Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 123

-Alex'sPOV-

Regret gnawed at me, a bitter aftertaste lingering in my mouth as Adrian's words echoed in my head. I should have paid more attention, should have heeded the not so veiled threat hanging heavy in his final words. Instead, I'd brushed it off, convinced that whatever he had planned, I could handle it.

Money, influence, power I had it all in excess. Surely, I could weather whatever storm he intended to unleash. But for the first time, the weight of my arrogance pressed down on me, a suffocating realization of my own flaw.

The first blow came swift and unexpected. News of werewolves existence was leaked to the world. The truth became public spectacle, splashed across headlines and dissected on every news channel. Panic rippled through the human population, fear morphing into a primal hatred. Bounties were placed on the heads of any werewolf, turning former neighbors into hunters, friends into potential betrayers. We, the creatures of myth and legend, were suddenly the monsters in their stories.

The world descended into chaos. Werewolves, forced out of the shadows, scrambled to protect themselves. Violence erupted, escalating what was once a silent war into an all-out conflict. My focus narrowed, my priorities shifting. The pack, my responsibility, became my sole concern. Keeping them safe, ensuring their survival was now my paramount objective. And her, Amaya, she remained a constant worry in the back of my mind.

For a week, I managed a risky dance. The initial frenzy hadn't reached my city yet, offering a temporary reprieve. From the safety of my heavily guarded mansion, I worked tirelessly at damage control. Businesses were threatened, investments sabotaged. But I had resources, a network of loyal followers who helped me navigate the chaos. I was a general in a silent war, fighting an unseen enemy.

Then, the walls crumbled. The attack was swift, brutal, and undeniably targeted right at me. Somehow with undeniable evidence, my name made headlines revealing to the public that I was one of them. My companies, the restaurants I owned, everything I'd built over the years, began to go up in flames.

The message was clear: I was no longer untouchable.

Fear wasn't a part of the equation. It was a luxury I couldn't afford. Anger, a simmering inferno, fueled my every move. But beneath it all, a cold, calculating logic took hold. This wasn't random, not a spontaneous outburst of violence. This was a calculated attack, methodical and precise. And deep down, in the pit of my gut, I knew who was behind it.

Adrian.

Frustration gnawed at me. Holed up in this cramped safe house, miles away from everything, I was strategizing. This whole situation was a tangled mess, an irritating knot that needed untying. And what made it even more infuriating was Christian's refusal to pick up his damn phone.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his voice crackled through the receiver. He let out a long, annoyed sigh before drawling, "Look, Alex, you know you and I aren't a thing. Stop blowing up my phone." I glared at the phone, willing him to feel the intensity of my stare. "This isn't the time for jokes, Christian. Why haven't you been taking my calls?"

"Because, like I already said, you and I aren't exactly in a relationship," he replied dryly.

sound a low rumble in my

seriousness creeping into his voice. "Alright, alright, lighten up. It's not the end of the world... well, wait, maybe it kind of is if everything's going up in flames.” "Your dark humor isn't appreciated right now,"

Alex. Really bad. Your headquarters in the city took another hit. I still

safety. "What happened to her?" I demanded, my voice an icy whisper. "She was at the company when another attack went down," he explained, "Her best friend's husband - I don't know his name shifted to protect her.

my hair, the frustration knotting even

least from what I can tell. The last sighting

pay for all of this. I have people working on stopping the

monster in you to kill.

1/2

Chapter 123

went dead, leaving me staring at the phone in my hand. Public enemy number one. The once

of worry tightening in my

of the

of towering buildings and bustling streets, had become a stranger. Smoke billowed from gaping holes in buildings, the acrid smell stinging my nostrils. Debris littered the streets, twisted metal skeletons of cars the remnants of recent attacks. Looters roamed freely, their faces twisted in a mix of fear and greed

potent. My people, the ones I entrusted with Amaya's safety, where were they? The thought of them failing me, of them letting her get hurt, sent a fresh wave of anger crashing through

searching for a flash of copper hair, a familiar face. Minutes bled into what felt like hours, each passing second a hammer blow

movement in the distance. A flash of copper, unmistakable even from afar. Amaya. My heart lurched in my chest, a surge of relief battling with the anger still simmering beneath the surface. She was walking, her movements slow

I was probably the last person she wanted to see but I was here and she wasn't supposed to

the shadows. He spoke, his voice a low rumble that didn't reach me, but the effect on Amaya was undeniable. Her head snapped up, a flicker of recognition

Right into Ivan's arms.

throat and made it hard to breathe. I watched them, Amaya nestled in Ivan's arms. Every muscle in my body screamed to act, to tear them apart and reclaim what I felt was rightfully mine. But

I forced myself to turn away. Sliding back into the driver's seat, I slammed the car into gear and peeled away from the curb. I didn't know where I

at the screen, I saw Christian's name flash across the display. With a growl, I snatched the

La Land," Christian