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.

on his 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, then I

wreckage and the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from

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

talk about

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

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

my hair to the tip of my toe,

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

without knowing what those beautiful lips taste like.” A blush rose to my

smile that I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere he went, he turned around, leaving me standing there smiling like

are you standing there like you have nothing better to do with your legs?” my father’s voice

his unmistakable death glare. “I was just about to

were standing there, staring into space like an idiot,” he

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

silent warning. “Are you talking

wasn’t…

to waste,

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

around like an

provoke him

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

She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over me. “Are you

fine, Mom,” I replied, “What

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

there was only

like my father, I knew she didn’t

can discuss that later. Right now, we need to leave.

led us outside, away from the chaos, where emergency

directed us towards the car. “Amaya, we’ll need to

decisions? What had

for what I knew would be a lecture.

thoughts of the interrupted wedding, the mysterious explosion, and Ivan’s seemingly calculated exit. I stole glances at my

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

a glance with my mother. The air in the room was thick

do, Father?” I ventured

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

only thinking about