Bonds

Chapter 79

-Alex’s POV-

The slam of the car door echoed in the tense silence, a punctuation mark to the infuriating exchange that had just transpired. Amaya and Ivan were gone, their taillights disappearing into the night like a fading dream. My fists clenched, claws digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. The bloodlust that had been simmering beneath the surface since the news of the bombing boiled over, a primal rage that

threatened to consume me whole.

“That was intense,” Miranda drawled, her voice dripping with her usual brand of morbid amusement as she followed me back into the house.

Lignored her. Every muscle in my body felt coiled tight, ready to spring. “So,” She continued, her voice laced with a sly curiosity, “care to share what that little reunion was all about? Planning a war council perhaps?”

My jaw clenched tighter. “Leave me alone, Miranda.”

Her smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of genuine worry replacing the usual mischief in her eyes. But it was fleeting. She recovered quickly, her lips curling into a smirk. “Oh come on, Alex. Don’t be so grumpy. As your fiancée, I practically have a need to know these things, you know, pick a side and all that. After all, you were getting awfully chummy with Ivan there for a second. You know with you helping his

company.”

I scoffed. Fiancée. The only thing that wore was a title. I would keep her long enough to f*ck her senseless because that was the only thing we could agree on but I’d never marry her. We would be companions perhaps forever in our shared loneliness and hate.

Pushing past the pang of anger, I focused on the present. “This has nothing to do with you, Miranda. Stay out of it.”

“Oh, but it does,” she countered, her voice losing its playful edge. “You’re about to declare war on my brother’s pack, and for all I know this might be a way for you to take him out leaving dear Amaya-”

your mouth!” I roared, my voice laced with a dangerous edge. “This isn’t about Amaya or Ivan. This is about what that

at my

she didn’t back down. She squared her shoulders, her gaze meeting mine defiantly. “How do you plan to strike back, then? With a bunch of angry speeches and brooding stares? Because last I checked, a war is won with more than

intimidate, to cripple. But it had backfired. It had

defenses, his pack’s movements, his whereabouts. Every detail, every chink in his armor, would be exploited. Vargas would be useful here. Despite his annoying self–importance, he possessed a cunning mind and a network of informants that could prove

of fangs and claws. No, that was a game expected, a game he was likely prepared for. My attack would be swift, surgical, a strike that

plan,” I finally growled, the words laced with a

Stone

flickering in her eyes. “Oh really? And what

10:27 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 79

days since the bombing and all you have done is

smirked, a cold and predatory smile that sent shivers down her spine, even I could tell. “Let’s just say Daniel Stone will be receiving a

image of the devastation I would unleash on Stone’s territory, the fear it would instill in his pack, brought a sliver of satisfaction to the churning pit in my

going to end well, Alex,” She said, her voice softer now, laced with a hint of concern. “There will be

a brutal game with no winners, only survivors. But the thought of backing down, of letting

will be casualties,” I acknowledged, my voice low and gravelly. “But if I don’t act, there will be more. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but Stone won’t stop until he crushes us. This… this is about protecting my

moment, her eyes searching mine and I almost backed away from the intensity of her gaze. She looked normal, not like the manipulator I knew she was. She looked like

battle. I live for drama and chaos. You know that even though it’s going to be against my brother who has been nothing but an irritant,” A

barked out a laugh, a humorless sound that lacked its usual falseness. “Don’t worry. I am still going to irritate you with my games. I’m still going to throw shade at your ex love. Just… try not to get

first time, it felt like we were capable of having a normal conversation, “I’ll do