Bonds

Chapter 41

-Maya’s POV-

My foot tapped against the wooden floor, a nervous counterpoint to the tense silence gripping the room. The power struggle that had simmered ever since my father’s imprisonment had finally erupted, reaching its boiling point after two humans ended up dead. The wolves of the Crescent Pack, my pack, were spiraling out of control. As my father’s only child, the mantle of leadership now rested uneasily on my shoulders.

My gaze swept over the gathered crowd. Modernity had forced us to abandon the communal living arrangements of old. But during times of crisis like this, we still assembled in a secluded building deep within the woods, away from the prying eyes of the human world.

Ivan sat beside me, a silent pillar of support. I knew every eye in the room was fixed on me, waiting for me to speak. The high- ranking members, some of whom harbored their own ambitions for the Alpha position, were seated on a raised platform surrounding me. Public speaking had never been my weakness, but in this charged atmosphere, words seemed to desert me.

Suddenly, a warm hand settled on my leg, a silent reassurance from Ivan. Squeezing his hand back, I drew in a deep breath and rose to my feet. Clearing my throat, I began, “First of all, I want to thank each and every one of you for coming here today. I know we all have busy lives, and I truly appreciate you taking the time to be here.”

A beat of awkward silence followed, then I continued, my voice gaining strength with each word. “Let’s not pretend otherwise. My father is currently incarcerated, facing investigations that render him unfit to lead the pack. That’s why I’ve decided to step in and take charge until his situation is resolved.”

Before I could elaborate, a gruff voice cut through the room. “Step in?” boomed a burly man from the gathered wolves. “What you the right? Last we heard, you threw away your position when you ran off with that bastard.”

gives

My jaw clenched, and my wolf lunged to the surface to make him pay for the insult. But I forced myself to remain calm. “I faced the consequences of my actions,” I replied, my voice laced with steel. “My father forgave me and welcomed me back into the fold. Don’t sit there and question it. And the next time you interrupt me while I’m speaking, you will face consequences of your own.”

A flicker of fear crossed the man’s eyes, and he bowed his head in a grudging submission. It wasn’t a complete victory, but it was a start. At least I’d established my boundaries.

“Does anyone else have anything to say before I address the situation with the humans?” I asked, scanning the room.

A throat cleared beside me. Of course, it was him.

father’s favor even though he was never officially named second-in-command. And he never missed

churning in my gut. “Petrov,

his eyes gleaming with a dark challenge. “Just a clarification, Alpha,” he drawled, deliberately using the title. “Nicholas

wouldn’t be surprised if Petrov had been the one whispering in

authority.

voice dripping with skepticism. “Or simply convenient for

my jab. “When you abandoned your pack to run off with the Nightshadow Pack, your father disowned you. As far

of agreement rippled through the crowd. His words stung, but

public ceremony,” I explained, my voice calm but firm. “It was a private matter between my father and me. And trust me, he is fully

to the Moon Goddess to forgive me for lying but

of me.

here now, ready to serve

in agreement, but a skeptical frown remained etched on Petrov’s face. He rose from his

say, but where were you when this pack truly needed you? The past seven years, while your father and I toiled day and night to hold things together, you were off playing house with the Alpha of the a pack that has rivaled outs for years. Did you even

flared within me, a potent reminder of the hurt I caused by leaving. I opened my mouth to speak, but Petrov cut me off before I could get a

abandoned your pack, your duties, everything. Now, suddenly, you reappear and expect to waltz in and take

meet Petrov’s gaze, refusing to back down, “That’s

and thin. Someone who understands the struggles we’ve faced, not someone who

connecting with various pack members. Heads were nodding in agreement, whispers. erupting amongst the crowd. The tide was turning against me, doubt clouding

said, trying to regain some control. “But the past is the past. I’m here now, and I’m committed to doing

them for some romance

fleeting

calm. Raising my voice wouldn’t help. I needed to find a way to reason with him, to

Chapter 41