(Rose)

It had been at least a few hours since Dodger and Beau had left the houseboat. I was growing worried about them. Dodger had said he'd talk with Beau this morning. All of these thoughts flew in my head. Did something happen? Did Ednis do anything to them? I surely hope none of those questions were true.

Rita, Ryan, Tito, and me had gone out to find them. We had spent the better part of two hours trying to locate them but neither of us could pick up a scent. The longer Dodger and Beau were gone, the more worried I was feeling. I couldn't lose my mate… I couldn't bear the thought.

"You guys think they went down to Madison Avenue?" Rita questioned, still sniffing around. "Possibly. Dodger told me that's where he would be going." I answer, looking back at her. Ryan was also very worried about Dodger and Beau's disappearance. "Oh I hope nothing bad happened. Ednis could've gotten them!" he said in a panicked tone. "I hope you're right, Ryan. At this stage, Ednis's next move is unpredictable. We don't know where she could turn up next." I say, looking ahead with my ears raised.

We ran down a couple of more streets that led to Madison Avenue. Then, a scent catches my nose, getting me to perk up. "That's his scent. C'mon!" I say, picking up speed. They followed me down the street. "Do you see them?" Ryan uttered. "Look! There he is!" Tito shouted, getting all four of us to look down an alleyway. He was limping heavily down it with his bandanna in his jaws.

"Dodger! No! Tito, get help! Go!" I shout, looking down at the chihuahua. "Right away, chica!" the chihuahua shouts, turning back to the direction of the barge. I was the first to make it to my mate and on closer inspection, he was covered in bite marks. His fur looked like it was torn from his body and he's covered in bruises as well. "Dodger, talk to us. What happened?" Rita said with a worried tone. Dodger's head was lowered to the ground along with his floppy ears. He panted heavily; each breath more painful than the last.

"Beau… ambush… agh…" he groaned in pain, collapsing to his right side. He groaned from the pain and let out a whimper. "No… Dodger hon… it can't be true." I say, giving him a few licks to the face. He didn't respond and ended up passing out due to how much pain he was in. "Let's get him home." Rita suggested. With a bit of help, we got him on my back. His head rested on my left shoulder. Ryan held onto his bandanna. Both Rita and Ryan took either side to make sure he didn't fall off.

After about two hours, Dodger was sore but mobile. "That two timing traitor… How could he…?" I growl in disbelief, knowing that Ednis's son couldn't be trusted after all. He was using Whisper to get to us. Because of this, there's no way he's staying around us or Whisper anymore. Just the fact that he was manipulating Whisper boils my blood.

However, we all hear the sound of someone descending down the stairs. Dodger instantly growled in anger. "Beau!" Whisper said with excitement. She tried to run to him but I stopped her by barking and growling. I decided to take charge while Dodger rested. Beau came down the stairs and was instantly greeted by our angry faces.

"What are you doing here, traitor?" I demand. Beau looked down in guilt with his pointed ears lowered and his tail between his legs. "Please… listen to reason… I had nothing to do with that ambush. I swear it…" he said, his voice trembling. "You don't belong in this gang." I say, growling. "Please… I ask for your and Dodger's forgiveness." Beau stuttered. Right now, I don't need his pity or forgiveness. He doesn't deserve to be forgiven for what he did.

"Mother, please… listen to him." Whisper begged, coming to my right side. "Be quiet, Whisper!" I snarl at her. Dodger then took to my right side. Despite him being sore, he wanted to confront him. "When you first came here, you asked for judgment." Dodger growled, baring his teeth at Beau. The shepherd was starting to back out of the house boat because of our aggression towards him.

"Get out! Don't let any of us see you again! If we do, we won't hesitate to bring you the pain that your pack inflicted onto me." Dodger snarled. "But… I…" Beau started. I ended up jumping at him and ended up biting his cheek to signify as a warning. "Get out! We don't want you around here or Whisper anymore! GO!" I yell, standing on the stairs with my tail raised all the way to show that I wasn't so kind.

"No!" Whisper cried. Beau took one last look at Whisper before darting up the stairs and disappearing out of the house boat. I keep both of my eyes on the doorway to make sure he wouldn't come back. Whisper then comes to me. "Mom, dad please reconsider!" she begged, her pointed ears flattened. "You won't go anywhere without an escort. You hear me?" I snap, looking back at her. She shook her head and looked at me with anger in her eyes.

"No! He didn't do anything wrong!" she argued. She's not seeing how much of a traitor Beau is. He didn't deserve to be part of this gang especially after finding out what he had done. "Don't you see? He was using you to get to us!" Dodger shouted. "Stop it! He loves me for me! He's been through so much! You don't know him!" Whisper barked, baring her teeth at us. "It doesn't matter what he's been through! It was an act! He's been following in that bitch's pawsteps! You won't leave this houseboat. You will stay here where we can keep a close eye on you… away from him." I said, walking by her with a sharp yet angry tone.

Then, she shouts something to both Dodger and I that made my heart shatter into pieces. "YOU'RE NOT MY PARENTS! MY REAL MOTHER WOULDN'T KEEP ME A PRISONER! YOU NEVER WILL BE MY PARENTS!" Whisper shouted at the top of her lungs, on the verge of tears. It was as though my whole world shattered beneath my paws. I couldn't move… all of those words struck me like lightening.

When I looked behind me, I saw that Whisper wasn't in here. She was gone…