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.

sliver of humor into the grim scene. “Wow. If I had known it would take an explosion to

chaos, a laugh

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

about completing

could take another step, he pulled me back, a sudden and unexpected force. Without giving me a chance

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

from the strand of my hair to the tip of my

small voice whispered, snapping me

taste like.” A blush rose to my cheeks as he bent down, his lips brushing against my ear, “You taste even better

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

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

was met with his unmistakable death glare. “I was just about to come find

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

Am I not allowed

narrowed even more, a silent warning.

I wasn’t… I was

time to

went off.” I emphasized the last part,

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

hurriedly nodded, not daring to provoke

once festive venue, my mind buzzed with a mixture of emotions and questions. The shock of the explosion still echoed in my ears, making it hard to focus on anything

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

Mom,” I replied, “What happened? Why would someone

I had always had an awkward relationship. She was just a trophy

there was only loss and emptiness. Never

like my father, I knew she didn’t love

tone clipped, “We can discuss that later. Right

us outside, away from the chaos, where emergency personnel were

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

What had

what I knew would

drive back home was uncomfortably silent. My mind raced with thoughts of the interrupted wedding, the mysterious explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole glances at my

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

seat, exchanging a glance with my mother. The

do, Father?” I

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

was only