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.

lips, 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,

the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from somewhere

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

about completing

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

him the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist,

strand of my hair to the tip of my toe, yet something felt

doesn’t kiss like Alex, a small voice whispered, snapping

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,

dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around, leaving me standing

to do with your legs?” my father’s voice cut

was met with his unmistakable death glare. “I

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

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

more, a silent warning.

I wasn’t… I was

time to

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

choose to stop standing around like an idiot, I would like to get moving,” he declared, his impatience

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

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

mother’s voice called out as we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over me. “Are you okay,

I replied, “What happened? Why would someone do

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

into her eyes, there was only loss

I knew she didn’t

“We can discuss that later. Right now, we need to leave. The situation is

away from the chaos,

car. “Amaya, we’ll need to have a

decisions? What had I

jaw, bracing myself for what I knew would be a lecture.

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

father ushered us into the living room.

seat, exchanging a glance with my mother. The

I do,

ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need to know the

Daniel Stone was only thinking