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.

at me just

could he not feel my wolf? How could he not feel the pain seeping from me? I hated how much it still

Miranda hadn’t brought him to our side of the

of Ivan trying

growled beside me suddenly, “Stop looking at him like a lost puppy. I don’t want Ivan finding

on my plate, refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner when

don’t

The food is

The sudden sharp command

at Alex, a silent fury radiating from him. The room had fallen into silence, everyone anticipating

if he suddenly became aware

my father, scanning the room like he

me like a storm. My wolf 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 sparked to life, his demeanor shifted. His eyes, once soft with a hint of recognition, hardened before traveling back to

stone I think—“ but my

him out. I will not sit here anymore

Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the reason for the rivalry between both

regarded my father for a moment longer then focused his attention back to his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for how it would play out,

more chance to leave, Thorne

had spoken to him, Alex continued with

rose, my father

recognized as members of my pack approached Alex, still he continued eating his food ignoring the escalating

instant, he twisted it so fast that a bone snapped. I couldn’t

you

attack, smoothly evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, “This won’t

my father growled, signaling

who made billions and had been my once-loving mate. This version of him was an entirely different

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

your sister get involved with a