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.

the sound a low rumble in my throat.

world... well, wait, maybe it kind of is if everything's going up in flames.” "Your dark humor isn't appreciated

again. This time, his voice lacked its usual sarcastic lilt. "Things are bad, Alex. Really bad. Your headquarters in the city took another hit. I

most trusted guards, both human and werewolf, to ensure her 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. He

hair, the frustration knotting even tighter in my gut.

for now, at least from what I can tell.

for all of this. I have people working

you used the monster in you to kill. I know whatever I

1/2

Chapter 123

enemy number one. The once familiar comfort of power was gone, replaced

Amaya. She was alone, vulnerable, and the knot of worry tightening in my stomach threatened

out of the safe house, I sprinted towards the car, ignoring the protests of the guard stationed outside. The engine roared to life as I slammed

my nostrils. Debris littered the streets, twisted metal skeletons of

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

flash of copper hair, a familiar face. Minutes bled into what felt like hours, each passing second a hammer blow to my already strained

my chest, a surge of relief battling with the anger still simmering beneath

a safe distance away, I killed the engine. Watching her, I saw the exhaustion etched on her face, the way her shoulders slumped with defeat. I was probably the last person she wanted to see but I was here and she wasn't supposed to be roaming the streets like a crazy person. It wasn't safe. But as I reached for

Amaya was undeniable. Her head snapped up, a flicker of recognition replacing the daze in her eyes. And then, to my utter annoyance, she ran. Not away from him, but towards

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

from the curb. I didn't know where I was going, didn't

saw Christian's name flash across the display. With a growl, I snatched the phone up. "What?" I barked, my voice raw

La Land," Christian drawled, his usual sardonic tone tempered with a hint