Bonds

Chapter 80

-Maya’s POV-

The roar of the engine was a dull thrum against the deafening words in my head. Images flashed behind my eyelids – Alex’s enraged face, the glowing red of his wolf’s eyes, the chilling finality in his voice as he threatened my father’s life. Each horrifying detail replayed on a loop, squeezing the air from my lungs.

Ivan drove in a tense silence, his jaw clenched tight, knuckles white on the steering wheel, My attempts to process the events of the evening felt futile. It was like trying to grasp smoke – the conversation with Alex had devolved into a chaotic mess.

“It’ll be okay,” Ivan let through a breath, his voice low and gruff. But the words rang hollow, offering little comfort in the face of the impending

storm.

I scoffed, a humorless sound escaping my lips. “Okay? How can you possibly say that will be okay? He threatened to kill my father!”

I mean I was the last person who cared about him at this very moment but that didn’t mean I would be happy to see Alex kill him. Well maybe yes it would be nice to not have to deal with him permanently but this was not how I want it to happen.

He sighed, a heavy sound that spoke volumes of his own internal turmoil. “He’s angry. Right now, logic isn’t exactly his strong suit. But once he cools down I’m sure

“He won’t cool down, Ivan,” I interrupted, my voice rising a notch. “Don’t you see? He’s gone too far. He’s consumed by rage.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Maybe. But we can’t give up hope. We need to find a way to reason with him.”

“How?” I challenged, my voice laced with despair. “We tried talking, and it got us nowhere. He doesn’t care about the consequences, about the potential bloodshed. He’s lost sight of everything except his desire to make my father pay.”

Silence descended again, heavy and suffocating. The car sped down the deserted highway, the headlights cutting through the inky blackness like a knife. My gaze drifted to the passing landscape, a blur of trees and telephone poles, but I saw nothing. My mind was a warzone, replaying the conversation with Alex over and over again.

“I’ve seen that look on his face before,” I whispered, the memory sending a fresh wave of chills down my spine. “Right before he threw me out. That cold, emotionless mask, the eyes devoid of any warmth. He’s the same way now, consumed by a single purpose.”

Ivan finally turned his head towards me, his brow furrowed in concern, “What do you

mean?”

papers in my face. And for a moment, I saw

a stoic demeanor. I knew it must hurt him fearing about us and I really wish I didn’t

things

the memory still raw. “But that night, it felt different. It felt like a wall had gone up between us, a wall that I couldn’t tear down. And now, seeing him again… he doesn’t care, it’s

reached out and squeezed my hand gently. The gesture, small as it was,

Chapter 60

how it felt for him with me talking about this. “We’ll figure this out, Amaya. Together. There has to be

of the precarious situation

silence stretching between us like a taut rope. When he finally spoke, his voice was laced with a weariness

“We protect our pack. We protect our families. Even if it means…” He

the image of his rage–filled face, the chilling threat hanging

murmured, the words catching in my throat. “It

regret. “But sometimes, the right thing isn’t always the easiest thing. There are sacrifices to be

have

him so why didn’t it feel like I was betraying him still, “There

know. That’s why we need to come up with a plan. We need to find a

tense silence settled between us once more. The rhythmic hum of the engine was the only sound that broke the stillness. My mind raced, searching for a solution, any solution, that could avert the impending

in his pocket, his face grim even before he saw the caller ID. With a deep breath, he answered,

on the other end. Ivan’s face drained of color, his jaw clenching with each passing second. He listened intently, his

trembling hand, his eyes filled with a haunted emptiness. The phone clattered to the console, a hollow sound that echoed in the

“What happened?”

out a tired sigh, “There was

breath hitched. “Another explosion?”

outside

ran cold. “My

it blew up.

of my lungs, leaving me breathless then a horrifying scream ripped from that tore through the confines of the

my throat