Bonds

Chapter 78

-Maya’s POV-

Adrenaline surged through my veins, overriding any rational thought. Before I could even register what I was doing, I was stepping in front of Ivan, placing myself directly between him and the snarling black mass that was Alex’s wolf.

It felt instinctive, a primal urge to shield Ivan from whatever danger Alex posed. But my actions only seemed to make things worse. The wolf’s growl intensified, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine. It was a sound that spoke of pure, unbridled rage, and it was

directed solely at me.

Panic clawed at my throat.

Would he attack me?

Ivan reacted quickly, grabbing my hand and pulling me back behind him. He raised his own hand in a placating gesture, his voice calm yet firm. “Alex, we’re not here to fight. We just want to talk.”

The wolf didn’t respond, only continued its menacing growl. It circled us slowly, its eyes glowing a fiery red in the darkness. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.

Just then, Miranda let out a huff of exasperation. “Oh for crying out loud,” she drawled, her voice dripping with annoyance, “just shift back already. Your wolf is terrifying everyone.”

A beat of silence followed. Then, with a sound like thunder, bones cracked and shifted within the massive form. A moment later, Alex stood before us in all his glory, his face etched with fury.

Heat flooded my cheeks as I averted my gaze. The sight of him, so raw and exposed, was flustering. But a flicker of movement caught my eye. I stole a glance at Ivan, only to find his jaw clenched tight, his eyes narrowed in what looked like… jealousy and anger?

The awkward silence stretched on, broken only by the guards‘ coughs and nervous shuffling as they handed him clothes.

Finally Miranda spoke up again, “Well, it’s a bit chilly out here, wouldn’t you say? Shouldn’t we all head inside?”

Her attempt at lightening the mood fell flat. Everyone, it seemed, was focused on Alex’s simmering rage. After what felt like an eternity, Alex spoke. His voice was a low growl, colder than the winter wind itself, “What do you want?”

Ivan let out a heavy sigh. “There doesn’t

n’t have to b

war. We

it took my breath away. “There doesn’t have to be a war?” he roared. He took a menacing

cold and devoid of any warmth, “he’ll wish he was never even

dread washed over me. The sheer hatred radiating from Alex was palpable. “There won’t just be a war,” Alex snarled, his

about the consequences, about the potential loss of innocent lives

He was

threat hanging in the air, “look, we can

10:27 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 78

88%

answer. Think about the consequences. Think about the lives that will be lost, both

have families? They’re gone, ripped away. And you

there are other ways. It’s already brewing. More wolves are dying. Unleashing a war… that will only lead to more

a humorless laugh. “No. I have given him

the humans?” I finally spoke up, my voice barely a whisper. “If

It will be

was as if I were a stranger, a face in the

find out. Let the world burn. Maybe then, just

Alex was consumed by his rage, his desire for vengeance. Logic, reason, the

the answer, Alex,” Ivan cut in, his voice laced with a hint of desperation. “Think about your pack. Think about what they would

Alex roared, his voice raw with emotion. “I have lost wolves and many lost families. They want

silence followed. Miranda, who had been unusually quiet throughout the entire exchange, finally cleared her

demeanor, “can we all just take

ignored her completely. His gaze remained fixed on

his voice low and dangerous, “you shouldn’t have merged with a bastard in the first place, Ivan. Maybe then, your pack wouldn’t be on

rin

it was directed at Ivan,at me, at our entire pack.

a moment, it felt like we were on the precipice of another confrontation. But then, with a

try and find a peaceful solution. But if

there for a beat longer, the weight of the situation

in the past few months didn’t matter. He had