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.

it would take an explosion to get you to admit you want to marry me, then I would

wreckage and the chaos, a laugh bubbled up from

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

about completing the wedding

could take another step, he pulled me back, a sudden and unexpected force. Without giving me a chance to prepare, his

lips giving him the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His hands wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer and my hands instinctively went to

from the strand of my hair

kiss like Alex, a small voice whispered, snapping

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

one final smile that I knew without a doubt dropped panties everywhere

like you have nothing better to do with your legs?” my

met with his unmistakable death glare.

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

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

a silent warning.

wasn’t… I

to waste,

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

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

mother’s voice called out as we approached her. She looked frazzled but unharmed. Relief somewhat washed over

replied, “What happened?

and I had always had an awkward relationship. She

was only loss and emptiness. Never a look that depicted

father, I knew she didn’t

what felt like a forced moment, his tone clipped, “We can discuss that

from the chaos, where

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

decisions? What had

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

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

home, my father ushered us into the living room. “Sit down. We need to address

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

do, Father?” I ventured

are you hurt? Did Ivan ensure your safety or did he run like a coward? I need to know the type of man he is in this

only thinking about himself