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

wreckage and the chaos, a laugh bubbled

unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come looking for me.

will talk about completing

step, he pulled me back, a sudden and unexpected force. Without

the kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer

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

like Alex, a small voice whispered, snapping

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

without a doubt dropped panties everywhere he

nothing better to do with your legs?” my father’s

I was met with his unmistakable death glare. “I was

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

Am I not

a silent warning. “Are you talking

wasn’t… I was

not have time to waste, child.

control after he came to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last part, hoping to make my point,

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

daring to provoke him further. “Yes, Father, let’s

we navigated through the remnants of the 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 over me.

Mom,” I replied, “What

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

into her eyes, there was only

I knew she didn’t love

a forced moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss

led us outside, away from the

the car. “Amaya,

What had I even

my jaw, bracing myself for what I knew

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 mother,

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

glance with my mother.

I do, Father?”

or did he run like a coward? I need to know the type

was only thinking about