Bonds

Chapter Five

~Maya’s POV~

The voices floated all around me as I stirred back into consciousness. Every bone in my body hurt and I sensed my wolf stirring within, an instinctive response to the chaos around, ready to defend. Swiftly, I pushed her back knowing I needed my human side taking charge in this moment of disarray.

Gentle hands reached out, pulling me from the cloud of confusion. Struggling to stand, I grappled with pain coursing through every bone. Through the fog in my mind, I met Ivan’s concerned gaze.

“Are you okay?” His voice echoed through the haze.

Battling dizziness, I nodded, allowing him to guide me to a nearby chair. “What happened?” I managed to utter.

“An explosion,” Ivan explained, “Someone planted a bomb to stop the wedding.”

“Who would want to stop the wedding?”

My wolf stirred, giving a possible answer to the question but I refused to believe that Alex had anything to do with it.

I had seen it— the look on his face. There was nothing but hate. Alex wouldn’t be interested in stopping me from getting married unless it wasn’t to stop the wedding and this was him showing that he meant the statement against my father,

“Maya, did you just hear me?”

“I’m sorry.. I was just.. Why would someone plant a bomb?”

“That’s not important right now. I think we need to get you to a hospital.”

“No. I’m fine,” Realization dawned on me, glancing around, “My father, my parents, where are they?”

“I saw Daniel and your mother after the explosion,” Ivan reassured me, “He was trying to get her away from harm’s way. They are okay.”

A bitter taste lingered in the air, the realization hitting me hard.

Of course, he didn’t come looking for me.

“I didn’t finish saying my vows. We aren’t married yet,” I uttered, still trying to process everything happening.

had known it would take an explosion to get you to admit you want to marry me, then

the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from somewhere

go find my parents,” I murmured, acknowledging the unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come

talk about completing the

turned to leave but before I could take another step, he pulled me back, a sudden and

His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer and my

of my hair to the

a small voice whispered, snapping me back to

down at me, “I didn’t want to leave this hall without knowing what those beautiful lips taste like.” A blush rose to my cheeks as he

that I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around, leaving me standing there

you standing there like you have nothing better to

was met with his unmistakable death glare. “I was just

looked like you were standing there, staring into space like an idiot,” he remarked, his

to defend myself, “Father, there was an explosion. Am I not allowed to take a moment to

even more, a silent warning. “Are you

I wasn’t… I

have time to waste, child.

probably to do some damage control after he came to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last part, hoping to make my point, but of

want to leave, and if you choose to stop standing around like an idiot, I would like to get moving,” he declared, his

hurriedly nodded, not daring to provoke

emotions and questions. The shock

as we approached her. She looked frazzled

“What happened? Why would someone

at her wondering. My mother and I had always had an awkward relationship. She was just a trophy wife

her eyes, there was only loss and emptiness. Never a look

I

discuss that later. Right now, we need to leave. The situation is

outside, away from the chaos, where emergency personnel were

parking area, my father directed us towards the car. “Amaya, we’ll need

decisions? What had

clenched my jaw, bracing myself for what I knew would be a lecture. “Yes,

wedding, the mysterious explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole glances at my

us into the living

a seat, exchanging a glance with my mother. The air in the room

I do, Father?” I

hair. “Firstly, are you hurt? Did Ivan ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need to know

that Daniel Stone was only thinking about himself