Bonds

Chapter One

~Four years ago~

~Maya’s POV~

It rained on the day I died.

People die in different ways, mine was one of the most painful kinds. My heart was ripped out and shredded into a million pieces right in front of me.

“Alex, please don’t do this to me,” I begged running after him, “Please I am begging you. I have nowhere to go.”

He turned to me, his blue eyes now as cold as ice stared at me. Gone was the warmth that made me feel safe whenever he held me to his chest, whispering just how much he loved me.

“Alex,” I whispered his name again.

“You are starting to irritate me. Do not make me throw you out, Maya.”

Maya.

The sound of my name on his lips was another painful stab to my heart. He hadn’t called me by my real name in the three years we had been married.

My begging was getting me nowhere I realized. Standing to my feet, I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

“You are really going to do this to me after everything we have been through together? After everything I gave up just to be with you?”

He didn’t say anything. He simply stared through me like I didn’t exist. Like I was nothing.

I stared at him. He looked the same. The same man I had fallen in love with. The same man I had turned my back on my entire pack for just to be with yet he was so different.

There had been so much whispers after the announcement of our engagement but the center of it all was that I was a gold digging stripper that had dug her claws into one of the most eligible billionaires in the city but neither Alex nor I had cared.

He kissed me two months after that and claimed me as his.

“You and I against the world silver.. Always and forever,” he had whispered just before he entered me for the first time.

We had both made sacrifices for love and I was not going to let him destroy it.

“You cannot just discard me like I am nothing to you,” I said finally, hoping to get a reaction from him but there was nothing.

“Do you have nothing else to say?”

Silence hung between us, almost suffocating me then finally he walked towards the table, grabbing a brown envelope and in that cold and detached voice, “My signature is already on it. Sign it and don’t let me see you ever again.”

“We can fix whatever is wrong. Tell me what happened. You can’t just leave then return only to tell me you are ending our marriage and then throw divorce papers in my face. Please let me fix it. Whatever it is.” I tried to step forward but halted in my step when I saw the flash of black in his eyes.

lunging to the surface reminded me of the

me wish I hadn’t said that because the next words that came out from his mouth ripped my heart

Stone and from this moment, you are

was so fast and painful, it had me falling back on my knees gasping for air. I had heard stories of rejection but none of them prepared me

as I struggled to see through

her out of

hands pick me from the

I gasped

her again.” Those were the last words that echoed in my head and that was the last time

That night… It rained.

night..

***************

you to come back home. I have found a man for you

father’s hard tone sounded through the phone again, “Amaya did you

father

I saw Daniel Stones’ name on my phone. My father hardly ever called and when he did, he wanted

take place? Who is he?” I managed to

car to fetch you before

me. Like a

Am

didn’t let me finish before ending the call and I

had it in me to fight. To say no. That I wouldn’t be part of an arranged marriage to a man that

Ivy and Nathan. I knew my father wouldn’t approve of me bringing them to his house. The bastard children to your bastard husband

quickly scrolled through

city. “Amaya! I miss you so, so much! Oh my goodness, are you at my doorstep right now? Please tell me you’re here! Wait,

friend, “Could

sorry. You know how I am—I just can’t help it. I get

interjected again, gently teasing

right! I’m all ears now.

excitement was infectious. Her words always poured out like an overflowing river, bubbling over with enthusiasm. It felt like she

Natalia’s face in my mind. I knew her eyes would have narrowed

through the phone, laced

as I felt the weight of his demand settling over me, “he wants me…

her breaths seemingly long. Her silence spoke volumes before she finally broke it, her

the memories of my father’s call still echoing in my mind, the words sinking into my heart like heavy stones. “Make the same

name

It felt like Natalia and I had honed this psychic connection from the very first

line. “After everything I did… I

Natalia retorted, her voice a mix of frustration and empathy. “Your

protest, to defend their actions, but Natalia cut in, her words gentle yet firm, “You did it

have to say his name for a new wave

I already said yes,” I whispered, the weight of my decision heavy in my chest. “He said he would send a car to fetch me before

a laugh but it sounded hollow, “Fetch you? Like a

laughed if the situation had been

know I wouldn’t bother you if I had

bring Ivy and Nathan yourself? Please, please say yes. I’ve been dying to see you for ages. It’s been over a year and I really want to hug you and you