Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 44

-Alex's POV-

I slumped back in my chair, the weight of the morning's news settling heavily on my shoulders. Miranda, with her usual brand of twisted amusement, had informed me of the merger between Amaya's and Ivan's packs. Individually, each pack hold considerable power, but combined, they were a force to be reckoned with. A grudging part of me acknowledged the strategic brilliance of the move, but the thought of their combined strength sent a jolt of irritation through me.

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What bothered me most was how smoothly things seemed to be progressing between them. My wolf growled in frustration, a primal echo of the anger simmering beneath the surface.

'She doesn't matter anymore, I repeated to myself, a mantra I'd been chanting for weeks now. Amaya had hurt me, betrayed me, and I wouldn't allow myself to be consumed by these lingering feelings. Just then, the soft tap-tap-tap of heels on the hardwood floor broke through my reverie. "Sir?" My head snapped up to meet the concerned gaze of Ruth, my ever-patient personal assistant. "What?" I barked, the harshness of my tone surprising even me. Truth be told, I'd been on edge all morning, and Amaya's name hanging in the air hadn't helped matters.

Why did she have to come back and disrupt everything?

Ruth flinched slightly. She was a master at navigating my moods, but even her calm demeanor seemed to falter under my glare. "I was just reminding you about your appointment at two o'clock, sir," she said softly.

Appointment? My brow furrowed in irritation. What appointment could possibly be important enough to tear me away turmoil brewing within me?

"Appointment with who?" I asked, forcing myself to sound somewhat professional.

"The interior designer, sir," She replied.

from the

The reminder sent another wave of annoyance crashing through me. The whole redesign project felt trivial compared to the sanity struggle brewing in my head.

Couldn't it wait?

"Can't it be rescheduled?" I grumbled, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

check, sir," she said carefully. "But the interior designer

was, had the audacity to dictate my schedule was infuriating. Yet, a part of me knew she was right. Putting off the renovations any longer

"Fine," I muttered,

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the face of my obvious frustration. "Of course, sir," she said, her voice regaining its usual calm efficiency. "Is there anything else I can get for

of the day, the simmering anger, and the unwelcome resurgence of Amaya in my life, all pressed down on me, leaving

that's all, Ruth," I mumbled, dismissing her with a wave of my hand. "Just

room, I closed my eyes, the silence amplifying the storm raging within me. Dealing with the interior

to call it a day and drown my frustrations in a stiff drink, my phone buzzed on the desk.

breath, I answered the call. "Christian," I growled, the remnants of my earlier frustration coloring my voice. "Alex," he replied, his tone cool and detached. "Just giving you a

what?" My gut clenched, a premonition

Daniel," He said, a hint of amusement creeping into his

up from my chair, knocking it over in the process. "What?

Alex. Seems his lawyers managed to find some technicality, some loophole in the charges.

grating in my ear. "This can't be happening," I snarled. "I thought... I thought we

of sympathy. "Look, I just wanted to let you know. Not exactly breaking news, but figured you should hear it

I roared, my frustration boiling over. "I'm not in the mood

tense silence followed, heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, Christian spoke, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Neither am 1, Alex.

loud and clear," I spat back, my anger mirroring his

I bellowed, every word laced, "I pay you good money to

at your side. I had him removed for you. He was investigated, his company fell and he went to jail. All of that, I did," He ground out, "The courts made their decision.

Christian," I shot back, fueled by a potent amount of anger, "That's why

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Chapter 44

have connections, influence. I will

what, exactly, do you suggest I do?" Christian challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous