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

hated how much it still hurt after all these years because the only thing I ever wanted to feel

to our side of the table

aware of Ivan trying

“Stop looking at him like a lost puppy. I don’t want Ivan finding out about your ties to that

refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner when Ivan caught

hardly eating, don’t you

I .. The food is

The sudden sharp command echoed

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

face as if he suddenly

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

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, once soft with a hint of recognition, hardened before traveling back

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

him out. I will not sit here anymore

to my father for holding out that long before snapping. His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame

for a moment longer then focused his attention back to his food.

will give you one more chance to leave, Thorne or you will

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

tension rose, my

pack approached Alex, still he

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

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

strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly,

my father growled, signaling an impending

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

me, Ivan attempted to reason with my father, his voice strained with urgency. “Mr. Stone, please call off

let your sister get