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.

smile at me just

pain seeping from me? I hated how much it still hurt

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

trying to make small talk but I could hardly

suddenly, “Stop looking at him like a lost puppy. I don’t want Ivan finding out about

trained on my plate, refusing to let them

don’t

I .. The food is

out!” The sudden sharp command echoed through the

had risen to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating from him. The room had fallen into silence, everyone anticipating

if he suddenly became aware of

eyes left my father, scanning the room like he was searching

me like a storm. My wolf stirred, responding to the magnetic pull, urging me towards him. I knew without a doubt

diffuse the escalating tension, “Mr stone I think—“ but my

sit here anymore and eat

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

his attention back to his food. Miranda sat still, waiting

chance to leave, Thorne or you

to him,

the tension rose, my father commanded,

Alex, still he continued eating his food ignoring the escalating

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 by the

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

evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his

him out,” my father

and had been my once-loving mate. This version of him was an entirely different entity. His

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

shouldn’t have let your sister