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

me? I hated how much it still hurt after

the table for a formal congratulations but I went

the haze, I was aware of Ivan trying to make

my father growled beside me suddenly, “Stop looking at him like a lost puppy. I don’t want

I kept my gaze trained on my plate, refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner

are hardly eating, don’t

not that.. I .. The food is lovely.. I

sharp command echoed through the

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

he suddenly became aware of other people

room like he

like a storm. My 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. His eyes,

rose, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension, “Mr stone I think—“

anymore and eat in the same room as

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. Miranda sat

give you one more chance to leave, Thorne or you

if no one had spoken to him, Alex continued with his

my

approached Alex, still he continued eating his food ignoring

of the men laid a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and in an instant, he twisted it so fast

that, you bastard,” he

sidestepped the attack, smoothly evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab

throw him out,” my father

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

please call off your men before this escalates and they end up dead. I do not want bloodshed in my

let your sister