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.

pretty sure even werewolves can’t heal from a bullet straight to the brain,” he sneered, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. I froze, my

and

10:22 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 60

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my neck. But he didn’t let me go, no, hel just adjusted his grip, his fingers digging deeper into

swallowed hard, trying to find my

detached. “About everything that’s 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.

evident, like a living, breathing thing. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he released me,

eyes never leaving mine, as he reached down to pick something off the floor. A half–smoked cigarette. He pulled out a lighter and lit it up, the flame casting eerie shadows on his face. Two

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

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 fascinated me the

instincts kicking in. 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

I’m sure he doesn’t know he’s their father. I’m not even sure he knows they exist. Something tells me you want to keep it

raced as I continued staring at him, my mind racing

did Adrian

what would he do

Alex kicked you out of his life on the same night. I was thrown in jail. But it doesn’t matter. What matters is that Alex still wants you, and I’m going to

I’ll never help you

You think you can just walk away from

panic. “You’ll

smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with a madman’s intensity. “Oh, 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.

hard, trying to find my voice.

replied, his tone cold and detached. “About everything that’s been going on in the world since I was locked up and my entire life ripped from me. And most of all,

Revenge.

shiver run down my spine as he released me, his hands finally leaving my neck. I took a deep breath, coughing,

off the floor. A half–smoked cigarette. He pulled out a lighter and lit it up, the flame casting eerie shadows on

voice cut in, as if reading my mind, “habits, when you’re 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

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

near my children, I’ll

know he’s their father. I’m not

keep it that way.”