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.

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

laugh bubbled up from somewhere deep within

should probably go find my parents,” I murmured, acknowledging the unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come looking for me. “I guess I will

talk about

to leave but before I could take another step, he pulled me back, a sudden and unexpected force. Without giving me a chance to prepare, his lips crashed against

escaped my lips giving him the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer

the kiss everywhere– from the strand of my hair to the tip of my

kiss like Alex, a small voice whispered, snapping me

pulled away, smiling down at me, “I didn’t want to leave this hall without knowing what those beautiful lips taste like.” A blush rose to

doubt dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around, leaving me

like you have nothing better to

unmistakable death glare. “I was just about to

into space like an idiot,” he remarked, his tone as stern

an explosion. Am I not allowed to take a moment to collect

eyes narrowed even more, a silent warning. “Are you talking

wasn’t… I

not have time to waste, child. Where is

to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last

stop standing around like an idiot, I would like to get moving,” he declared, his

to provoke him

the remnants of the once festive venue, my mind buzzed with a mixture of emotions and questions. The shock of the explosion

looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief

Mom,” I replied, “What happened? Why

always had an awkward relationship. She was just a trophy wife that did whatever my father

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

like my father, I knew she didn’t love

moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss that later. Right now, we need to

outside, away from the chaos, where emergency

reached the parking area, my father directed us towards the car. “Amaya, we’ll need to have a talk about what

had I

bracing myself for what I knew would be

mind raced with thoughts of the interrupted wedding, the mysterious explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole glances at my mother, who

living room.

with my mother.

do, Father?” I

hurt? Did Ivan ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need to know the type of man

Daniel Stone was only