Bonds

Chapter 60

-Maya’s POV-

We stood there, locked in a silent stare–down, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved issues. Adrian’s eyes, once bright and mischievous, now seemed dull and empty, like two cold stones staring back at me. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I look in the changes

in him.

I finally broke the silence. “What are you doing here, Adrian? How did you find me?”

He took a step closer, his long strides eating up the distance between us. I retreated, my back pressing against the rough wall of the building behind me. His eyes never left mine, and I felt like a trapped animal, commered.

“That’s not the question you should be asking, Amaya,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “You should be asking how I am, after being thrown in jail, abandoned by everyone I thought I could trust.” His tone turned mocking, and I felt a sting of guilt. “Not even one visit, Amaya. I thought we were friends, but I guess I was wrong. You’re no different from Alex, nothing but backstabbers.”

I shook my head, trying to defend myself. “I did try to visit you, Adrian. I swear it’s the truth.”

It wasn’t a lie. After Alex kicked me out, my life spiraling out of control, I had tried to reach out to Adrian, hoping he could help me make sense of the chaos. But when I arrived at his apartment, it was like a war zone broken furniture, shattered glass, and an eerie silence. He was nowhere to be found, and the neighbors told me he had been arrested. I tried to visit him at the station, but they refused to let me see him, like I had been blacklisted.

His expression didn’t change, his eyes still cold and hard. “Did you now?” he repeated, his tone dripping with mockery…

I glanced around, trying to escape the intensity of the moment. That’s when I realized my legs were throbbing, my feet aching from the long run. I had no idea how far I had come or where I was. Panic set in, and I knew I had to get out of there, away from Adrian and his suffocating

aura.

1 faced him, trying to sound calm. “I’m glad you got out, Adrian, I really am.” Then, with a burst of courage, I turned to leave, but it was too

late.

In a flash, his hands wrapped around my waist, yanking me back against the building. All the air was knocked out of my lungs as he slammed. me against the wall, his grip like a vice around my neck, I gasped, struggling to breathe, as he glared at me, his eyes blazing with a fierce

intensity.

“You’re not going anywhere until I have the answers I need,” he growled.

I was trapped, pinned against the wall, with no escape in sight. Adrian’s grip tightened, and I felt my vision blurring, my thoughts racing with fear and confusion. What did he want from me? What answers was he searching for?

“Adrian, let go of me!” I gasped, my claws extended in a desperate attempt to defend myself. My wolf was stirring, sensing danger, but I knew I couldn’t shift, I tried to slash at him, but he was too quick, too prepared. In a flash, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at my head, the cold metal pressing against my skin.

the brain,” he

move, and I’d be

10:22 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 60

90%

my neck.

hard, trying to find my voice. “What do

been going on in the world since I was locked up and my entire life ripped from me. And most of all, you’re going to tell me everything I need to know to make Alex pay for what he did to

Revenge.

evident, like a living, breathing thing. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he released me, his hands finally leaving my neck. I

half–smoked cigarette. He pulled out a lighter and lit it up, the flame casting eerie shadows on his face. Two thoughts crossed my mind:

in jail, you do what you have to do to survive. Kill or be killed.” His voice was matter–of–fact, but his eyes told a different story. The Adrian I knew was dead, and in his place was a stranger, a man hardened by the harsh realities

as he continued talking, his words dripping with malice. “I got out two weeks ago, and since then, I’ve watched. Every. Single. One. Of. You. Natalia and that man she chose over me, Alex and his self–destructive ways… there’s no difference there. The man you married, Ivan McCall, is it? You… but you know what

go anywhere near my children, I’ll make you beg for

even sure he knows

my mind racing with thoughts of

much did

he do with

all about it, Amaya. I know Alex kicked you out of his life on the same night. I was thrown in jail.

Adrian. I’ll never help you or play your

just walk away from this? I’ve been watching you, Amaya. I have done nothing but watch. You value your children the most and I’ll

my heart racing with panic. “You’ll never touch them, Adrian. I’ll die before I let you hurt

I’m not going to hurt them. At least, not yet. First, I’m going to use you to destroy Alex. And then… well, we’ll see. Maybe I’ll let you join me

blow.”

Chapter GO

as he released some of the pressure on my neck. But he didn’t let me go, no, he

swallowed hard, trying to find my voice.

been going on in the world since I was locked up and my entire life ripped from me. And most of all, you’re going to tell me everything I need to know to make

Revenge.

for revenge was evident, like a living, breathing thing. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he released me, his hands finally leaving my neck. I took a deep breath, coughing, my throat sore

cigarette. He pulled out a lighter and lit it up, the flame casting eerie shadows on his face. Two thoughts crossed my mind: first, that was disgusting, and second, he had always despised

jail, you do what you have to do to survive. Kill or be killed.” His voice was matter–of–fact, but his eyes told a different story.

with malice. “I got out two weeks ago, and since then, I’ve watched. Every. Single. One. Of. You. Natalia and that man she chose over me, Alex and his self–destructive ways… there’s no difference there. The man you married, Ivan McCall, is it? You… but you know

My wolf growled, a low, menacing sound, as I snarled, “if you go anywhere near my children, I’ll make you beg for death.” But Adrian just ignored the threat,

father. I’m not even sure he knows they exist. Something tells me you

keep it that way.”