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.

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

and the chaos, a laugh

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

about

another step, he pulled me back, a sudden

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

strand of my hair to the tip of my toe,

like Alex, a small voice whispered,

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 my cheeks as he bent down, his lips brushing against my ear, “You taste even better than I

one final smile that I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere

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

unmistakable death glare.

you were standing there, staring into space like an idiot,” he remarked, his tone as stern

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

silent warning. “Are you

wasn’t…

to waste, child. Where is

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,

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

to provoke him further.

mixture of emotions and questions. The shock of the explosion still echoed in my ears, making

voice called out as we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief

Mom,” I replied, “What happened?

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

I stared into her eyes, there was only loss and emptiness. Never a look that

father, I knew she didn’t love

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

us outside, away from the chaos, where

us towards the car. “Amaya, we’ll need to have a talk about what happened.

had

for what I knew would be a lecture.

thoughts of the interrupted wedding, the mysterious explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole glances at my mother, who appeared lost in

ushered us into the living room. “Sit

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

do, Father?” I

safety or did he

Daniel Stone was only thinking about himself yet