Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 131

-Alex's POV-

The world spun around me, a sickening spree of blurry colors and muffled sounds. Yet, despite the dizzying sensation, my feet remained rooted to the spot, a strange paralysis gripping my body. Natalia's words echoed in my head, a relentless mantra that drilled into my skull. Children. I had children. Not one. Two. Twins.

The revelation hit me with the force of a sledgehammer, stealing the air from my lungs. My legs buckled beneath me, the sudden weakness a stark contrast to the turmoil raging within. Children. My own flesh and blood, walking, breathing proof of a life I'd discarded.

"Alex?" A distant voice pierced through the haze that registered somewhere in the back of my mind. Christian. He was calling my name. Air. I needed air. My lungs felt like they were constricting, each desperate gasp a shallow imitation of a proper breath.

My hand grasped at the empty space around me, a futile attempt to steady myself in this storm of emotions. "Alex," Christian called again, his voice closer now, laced with concern. "Are you okay?" Finally, my eyelids fluttered open, the world coming back into focus with agonizing slowness. Natalia's face swam into view, etched with a mix of tear stains and raw anger. Beside her stood Riley, her gaze filled with a pity that felt like a punch to the gut. And then there was Christian, his expression mirroring Riley's, but tinged with a hint of something else - maybe regret, maybe sorrow.

"Did you know?" I wasn't even sure if it was me who spoke, the words seeming to detach themselves from my body and float into the air of their own accord.

Christian sighed, "Not before today. Riley called me an hour ago, said Amaya was missing and Natalia needed to get a hold of you. That's all I knew."

Another deep breath hitched in my throat, a struggle to fill my burning lungs.

"Where are you going?" Natalia asked but I was already turning away, my body moving on autopilot. Behind me, I heard Christian murmur, "Give him a moment." The sound faded as I stumbled blindly towards one of the empty rooms, the walls closing in like a suffocating cage.

A moment. It wasn't a moment I needed. It was a lifetime. A lifetime to come to terms with the colossal mess I'd created. A lifetime to grapple with the knowledge that I'd thrown away my own children, my own flesh and blood, all because I couldn't bring myself to fully trust someone.

My legs finally gave way, and I crumpled to the floor. My wolf was silent. Uncharacteristically quiet, as if stunned into submission by the bombshell revelation.

Twins.

pups.

A single tear escaped the corner of my eye, tracing a warm path down my cheek. It was a tear even begin. A future with Amaya, with our children.

of regret,

of loss,

of a

future

stolen before it could

What had I done?

knife. I was standing in the garden, irritation twisting my features, as I glared at the climbing plants that dared to disrupt the manicured perfection of the

around, annoyance simmering in my eyes. It

scoffed, unimpressed by

are so grouchy," she teased, stepping closer and instinctively molding her body against mine. The touch was like a balm, momentarily calming

her presence already had this profound

attempt to shift the focus, to escape the strange

she replied with a dismissive shrug.

my irritation returning.

laugh, "They're called ivy plants, Alex," she explained, stepping closer and brushing her fingers against the leaves. "That's what they

should leave them. The weather here isn't perfect for them, but they've fought so

resilience."

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elsewhere," I countered, my voice still laced with

of disappointment in her eyes. "Fine," she conceded. "Do what you want. But you know," she added, a

wistful. "Like them, she'd never let the hard

brighter than ever. The sight of it sent a warmth through me that had nothing to do with the summer sun. In that moment, staring at her luminous face, it didn't matter that we were bound by

was already

remember the last time I cried. Maybe I couldn't even remember what it felt like to cry

that revelation crashed down on me, a tidal wave of emotions threatening to drown me. The rest of Natalia's words, previously lost in the haze of shock,

Amaya was missing.

children,

deep within my gut. What the hell was I doing

The air crackled with a strange energy, the undeniable presence of my wolf pushing closer to the surface. We needed to find

the despair. I was done with this self-pitying

animal, her face etched with a desperate worry that mirrored my own. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off, my voice clipped and devoid