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 just

me? I hated how much it still

side of the

trying to make small talk but I

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

my father’s warning, I kept my gaze trained on my plate, refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner when Ivan caught

don’t you like the

I .. The

sudden sharp command

to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating from him. The

if he suddenly became aware of other

eyes left my father, scanning the room like he

I knew without a doubt that he felt it too– mirrored my feelings but just as swiftly as the connection sparked to life, his

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

want him out. I will not sit here anymore and

father for holding out that long before snapping. His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the reason for the rivalry between both

to his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for how it would play

to leave, Thorne or you will

no one had spoken to him, Alex continued with his

the tension rose, my father commanded,

Alex, still

a hand on Alex’s shoulder, and in an instant, he twisted it so fast that a bone snapped. I couldn’t help but

that, you

Alex sidestepped the attack, smoothly evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, “This won’t end well for either

throw him out,” my father growled, signaling

once-loving mate. This version of

please call off your men before this escalates and they

have let your sister get involved