Desperate Moves

Rashel's POV

My heart still hammered from my visit with Jethro. His words stuck with me like bands surrounding me tightening. Restless and anxious, I searched my room for some way to get away from this demented game he was playing. Jethro had made it rather clear that I was nowhere, and today more than ever I felt imprisoned, like a bird in a golden cage.

I had to start straightforwardly. I have to pull out of this.

The door creaked open, and I swung around to discover Lisa standing there with a gaze that combined pity and disgust. She appeared almost pleased to see me confined. After all, I was a guest unwelcome in her eyes—a threat to any aspirations she had of being Jethro's mate—so I couldn't blame her.

Laying the tray on the table without turning back to me, Lisa said, "I brought you dinner." Still, steer clear of too relaxed behavior. Jethro is not one to follow anything perfectly for very long.

"What are you referring to?" Growing suspicious, I enquired. Her voice hinted more. Something in it appealed to me.

Lisa looked at the closed door. "He has something big in mind, including you.

Shivers slid down my back. "What is he booked to do?"

Lisa stopped, doubts blazing in her eyes. "I should not be informing you of anything, but...he plans to announce to you his Luna during the coronation. Using the event, he is strengthening his claim on you.

Jethro was not only keeping me here; he was also arranging everything to propel me into a position I did not desire. Reeling in my brain I had left before the coronation. I meant not to show before the pack as his Luna.

Trying to stifle my anxiety, I said, "Thank you for telling me." Still, why are you helping me?

Lisa's gaze fixed on something. I am not of help to you here. Right out of here is what I want. You are here, which muddies everything.

Her turn and silence of another word made me even more resolved. Clearly running out of time was If I hadn't escaped soon, Jethro's goals would have become my reality.

I woke up startled the next morning by the sound of troops talking outside my door. Pushing my ear to the board, I tried to catch every sentence.

"She's still locked in?" one of the security monitors inquired.

We are, in fact, quite vigilant. Jethro protests her leaving his sight.

Why? She is a girl only.

She is not only a girl. Jethro believes she already carries his heir with her.

My blood sank. Jethro thought I could be carrying. That was impossible. Not having been with him even. Did he know something I missed, or was this another trick aimed to keep me here?

The idea made me turn sick. I have nowhere to live any more.

Acting calm during the day, I was planning my next move. Jethro's attention was divided as he was organizing coronation ceremonies. I have to see that as a benefit. My only choice was to disappear almost completely; first, I needed a diversion—something to distract the guards off my door.

When night fell, I plucked the courage to begin my scheme. From the mantel, I grabbed a gorgeous vase and threw it against the wall to smash it into pieces. The noise echoed throughout the hall, and within seconds the startled-looking guards rushed in.

Among them, one asked, "What's going on?"

I turned to show shock. I watched a rat! It sank under the bed.

Clearly offended yet still obligated to look at it, the guards exchanged looks. Every step beating in my heart, I seized the chance and fled the room while they bent down to look. I rushed down the hall plunging into shadows to avoid sight.

I turned toward the back of the estate, where the grounds opened via a service door. My fingers stammered with the latch as I heard the troops cry behind me, but I opened it. I spun around not looking back. My legs throbbing from the strain, I ran as quickly as I could.

Few feet away, freedom collided with a solid shape. Breathless, I staggered back and looked up to find Jethro standing there, his countenance a mix of rage and something else—something like anxiety.

"Playing away once more?" Jethro answered, his voice low and intimidating. "I said, Rashel.You have nowhere to go.

I tried to pass him, but he grabbed my arm with a powerful, unrelenting hold. "Let me wander away!" Screaming, I tried to fight him.

Jethro brought me in; his face separated from mine only inches apart. "Rashel, you lack grasp." Here, I am behaving in your greatest advantage.

"save me?" You are muffling me! I yelled, my voice breaking beneath fury. "This is control more than protection!!".

He let off his grip somewhat but did not release. "I'm looking after Seth's safety here. He does not treat you appropriately.

I looked at him, fury seething inside me. "You have nothing of what Seth and I have gone through. Using me, you are operating for your own advantage.

Jethro's expression darkened, and at last he let me go, but his staring silence continued. "Suddenly enough you will see the truth."

I turned backward, my will merely growing stronger. Whatever, I would work out a way out of this. But as I turned to go the ground felt unstable under me. Stumbling, I held my stomach as a tsunami of nausea passed over.

"What's wrong?!" Concern burning in his eyes, Jethro inquired.

I omitted the reply. I could hardly stay upright; the vertigo was unbearable. Clearly something was wrong, and then a terrible thought crossed me: might Jethro be right? Was I pregnant right now?

I put the idea aside, resolved not to let fear control me. Right now I was unable to afford to fall apart. To figure out the truth, I had to go back to Seth. Jethro reached out as though to help me, but I brushed him aside.

"I don't need your help," I said, voice shaking but under control. "I'm heading here."

Jethro moved aside to let me space, but his eyes followed me with a mixture of annoyance and something I quite identify with. "You won't get very far, Rashel. Not without your help.

I became quiet. Turning and heading out, a thousand ideas whirled in my head. I went out to halt this dream and track Seth. But with every step I made, the weight of my situation grew more burdens.

As I made my way back over the estate, I couldn't get rid of the sense that things were spiraling out of control. Coming here, I had expected to atone for my grievances and discover some kind of peace. But everything seemed more complicated than it did years ago now. One thing I knew—I couldn't trust Jethro—but I had no idea what his goal was.

Doubt buzzing in my head, I headed to my room and banged the door behind me. I examined the earlier project file I had taken hold of, the one that had created such trouble. I had to grasp onto that—my one amount of leverage in this distorted game.

But Jethro was hunting me, and as I reviewed the documentation I understood. Using my labor ideas, though it required lying about a pregnancy that might not even be real, he was justifying his power by ready control of everything to keep me by his side.

Fear and weariness weighing me down, I sank into the bed. One thing was obvious: I could not stay here any more; but, I had no idea what tomorrow would hold. Jethro's hold tightened, time running short.

And while I laid there, a gradual plan began to slowly grow in my thoughts. If I had to walk away from this, I had to outsmart Jethro at his own game. I had to be ready for whatever turned up.

I was not sure, though, precisely how dangerous the next step would be