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

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

of the table for a formal congratulations but

Ivan trying to make small talk but

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

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

are hardly eating, don’t

.. The food is

sharp command echoed through the

shifted to my father who had risen to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating from

he suddenly became aware of other people around

eyes left my father, scanning the room like he was searching for

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

“Mr stone I think—“ but my

out. I will not sit here anymore and eat in the

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

then focused his attention back to his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for how

to leave, Thorne or you

if no one had spoken to him, Alex continued with

the tension rose, my father commanded, “Take him

approached Alex, still he continued

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

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

while gracefully maneuvering away from the other’s attempt to grab him. Rising to his

out,” my father growled, signaling

just a man – one who made billions and had been my once-loving mate. This version of him was an entirely different

call off your men before

shouldn’t have let your sister get involved with a