CHAPTER 117: FRACTURED LOYALTY.

Jonathan’s eyes snapped open to the harsh light of the hospital room, his body a bundle of pain with bandages wrapping his torso tight and his ribs screaming with every breath he drew in his lungs. The clock on the wall read 8:00pm.

His mind replayed the crash in vivid flashes, the bridge railing giving way, the sedan flipping, metal twisting as it hit the water below, and Bella’s face through the window as she and the others escaped while he lay there trapped and helpless.

He shifted slightly, wincing as pain shot through his side, then he started examining the amount of injuries on his body from what the doctor had told him earlier, three broken ribs, a concussion that made his head throb, a bruised lung causing sharp stabs with each inhale, and lacerations crisscrossing his arms from shattered glass.

The doctor had called him lucky to be alive after the plunge, but Jonathan didn’t care about luck, he cared about control, and right now he had none, stuck in this bed while Maren’s plans moved forward without him.

A nurse entered the room, her movements efficient as she checked his IV and vitals on the monitor. She glanced at him with a professional nod but her tone was cold when she said, "Someone from your work called, they said they’d be coming to collect you soon, you should rest until then."

Jonathan’s lips curled into a faint smile, his voice hoarse but steady, "Good, tell them to hurry, I’ve got work to do." He knew it was Maren’s people, probably Mallory or an enforcer, and he welcomed them, he needed to get back to her side, to make sure Bella stayed suppressed and under control.

The nurse shrugged, adjusting the bandage on his arm, "Didn’t say when, just soon, your chart looks stable, so yes you can have visitors now." She finished and left, the door clicking shut behind her.

Jonathan’s eyes darted to the bedside table where his phone sat, the screen cracked from the accident, but blowing off with notifications. He reached for it, ignoring the pull in his ribs, and saw seventeen missed calls from an unknown number, no doubt Maren or Mallory demanding updates on the crash and Bella’s escape.

He didn’t answer yet, he wanted to be sharp when he did, instead he gripped the phone, his mind already planning how to spin the failure, how to prove his loyalty.

The pain in his head was a dull roar, but he pushed it down, thinking about Bella’s awakening, her silver fur, her defiance, and it angered him, she was ruining everything he’d built with Maren, everything to keep the Moonblood threat contained. He muttered to himself, "I should’ve just killed her when she was a baby, this is all my fault," he dragged his hands through his face. "But it wasn’t entirely my fault. That bitch Carla was always protecting her."

Then he smiled maliciously. "But just like the mother... the cub would soon follow." And the words fueled his resolve to get rid of Bella.

Minutes ticked by, each one a reminder of his vulnerability, he considered calling Maren first, but decided to wait for her people, to show he was still in the game. His phone buzzed again, another unknown call, and he ignored it, his focus on the door.

At exactly 8:30 pm, the door creaked open slowly, and Jonathan tensed, expecting Mallory’s cold efficiency or an enforcer’s brute presence. Instead, a man he didn’t recognize stepped in, middle-aged with a worn leather jacket, gray streaks in his dark hair, and eyes that carried both wisdom and deep weariness, studying him intently.

The man closed the door quietly and pulled up a chair beside the bed, he didn’t even wait for Jonathan’s permission, he sat down quietly, his presence an intrusion Jonathan immediately resented.

Jonathan’s voice came out rough and hostile, "Who the hell are you? If you’re not from Maren, get out before I call security."

The man shook his head, his voice simple and calm, "My name is Marcus, I knew your wife, Carla."

Jonathan’s heart didn’t stop, it hardened, the name Carla a constant reminder of the rival war. He sneered, "Carla’s dead, don’t bring her up, who sent you?"

Marcus leaned forward, his voice low and intense, "Angela called me, she told me everything that happened after the fight in the sanctuary, the chase on the bridge, you working for Maren and the crash that left you here."

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed, Angela’s behaviour annoying the hell out of him. "Angela is a fool, she doesn’t even understand what’s really going on and she’s going everywhere blabbing her mouth? I’m not even surprised. Same blood with Carla. Of course she’ll be stupid."

