Rashel's POV
My memory of how I ended up here was vague. Realizing I was alone started me to get anxious. My heart hammered as I struggled to put the fractured memories together. My final memory was certainly of collapsing at the gala.
Pain surged over me once more. I was sorry to get up. Perhaps had I not, it would have been better. All of it—the agony, the humiliation, the treachery—was too much.
"Thanks the Goddess, you're awake!" I snapped out of my thoughts a familiar voice.
Karla! As I saw my friend, relief came flooding in. At least I wasn't totally alone. "Why might your eyes be so red and swollen? Seth, where is he? Hoping my husband was somewhere nearby—perhaps just outside the room—I asked.
Karla hesitated then said, "Seth isn't here, Rashel." You ought to relax. It is important.
"Did he head home to pick something? Perhaps he had other responsibilities as well." Still hanging to the notion that Seth was somewhere around, I inquired.
"No, Rashel. Karla replied softly, "He hasn't come to see you since the day you were brought here," yet her words felt like a knife turning in my heart.
"Wonderful? How long have I been away? I enquired, my anxiety rising.
Karla said gently, seated on the side of the bed and holding my hand in hers. Six days.
The drive home passed as quiet. I tried to persuade myself that Seth had been too busy attending to pack responsibilities to pay me a visit in the hospital. Deeply down, though, I knew better.
It was obvious why he hadn't come when we arrived at the fortification. The pack was occupied getting ready for Viola's great day, the coronation. Not under my observation, I mumbled.
"Thanks, Karla. I said with a little smile as I got out of the car, "I can never pay you for all your kindness."
I observed something odd as soon as I entered the house. Looking at me as they were seeing me for the first time were the maids and employees. Nobody waved to me or volunteered to assist with my little bag. It made one uncomfortable.
"Bee?" I yelled out to one of the housekeepers. She fixed me but said nothing at all. Her lips closed securely, but her gaze spoke to me everything I could desire. Changes had occurred. Viola had altered the circumstances.
My wrath bubbling over, I hurried into the sitting room.
Sitting in the dining area drinking coffee, Seth was reviewing some paperwork and saw nothing unusual. Not even did he acknowledge me.
"Seth?" As I neared, I yelled out. "What's happening here?"
"Rashel. You're back," he replied, not looking up from his papers.
"That's all you have to say following the six-day hospital abandonment of me? Do you now even give me any thought? Tears spilled over as I asked.
"Look, Rashel. You ought to be worn out. Just relax, Seth advised, pointing to the guest room.
I focused not on his indicated direction. I turned too much of my attention on the documents he was carrying.
"What are you doing with my project records?" I asked, staring at him narrow-wise.
"Oh, Viola corrected a few things. Now she will be in charge of the project; Seth muttered, pinching his nose's bridge.
Not sure what I was hearing, I blinked. "what? Seth, you cannot be taken seriously. That initiative belongs to me. For months I have worked on it. How would you pass it to her? Just handing it in?”
"This is precisely why I find you boring!" Seth yelled, at last turning to face me. "Viola is just acting in the pack's best interests. She holds degrees from famous universities. In this field, she knows more than you do!
What I was hearing made me incredulous. Then why does she not begin her own project? Why must she assume control of mine? Is she really that inept? I spat, instantly regretting what I said.
Seth smacked me hard across the face. "How dare you treat her as stupid? You'll regret it if you say more things disparaging her."
Shock drove me to hold my burning cheek. Seth I knew was not this one. Over the years we had been together, he had never touched me.
I heard a familiar voice calling from the stairs before I could speak. Viola. She was descending from our bedroom dressed in nightwear.
"Is everything good down here?" Viola questioned, her eyes gliding over the room until they rested on mine. "Hi, Rashel. We get back together," she answered with a phony smile.
I needed no one to explain what was happening. "What is she doing here?" Furthermore, why is she in our room?" I questioned, hardly able to maintain a steady voice.
"She lives here now," Seth remarked austerely. "Your items now find themselves in the guest room. You will remain in this state until... He avoided my eyes by trailing off. " Just leave, Rashel."
Seth seemed too busy for me when I tried to chat to him. Alone in the guest room, my wolf, Ash, provided company. But Ash seems weaker, and I knew that was because Seth was distancing himself from us.
Since arriving, I have not left the guest room. The shame was tremendous. Now, though, I had to stop Seth's lunacy. After this, what was his intended course for me? Was he expecting to keep two friends? I have to know.
I left the room, my heart thumping. Over my sweatpants, I pulled on a hoodie and left. People murmured and stared, but I pushed myself not to give a damn.
The main hall was overflowing with people when I arrived. Near the front, I found Seth and Viola seated at a table. Like he was under a spell, Seth was entirely tuned on her. I turned away the looks and went right for their table.
"What are you doing here, Rashel?" Seth wanted. "Are you here to stage a scene?"
Though my hands were shaking, I said, "I need to talk to you," with much conviction. "I am quite entitled to be here. We should go over our marriage and the project.
Seth's gaze becomes icy. Not now, Rashel. Leave before you aggravate matters more.
Desperation took over. Reaching out to grip his arm, my hand knocked over a glass of wine. Red liquid splashed across the table and onto Viola's robe.
The chamber resonated with a gasp. Viola's eyes gleamed with shock and rage. Although it wasn't intended, I was happy the wine soiled her clothes.
Viola disguised her rage with a beautiful voice fast. "Oh, Rashel!" She groped for a napkin.
Seth's face flushed red with rage. Rising, he gave me a heavy slap across the face. The power made me stagger, and the agony distorted my view.
"I advised you to go!" he yelled. "You bring only confusion!"
Though I fought to control the tears, the suffering and humiliation were too much. Turning, I dashed into the chilly evening. Though I knew that was only wishful thinking, part of me hoped Seth would follow after me.
I heard a loud gunshot behind me just as I was ready to change into my wolf form, darkness swept over me before I could respond; I fell to the ground as the surroundings vanished.