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.

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

the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from somewhere deep

go find my parents,” I murmured, acknowledging the unspoken responsibility even though they hadn’t come

will talk about completing the

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

kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer and my hands instinctively went to

kiss everywhere– from the strand of my hair

a small voice whispered,

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 my ear, “You taste even better

final smile that I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere he went,

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

death glare. “I was just

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

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

more, a silent warning. “Are

I wasn’t…

time to waste, child.

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

around like an idiot, I would

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

emotions and questions. The

She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed

I replied, “What happened? Why

mother and I 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

my father, I

forced moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss that later.

outside, away from the chaos, where emergency personnel were

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

decisions? What had I

myself for what

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 mother, who appeared lost in

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

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

I do, Father?”

or did he run like a coward? I need to know the type of man he is in this kind of

Stone was only thinking about