Shattered Bonds: Luna's Reckoning

The Unspoken Reality

Rashel's POV

Lost in the turmoil of my ideas, the sun hardly peeped through the curtains as I stared blankly at the ceiling. Every day seemed like I was falling more into Jethro's web, and with every breath the walls appeared to get closer. I started to wonder about Seth. Was he even seeking me? Had he already gone on with his new Luna, Viola, or did he regret letting me go?

Driven to go out, I dragged myself from bed. Jethro's control of my life had become intolerable. To find out what was actually going on, I had to get back to Seth.

A knock on the door broke me off as I got ready. I opened it warily and discovered Lisa standing there looking guarded. She carried a tray of breakfast, but it was obvious she was thinking more broadly than just serving food.

"Jethro wants to see you," she added, her voice restrained. "He's studying."

Now? Try to hide my annoyance, I asked. "What does he wish for this time?"

Lisa shrugged, but her eyes flashed with something like terror. "I don't know. He is, however, not in a good mood.

My head running, I trailed Lisa down the corridor. Jethro's study was a dark, frightening chamber full of secrets, one I hardly visited. He had made it very evident when I visited last that my freedom was a luxury he might revoke at will.

Lisa knocked once and moved aside as we arrived at the study, leaving me to see Jethro by myself. My heart hammering in my chest, I opened the door.

Sitting behind his desk, Jethro fixed his gaze on a stack of papers. He turned away when I walked in, but I could sense the tension in the room. There seems to be something wrong.

"Sit down," he muttered at last, his voice chilly and remote.

I hesitated but then sank into the chair across from him as asked. "What's this regarding Jethro?"

Just before it dropped to the floor, he flung a file across the desk and I caught it. I opened it, my breath stopping to identify the contents. It was my project, the one I had given my all, now stamped Jethro's name. He had declared it to be his own.

"You’ve got some nerve," I said, rage blazing inside me. "This was mine." You had no rights—that is, "

"I had every right," Jethro said, his voice harsh. "I put money into you, Rashel. When others would not have kept you safe, I did.

Fighting the impulse to yell, I tightened my hands. "You neglected this for me. You were doing it for yourself.

Jethro slanted back, his eyes narrowed. Though this initiative is the key to our future, believe what you want. And when we introduce it, you will be right at my side.

What I was listening to astounded me. He expected me to go along; he was exploiting my job to prove himself to his pack and raise his profile. "Jethro, I will not fit into your schedule. I say no.

He grinned, a smile of conceit I had come to detest. You are not free to choose. Now you are mine and will act as I advise.

Rising to avoid letting him scare me, I said "You don't own me, even if you might believe I'm stuck. I will find a way out of this.”

Jethro's face darkened, but the door sprang open before he could reply. One of the soldiers hurried in, his face pallid with demand. Alpha, you have to see this.

Jethro grabbed the guard's phone and widened his eyes reading the screen. I crept in, trying to catch a look of whatever had shook him.

"It's Seth," Jethro said under his breath, his hold on the phone getting tighter. He's moving.

"What about Seth?" I insisted, my heart jerking at the name of my husband. "What is he doing?"

Jethro gave me the phone and tightened his jaw. My stomach felt as my eyes fixed the headline. Seth was on a live broadcast asking for my location. Desperate, his speech carried remorse haunting his eyes.

"I made mistakes," Seth confessed, his voice cracking. "I pushed away the person most important and allowed my rage to color my judgment. If you are out there, Rashel kindly come back. I demand you.

Tears welled up in my eyes. Unlike the frigid, far-off man I recalled, Seth's remarks were honest and real. He obviously missed everything and was resolved to put things right.

Jethro grabbed back the phone, his face contorted with wrath. "He wants to make me look foolish. I will stop him from winning.

Feeling the weight of the circumstances down on me, I backoff. I was in the middle as Jethro and Seth locked in a struggle for control. But this transcended them as well. It concerned me, about recovering my life.

You cannot keep me here, I replied, my voice quivering with indignation. "Seth will find me; when he does, this entire charade will come apart."

Jethro flinches when he bangs his fist on the desk. "He will not come across you. Not if I have anything to say on it.

He bolted from the room, leaving me by myself with just ideas. I had to act swiftly. Seth was searching for me, so there was still hope. I ran back to my room, my head churning with plans.

I wanted to get in touch with Seth, let him know where I was. It wouldn't be simple, though, with Jethro's guards watching every step. I looked for anything that might be useful among my possessions. Then I remembered tucked away in a drawer and forgotten the burner phone Jethro had given me weeks ago.

My fingers shaking, I reached for the phone and from memory dialed Seth's number. The line rang and every second seemed to last an eternity.

At last he responded, his voice dead with incredulity. "Rashel?". That is you?

"It's me," I murmured, my voice breaking. "I'm not really pressed for time. Jethro is detaining me on his estate. Seth, he seems to be plotting. You have to get me off here.

Seth spoke with a great urgency. I am here for you, Rashel. Simply hold on. I refuse to let him keep you.

The door exploded open before I could reply, Jethro rushing in with burning eyes. His resentment bubbling over, he tore the phone from my grasp and smashed it beneath his boot.

His face inches from me, "How dare you!" he yelled. "You think you could betray me?"

I turned away, heart seized by terror. Jethro's desperation was becoming deadly and his control was failing. He reached for my arm, his hold like iron. You are not going to go. Neither now nor never.

Though I battled him, he was too strong. He pushed me back, and I staggered hard against the wall. My shoulder hurt, but I would not exhibit frailty.

"This isn't over," I murmured, sounding low and steady. "Seth will come for me; you will regret everything when he does."

Jethro's look turned into a sneer. Let him visit. I am ready.

He rushed out and slammed the door behind him. Heart thumping, I dropped to the ground. Seth had been contacted, but Jethro now understood my range of willingness. The next action may turn everything around; the stakes were higher than ever.

Looking at the broken phone on the floor, which represented my rebellion, I didn't give up. Not now, nor never. I would fight too; Seth was out there battling for me. I would find a method to escape regardless of the means involved.

But the truth of my circumstances set in as I sat there. Jethro was a ticking time bomb, not only a menace; I had just set the fuse. The next several days would be vital, and one mistake might cost me everything.

I silently promised myself as the evening drew to end. I could make it through this. I could defeat Jethro. And I would make my way back to the life I had missed. The war was only getting started, but I was ready.