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

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

our side of the table for a formal

trying to make small talk

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

on my plate, refusing

don’t you like the

The food

sudden sharp command echoed through the

a silent fury

suddenly became aware of other

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

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.

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

him out. I will not sit here anymore and eat in the same room as that

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

his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for

one more chance to

had spoken to him, Alex continued with

my father commanded, “Take

Alex, still he continued eating his food

a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and in an instant, he twisted it so fast that a

for that, you bastard,” he swung his claws towards Alex, his companion

to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, “This won’t

said throw him out,” my father growled, signaling

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

me, Ivan 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 dead.

let your sister get