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.

used to smile at

pain seeping from me? I hated how much it still hurt after all these years because the only thing I ever wanted to feel towards

of the table for a formal congratulations

trying to make small talk but I could hardly

suddenly, “Stop looking at him like a lost

warning, I kept my gaze trained on my plate, refusing to let them eyes

are hardly eating, don’t

.. The food is lovely.. I

sudden sharp command

silent fury radiating from him. The room had fallen into

fell from Alex’s face as if he suddenly became aware of other people around

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

him. I knew without a doubt that he felt it too– mirrored my feelings but just as swiftly as the

to diffuse the escalating tension, “Mr stone I

not sit here anymore and eat in the same room as

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

his attention back to his food. Miranda

to leave,

if no one had spoken to him, Alex continued with

tension rose, my father

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

twisted it so fast that a

will pay for that, you bastard,” he swung

gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, “This won’t end well for

said throw him out,” my father growled,

had never 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 held a captivating elegance, a grace that effortlessly evaded their strikes, making it seem

attempted to reason with my father, his voice strained with urgency. “Mr. Stone, please call off your men before this escalates and they end up

you shouldn’t have let your sister