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.

a beat, her brow creasing slightly. "I did check, sir," she said carefully. "But the interior designer said she

the audacity to dictate my schedule was infuriating. Yet, a part

muttered, the anger still clinging

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obvious frustration. "Of course, sir," she said, her voice

anger, and the unwelcome

dismissing her with a wave of

amplifying the storm raging within me. Dealing with the interior designer could wait. Right now, I needed a way to quell the

of paperwork and forced cheer. Just as I was about to call it a day and drown my frustrations in a stiff drink, my phone buzzed on the desk.

deep 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

clenched, a premonition of bad news sending a

a hint of amusement creeping into his

slammed into me like a physical blow. I shot up from my chair, knocking it over in the process. "What? How is he getting out?" My voice rose an octave, laced with disbelief and a

stepping out of jail, Alex. Seems his lawyers managed to find some technicality, some loophole in the charges. He's

be happening," I snarled. "I thought... I thought we had him

of sympathy. "Look, I just wanted to let you know. Not

frustration boiling

edge. "Neither am 1, Alex. I just called to deliver a message, not

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

He damn near destroyed everything I built!" I bellowed, every word laced, "I pay you good money to just

asked me to. Daniel Stone was a thorn 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. There's nothing I can

Christian," I shot back, fueled by a potent amount of anger,

Fri, 21

Chapter 44

influence. I will not have

do you suggest I do?" Christian challenged, his voice