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

he not feel my wolf? How could he not feel the 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 him was

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

was aware of Ivan trying to make small

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

my plate, refusing to let them

are hardly eating, don’t you

not that.. I .. The

The sudden sharp command echoed through

silent fury radiating from him. The room had fallen into silence, everyone anticipating what

if he suddenly

scanning the room like he was searching for something until they landed

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, once soft with a hint

stone I think—“

not sit here anymore and eat in the same room

hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the reason for the rivalry between

to his food. Miranda sat still,

you one more chance to leave, Thorne or

to him, Alex continued with his

rose, my father commanded, “Take him

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

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

you bastard,” he swung his claws towards Alex, his

other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his

throw him out,” my father

had been my once-loving mate. This version of him was an entirely different entity. His movements held a captivating elegance,

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. I do not

your