Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 65

-Alex's POV-

Adrian sauntered into the private ro with an air of misplaced confidence. He pulled out a chair with a flourish, completely ignoring the tension crackling in the air, and poured himself a generous amount of amber liquid from the bottle on the table.

As he took a swig, I watched him. He wasn't the Adrian I knew. The prison visitation has made it clear but seeing him out here only confirmed it. The easygoing goofball who'd been my best friend since college had vanished, replaced by this... stranger. His eyes, once full of warmth and mischief, now held a cold, calculating glint

"Well, well," he drawled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Let's not let my little arrival disrupt the party. We'll go on. The three of us used to be friends after all." He emphasized the last word with a sneer that sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me.

Christian, ever the picture of stoicism, simply leaned back in his chair, the familiar bored expression back in place. "Adrian," he began, his voice dry and devoid of warmth, "we know you're worked up about being in jail, but stalking us all the way to Italy? That's a bit much, even

for you."

Adrian scoffed, a harsh, grating sound. "Worked up? You locked me up for four damn years, Alex, and you helped him do it!" Afrian's eyes flashed with anger as he narrowed Christian with a glare, "Worked up? He threw me in jail and you helped him." "And the reason you followed us all the way to Italy is because?" I countered, my voice as dry and emotionless as Christian's.

His eyes, those cold, calculating eyes, narrowed in on me. "I've been quite busy since I got out, Alex," he drawled, taking another leisurely sip of his drink. "You know, catching up with old friends. And wouldn't you know it, I ran into someone quite familiar. Amaya."

The name hit me like a physical blow. My wolf surged within me, a primal growl threatening to erupt from my throat. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to attack, to rip into him for daring to speak her name. But with a huge amount of effort, I forced myself to remain still.

He continued, his voice laced with a sickening sweetness. "She's looking even more beautiful, radiant even." He stared at me, a smirk playing on his lips, as he took another sip of his drink. It was obvious he was baiting me, trying to get a reaction, to crack the facade I'd so carefully constructed.

But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. He wanted a fight, a confrontation, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. No matter how much his words twisted the knife in my gut, I would remain silent.

within. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, Christian watched the exchange with a hawk-like

hand.

his irritation growing as he realized he wasn't getting the reaction he desired. The silence between

off his tongue like a taunt. He drew out the syllables, making it sound like a cruel joke. My wolf growled, straining against its restraints as I fought to keep my anger in check. I could feel its power coursing through my veins, urging me to lash out, to defend my territory. But I didn't respond, didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me riled up,

90%

Chapter 65

up in her. Stalking the person who she wants to be with. A man close to perfection

my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I struggled to maintain control. My wolf was snarling,

eyes met mine, a warning glinting in their depths. He knew I was on the edge, knew that one wrong move could send me over the precipice. "Shut up, Adrian," he said, his

needs to face reality. He's still stuck in the past, pining for a woman who has moved past him." "Shut up

gentle restrain and Adrian just kept going, his words like a steady drumbeat. "Amaya, Amaya, Amaya. You can't even hear her name without

was unfinished, cut short by the raw fury that exploded within me. It was

face. My body moved on autopilot, fueled by instinct and rage. One moment I

eyes widened in surprise, momentarily unguarded before a flicker of something dark ignited within them. A twisted

transformed into claws, honed instincts taking over. I lunged for his throat. My claws sank into his flesh, and a hot spray of blood

struggled against my hold. Despite the pain, a manic laugh escaped his lips. "Finally decided to show your true

sight of his blood, it only fueled my rage further. I tightened my grip, the muscles in my arms screaming in protest. A part of me, a rational sliver fighting through the haze, registered the shocked faces of the patrons

voice echoed in my ears. Everything - the hurt, the frustration, the simmering anger - it all boiled over in

I was about to squeeze my grip one final time, a voice cut through the haze. Christian's voice, calm but laced with a steely urgency, sliced through the fog of rage. "There is a limit to my abilities, Alex," he said. "If you kill him here, I cannot cover it up. People are