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 me just

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

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

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

at him like a lost puppy.

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

hardly eating, don’t you like

.. The food is lovely..

sharp command echoed

my father who had risen to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating from him. The room

suddenly became aware of other people around him then it

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

him. I knew without a doubt that

tension, “Mr stone I think—“ but my

anymore

His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the

regarded my father for a moment longer then focused his attention back to his food.

chance to leave, Thorne or

to

my father commanded, “Take him

pack approached Alex, still he continued eating his

twisted it so fast that a bone snapped. I couldn’t help but gasp, stunned by the

out an angry growl, “You will pay for that, you bastard,” he swung his claws towards Alex, his companion attempting to

Alex sidestepped the attack, smoothly evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his

out,” my

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

please call off your men before this escalates and they end up

shouldn’t have let your sister get involved with