. "I got all the rights to take her with me."

"I do not care who you are or what you are to her." Xyrus spat with the same fervor. "She now belongs to me and I will kill anyone who tries to take her away from me."

Jasper didn't fire back but stared at Xyrus hard and calculating. The smile on his face slowly fading, probably came to his senses that Xyrus wouldn't give me away just like that.

I inched near Xyrus. He looked at me over his shoulder. He has a hard expression that gives away a feeling 'we need to talk later.'

Traces of dry blood still lingered on his tanned skin. He was wearing black shorts that touch his knees. Even his back looks gorgeous and sexy in a manlier way.

I forced my eyes to look away and glared at the devil in front of me instead.

"I was never yours!" I said with so much hatred I could put in those words.

"Oh, so you can talk." Jasper arched his brows together, faking a surprising look. "Toy doll...you wound me so bad." He faked hurt.

"Call her that again and it would be your last words." Xyrus threatened in a calm yet chilling tone.

"You think you could scare me huh?!" Jasper spit out blood and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I am not scaring you, but you should be." Xyrus fired back.

I saw a flash of uneasiness on Jasper but he hardened his face. "Words could be deceiving, let's see what you've got."

Is he for real?! He was just lying on the snow moments ago with broken bones if not for his werewolf healing ability!

"I already had." Xyrus countered back. He bent his neck left and right and stretched his arms. Then he hunched his back, ready to shift.

Jasper did the same.