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.

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

the wreckage and the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from

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

talk about completing

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

gasp 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

a small voice whispered, snapping me back to

he 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

everywhere

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

unmistakable death glare. “I was

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

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

more, a silent warning. “Are you talking back

I wasn’t…

do not have time to

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

standing around like an idiot, I would like to

hurriedly nodded, not daring to provoke

of emotions and questions. The

as we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over me. “Are

I replied, “What happened? Why would someone

at her wondering. My mother and I had always had an awkward relationship. She was just a trophy wife that did whatever my

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

like my father, I knew she didn’t love

forced moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss that later. Right now, we need to leave. The situation is too

us outside, away from the chaos,

reached the parking area, my father directed us towards the car. “Amaya, we’ll

had I even

what I knew would be a

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

father ushered us into the living room. “Sit down.

exchanging a glance with my mother. The

did I do, Father?” I

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

was only thinking