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.

I had known it would take an explosion to get you to

laugh bubbled up from somewhere

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

about completing the

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

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

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

Alex, a small

those beautiful lips taste like.” A blush rose to

I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around, leaving me standing

nothing better to do

death glare. “I

space like an idiot,”

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

more, a silent warning. “Are you talking back to

I wasn’t…

do not have time to waste, child.

left, probably to do some damage control after he came to find me when the bomb went off.” I emphasized the last part, hoping to make my point, but of course, he remained

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

nodded, not daring to provoke him

of emotions and questions. The shock of the explosion still echoed in my

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

Mom,” I replied, “What happened? Why would someone do

had an awkward relationship. She was just a

I stared into her eyes, there was only loss and emptiness. Never

I knew she

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

the chaos, where

the car. “Amaya, we’ll need to have

decisions? What had I even

myself for what I knew would

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 her

my father ushered us into the living room. “Sit

seat, exchanging a glance with my mother.

do, Father?”

a hand through his graying hair. “Firstly, are you hurt? Did Ivan ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need

that Daniel Stone was only thinking about