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.

attempting to inject a sliver of humor into the grim scene. “Wow. If I had known it would take an explosion to get you to admit you want to marry me, then I would have planted the bomb

and the chaos, a laugh

find my parents,” I murmured, acknowledging the unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come looking for me.

about completing

me back, a sudden and unexpected

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

kiss everywhere– from the strand of my hair

like Alex, a small voice whispered, snapping

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 bent down, his lips brushing against my ear, “You taste even

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

you have nothing better to do with your legs?” my father’s voice cut

glare. “I was just about to come

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

Am I not allowed to take a moment to collect

a silent warning. “Are you talking back

I wasn’t… I

have time to waste, child. Where is

he came to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last part, hoping to make my point, but of course, he

to leave, and if you choose to stop standing around like an idiot, I would

hurriedly nodded, not daring to provoke him further. “Yes,

emotions and questions. The shock of the explosion still echoed in my ears, making it hard to focus

voice called out as we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over me.

I replied, “What happened? Why would

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

there was only loss and emptiness.

like my father, I knew she

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

the chaos, where

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

What had I even

for what I knew would be a lecture.

explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole

home, my father ushered us into the living room. “Sit down. We need

took a seat, exchanging a glance with my mother. The

do,

through his graying hair. “Firstly, are you hurt? Did Ivan ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need to know the type of man he is in this kind of

only