Marcus’s voice turned sharp, "She told me you threw suppression powder at your own daughter, at Bella, to keep her weak."

Jonathan’s jaw tightened, no shame in his voice, "Damn right, I did, to protect her from herself, from what she’s becoming, Maren’s right, the Moonbloods are dangerous, Carla proved that when she turned on us."

"You’ve been compromised," Marcus said, his tone unyielding, "Maren’s been using you since even before Carla died, she has been twisting you against your family and you’ve been letting her do that."

Jonathan laughed, cold and bitter, "Family? Carla chose her pack over me! Do you know what happened those many many years ago? She never cared much about our alliance, our marriage. Now, her seed Bella’s doing the same, Maren gave me purpose, power, I’m not compromised, I’m loyal."

"Just look at you," Marcus started. "Look at you sit there and accuse your dead wife and innocent daughter. Do you think I’m dumb Jonathan? I was also there many many years ago. The only thing considerate Carla did was get married to your inconsiderate ass in the human world. She gave up her throne as Liora after the war to be with your child, to take care of her family. To be there for you!

And what did you do? Join the rival pack she bled for, of all packs! Such amount of betrayal coming from you who she sacrificed everything for. You didn’t just stop there, did you? No. You ordered the accident that almost killed her in her human form three months ago. It was a war for you to show up at the hospital for her. Your daughter even left school to be with her mother and all you did was spare five minutes from your office.

Even that wasn’t cruel enough for you. The scandal happened in Bella’s school and you constantly talked down on your daughter until she left for Whitethorn.

That was also your doing, wasn’t it? You connived with Maren to have Bella school in Whitethorn so you both could complete your evil plan."

Jonathan squeezed his face in horror of how much this strange man knew about him.

Marcus chuckled. "You’re surprised? I know everything Jonathan. I’ve always known. Carla was just too blind to see you for the evil you are. That’s what ultimately led to her downfall. But you see Bella? She’s stronger than you’ll ever imagine."

He leaned back in his chair. "Mind the lies you try to spew about Carla, they won’t fly here."

Then he pulled a small vial from his jacket, it had a clear liquid inside, "This could heal you, get you out before Maren’s people come, but you’d have to promise to leave Bella and Angela alone. Especially Angela. Bella is strong enough, she can hold her own."

Jonathan eyed the vial with disgust, "Heal me to do what? Join your little resistance? Betray Maren? No, I’m staying right here, she’s coming for me, and I’ll help her finish Bella and stupid Angela of course. Do you know she threatened me? That bitch—"

"This! is your only chance at redemption." Marcus cut him off immediately, his eyes darkening. "At least, for the sake of Carla. Consider everything she sacrificed for you. She would hate what you’ve become, helping the woman who murdered her."

"Carla’s gone," Jonathan snapped, "and good riddance, she brought this on herself, they always do, you stupid Moonbloods. Maren’s cleaning up the mess."

Marcus stood, pocketing the vial, "You’re lost, Jonathan, but I had to try, for Carla’s sake."

Jonathan reached for the call button, his voice venomous, "Get out, or I’ll have you dragged out, tell Angela she’s next on Maren’s list."

Marcus moved to the door, his voice quiet, "Maren’s people are close, but so are we, this isn’t over." He slipped out, closing the door softly, and Jonathan watched him go, his resolve unshaken.

He grabbed his phone, dialing the unknown number. Mrs Hendricks answered on the first ring. "Jonathan, you’re awake finally!"

"Yes please, I need to be extracted from this place. Can you come get me?

"Ummm... give me sometime. Say twenty minutes."

"Perfect," he said, his voice steady despite the pain, "get me out, we’ve got a Moonblood to hunt."

The call ended, and Jonathan leaned back, the remedy Marcus offered forgotten, his loyalty to Maren burning stronger than ever. The door stayed closed, but he knew his enforcers were coming, and he’d be ready to lead them straight to that bitch Angela.