Bonds

Chapter Three

~Maya’s POV~

The entire air was sucked out of the room or maybe it was because I forgot how to breathe. Memories, buried deep, surged back with an unbearable intensity.

I couldn’t ignore the betrayal, the pain he’d inflicted when he coldly cast me aside. “I reject you, Amaya Stone,” his words echoed relentlessly in my mind, each syllable a stab to my wounded soul. And yet, despite the hurt, a part of me couldn’t help but acknowledge the lingering connection, the remnants of the love we once shared.

My mouth opened to say something— say anything. Luckily my father beat me to it when his growl reverberated in my ear, “What is he doing here?”

Ivan looked between Alex and my father while I watched the man who had ripped out my heart without a second thought walk towards Ivan’s sister, whisper something in her ear before they made their way to the far end of the dining hall.

My wolf howled, urging me to make a move but I couldn’t.

“I didn’t realize Miranda would bring him,” Ivan glanced at his sister who was chatting away happily as members of their pack congratulated her, his eyes narrowed, “And I did not realize their relationship had gone this far.”

“You don’t like him?”

There was no need to look at my father. I heard the smile in his voice when he asked the question.

“I have no feelings towards him. Alex Thorne is not a man I would trust but my sister has never been one to listen to me. I cannot tell her who she should or shouldn’t be with.”

The easy smile returned to his face, “Let’s not let one bad egg ruin our evening, shall we proceed?”

The dinner went on and I was slowly dying. Everytime my eyes turned in their direction, my heart broke even more.

to smile at

How could he not feel the pain seeping from me? I hated how much it still hurt after all these years because the only thing

that Miranda hadn’t brought him to our side of the table for a formal congratulations but

of Ivan trying

looking at him like a lost puppy. I don’t

refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner when Ivan

hardly eating, don’t you like the

I .. The food is lovely.. I

The sudden sharp command

my father who had risen to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating

as if he suddenly became aware of other people around him

left my father, scanning the room like he was searching for something until they

stirred, responding to the magnetic pull, urging me towards him. I knew without a doubt that he felt it too– mirrored my feelings but just as swiftly as the connection

I think—“ but my father’s voice cut through like a

out. I will not sit here anymore and eat

to my father for holding out that long before snapping. His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the reason for the

attention back to his

will give you one more chance to leave, Thorne or you

one had spoken to him, Alex continued

the tension rose, my father commanded, “Take

of my pack approached Alex,

of the men laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and in an instant, he twisted it so fast that a bone snapped. I couldn’t help but gasp, stunned

you bastard,” he swung his claws

gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, “This

my father growled, signaling

seen Alex in combat. Until that moment, he had been just a man – one who made billions and had been my once-loving mate. This

father, his voice strained with urgency. “Mr. Stone, please call off your men before this escalates and they end up dead. I do not

let your sister get involved