Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 37

~Alex's POV-

-Seven Years Ago-

The amber liquid swirled in my glass, catching the dim bar light. Adrian, sprawled across the booth from me, mirrored my action, his own drink disappearing with a satisfied grunt.

"So, let me get this straight," he drawled, his voice thick with amusement. "Intense, undeniable connection? You felt all that so that meant you finally found the person you were predestined to be with for the rest of your life? Your mate."

I grunted in reply, the news still settling in my gut like a boulder. A mate. The word itself felt old fashioned, a relic from a bygone era. Yet, here I was, a modern man facing a truth as primal as instinct. "And she's a college freshman? Not just that, she is a Stone." Adrian pressed, a sardonic grin twisting his lips.

"Junior," I corrected, forcing down another gulp of whiskey. The burn did little to soothe the disquiet churning inside me. I knew what he was getting at. I was a thirty year old man. Nine years wasn't so much but trust Adrian to point that out.

He threw his head back and roared with laughter, the sound harsh and grating in the smoky bar. "Brilliant! Just brilliant! Your Moon Goddess really has a twisted sense of humor, doesn't she?"

My jaw clenched, a low growl rumbling in my chest. Adrian, with his infuriating brand of gallows humor, was the only person! could have confided in. But even his amusement felt like sandpaper on a raw wound.

"What's so funny?" I snapped, my voice laced with a dangerous edge.

He sobered up instantly, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa there, big guy. No need to get your fur in a twist. It's just... the irony, you know? Amaya Stone, daughter of that self-righteous prick Daniel Stone. Of all the people that could have fathered her, it just had to be him."

the rival Crescent pack, had been a thorn in my side for as long

the words a low rumble in my chest. "She's mine. And I'll take

This isn't some fairy tale. She's

on her across the bar, I'd known she was anything but ordinary. I couldn't stop myself. I was drawn to her and there waas nothing I could do stop it no matter how hard I tried nor was I interested in stopping

with a challenge. "Shower her with expensive gifts? Serenade her under her window? Stalk her? Kidnap her? Force her to be with

This wouldn't be easy. Claiming a mate from a rival pack was a delicate dance, fraught with

yet," I admitted, frustration gnawing at me. "But one thing's for sure. I won't let some ancient pack rivalry stand in the way

amusement. "Just be careful, Alex," he said

"But this... this is different.

as we finished our drinks, a silent understanding settling between us. The path ahead wouldn't be easy, but the primal pull of the mate

across his face. "Alright, enough brooding," he declared, clapping me on the back. "Let's go see what this woman looks like that's managed to

anywhere near her, Adrian, When I see her again, I

A little harmless curiosity wouldn't hurt, would it? Besides,

I countered, my voice firm but laced with a hint of amusement at his usual daredevil tendencies. "This is serious. We don't want to s p o her or cause an incident with the

national pastime for werewolves, right? We can just observe from afar, gather some

the booth. "Stalking is a strong

my shoulder as we headed towards the door. "Don't be such a stick in the mud. Besides, you know you're curious too. What is she like? Maybe she'll be out practicing her wolf

initial shock of discovering our mate bond. The weight of the situation, the potential for conflict between our packs, had kept me at a distance. But the thought of seeing her again, even from afar,

Adrian stopped and placed a hand on my shoulder, his earlier amusement replaced by a look of genuine concern. "No matter what, Alex," he said, his voice low and serious. "I'll be with you