Bonds

Chapter 65

-Alex’s POV-

Adrian sauntered into the private ro with an air of misplaced confidence. He pulled out a chair with a flourish, completely ignoring the tension crackling in the air, and poured himself a generous amount of amber liquid from the bottle on the table.

As he took a swig, I watched him. He wasn’t the Adrian I knew. The prison visitation has made it clear but seeing him out here only confirmed it. The easygoing goofball who’d been my best friend since college had vanished, replaced by this… stranger. His eyes, once full of warmth and mischief, now held a cold, calculating glint

“Well, well,” he drawled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Let’s not let my little arrival disrupt the party. We’ll go on. The three of us used to be friends after all.” He emphasized the last word with a sneer that sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me.

Christian, ever the picture of stoicism, simply leaned back in his chair, the familiar bored expression back in place. “Adrian,” he began, his voice dry and devoid of warmth, “we know you’re worked up about being in jail, but stalking us all the way to Italy? That’s a bit much, even

for you.”

Adrian scoffed, a harsh, grating sound. “Worked up? You locked me up for four damn years, Alex, and you helped him do it!”

Afrian’s eyes flashed with anger as he narrowed Christian with a glare, “Worked up? He threw me in jail and you helped him.”

“And the reason you followed us all the way to Italy is because?” I countered, my voice as dry and emotionless as Christian’s.

His eyes, those cold, calculating eyes, narrowed in on me. “I’ve been quite busy since I got out, Alex,” he drawled, taking another leisurely sip of his drink. “You know, catching up with old friends. And wouldn’t you know it, I ran into someone quite familiar. Amaya.”

The name hit me like a physical blow. My wolf surged within me, a primal growl threatening to erupt from my throat. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to attack, to rip into him for daring to speak her name. But with a huge amount of effort, I forced myself to remain still.

lips, as

but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. No matter how much his words twisted the knife in my

focused on my breathing, slow and measured, trying to calm the raging storm within. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, Christian watched the exchange with a hawk–like intensity, his hand hovering near his phone, no doubt ready to call

hand.

but I refused to give him the satisfaction. He swirled the remaining liquid in his glass, his irritation growing as he realized he wasn’t getting the reaction he desired. The silence between us was palpable, heavy with tension, as he waited for me to

recognize her but you could never miss her scent. It’s one of a kind,” he continued, her name rolling

I fought to keep my anger in check. I could feel its power coursing through my veins, urging me to lash out, to defend my territory. But I didn’t respond, didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing

90%

Chapter 65

face. “I see you’re still hung up in her. Stalking the person who she wants

nails digging into my palms as I struggled to maintain control.

eyes met mine, a warning glinting in their depths. He knew I was on the edge, knew that one wrong move could send me over the precipice. “Shut up, Adrian,” he said, his voice low and even, a

“Oh, come on, Christian. Don’t be such a spoilsport. Alex here needs to face reality. He’s

it, Adrian,” I growled, my voice low and menacing, a warning sign that I was on the

Adrian just kept going, his words like a steady drumbeat. “Amaya, Amaya, Amaya.

within me. It was the final push, the spark that ignited the tinderbox

my emotions

the reins. My vision dimmed at the edges, the world narrowing to a single

by instinct and rage. One moment I was sitting across from Adrian, the next I was a blur of motion. I was across the table in a heartbeat, slamming into him

surprise, momentarily unguarded before a flicker of something dark ignited within them.

lunged for his throat.

lips. “Finally decided to show your true colors?” he rasped, his voice choked but laced with a disturbing amusement. “Took you