Bonds

Chapter 51

-Maya’s POV-

“Brother?” The question tumbled out of my mouth that echoed in the deafening silence of the car.

“You had a brother, Amaya,” Ivan clarified, his voice laced with a sadness that mirrored the turmoil swirling inside me. “He died before you were even born. I don’t know all the details surrounding his death, but I do know it hit your father hard. Devastated wouldn’t even begin to

describe it.”

“Dead? But how do you know? And why didn’t my father ever mention him?”

Suddenly, a memory from the hospital flickered in my mind. My father’s harsh words, laced with a bitter sadness: “Because they took him away from me.”

Could it be? Was this brother the one “taken away“? The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

“When I became Alpha,” Ivan continued, his voice low, “I had to learn about all the other packs in the city, their histories, their rivalries. That’s how I found out about your brother. Apparently, he almost burned down the entire city in a rage, seeking revenge on the one responsible for his death.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “Alex’s father”

My eyes snapped to his face, searching for any hidden meaning, any deception. Suddenly, everything clicked into place. The animosity between my father and Alex’s pack. His unending hate for Alex. It all made a twisted kind of sense.

“Alex’s father? I could have had a brother,” I whispered.

Ivan reached over, his hand gently squeezing my knee. I hadn’t realized how badly it was trembling “I can’t speak for your father, Amaya,” he said softly. “But maybe… maybe he saw you as a constant reminder of what he lost. A painful echo of his griet

Pity? Anger? The emotions churned inside me, a confusing cocktail it wasn’t my fault he’d lost his son. Yet, for all these years, he’d turned his

cold anger on me, the innocent bystander in this tragedy. What about Alex? Did he know about his father’s past? There was no way he could be completely oblivious. Whenever I’d mentioned his family, he’d shut down, the conversation turning

“Amaya,” Ivan’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “Look at me.“His touch, gentle yet firm, brought my attention back to him. His fingers brushed away the tears I hadn’t realized were streaming down my face.

“Why?” I choked out, “Why did things have to be so complicated?”

His hands left my knee, and he gently pulled me into a loose hug. The car was cramped, but he managed to create a pocket of comfort amidst the overwhelming chaos of my emotions. My body wracked with sobs, tears soaking the fabric of his shirt. He didn’t say anything, just held me as the storm raged on inside me.

After what felt like an eternity, the intensity of the sobs subsided, leaving behind a hollow ache and a raw exhaustion. I leaned into his embrace, drained and emotionally spent

“Let’s get you home,” he whispered softly, his voice a soothing balm against the storm.

back to my seat, then reached for the ignition. Apparently, the car had been turned off at some point during my

by a wave of fatigue. The last thing I registered before succumbing to

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Chapter 51

determination. “I won’t

90%

rousing me from sleep. I blinked a few times, my vision adjusting to the familiar surroundings

Ivy and Nate, locked in a playful battle, Ivy was reaching with chubby arms for something Nate clutched tightly

furrowed in fierce concentration as he

voice a high pitched squeal. She lunged forward, her entire body weight thrown behind the grab and the balance they maintained was quickly disrupted: A yelp escaped

comers of my lips despite the

chaos, the noise, the love–all of it, a beautiful mess that filed a void I hadn’t even realized

I

there, champions,” I chuckled, gently untangling them from each other. “What’s all

in Nate’s hand. “He

i

glint in his eyes, peeked out from behind my arm. “No, it’s mine now!” he countered, his voice

hand and pried it open, revealing a tiny, misshapen playdough creation that

cuz it’s a mermaid dolly she

soon as I disentangled them, “Mine” vy shrieked, reaching for the playdough doll in Nate’s

bedroom door creaked open. Ivan stepped inside, his gaze

thought you left,” I managed, a hint of

“I needed to make sure you were alright.” His eyes then shifted to the commotion unfolding on my stomach. “Looks like someone

level. “So, what seems to be the

Nate declared, pointing an

“It’s not

‚ a mermaidi”

“A mermaid, huh? Can

wager to share

handed him the playdough blob. He took it gingerly

seriousness. “Hmm, I

Chapter 51