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

hated how much it

brought him to our side of the table for a

I was aware of Ivan trying to make small talk but I

beside me suddenly, “Stop looking at him like a lost

of my father’s warning, I kept my gaze trained on my plate, refusing to let them eyes

don’t you like

I .. The food is

sharp command echoed

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

suddenly became aware of

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

him. I knew without a doubt that he felt it too–

the escalating tension, “Mr stone I think—“ but my father’s voice cut

here anymore and eat in the same

father for holding out that long before snapping. His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that

his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for how it would play

will give you one more chance to leave,

to him, Alex continued

my father commanded,

of my pack approached Alex, still he continued eating

an instant, he twisted it so

angry growl, “You will pay for that, you bastard,” he

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

my father growled, signaling an

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 version of him was an entirely different entity. His movements

with my father, his voice strained with urgency. “Mr. Stone, please call off your men before

shouldn’t have let your sister get involved with a