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.

scene. “Wow. If I had known it would take an explosion to get you to admit you want to marry me,

chaos, a laugh bubbled up from somewhere

unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come

talk about

turned to leave but before I could take another step, he pulled me back, a sudden and unexpected force. Without giving me a chance to

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

my hair to the tip

small

leave this hall without knowing what those beautiful lips taste like.” A blush rose to my cheeks as he

doubt dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around,

like you have nothing better to do with

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

were standing there, staring into space like

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

silent warning. “Are you talking back

I wasn’t…

time to waste, child.

to do some damage control after he came to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last part, hoping to

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

to provoke him further. “Yes,

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

we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over

I replied, “What happened? Why

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

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

father, I knew

what felt like a forced moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss that later. Right now, we need to leave. The

us outside, away from the

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

What had I

myself for what I knew would

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

us into the living room. “Sit down. We need to

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

did I do, Father?” I

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

only