Bonds

Chapter 81

-Maya’s POV-

A strong grip clamped onto my arm from behind, yanking me back just as I lunged forward. It was van. Dread washed over me for a moment, but then I saw him. My father. Emerging from the back of an ambulance, his face etched with pain and anger, burns marring his skin.

Alive

I blinked, confused. The dead body on the stretcher, covered in a white sheet, sent a jolt through me. My wolf senses had failed me

completely.

Shame burned in my throat, acrid and hot. I had assumed wrong. Whoever was on the stretcher must have been someone else. I immediately wanted to run towards him because I never learn. He’d told me point–blank he didn’t love me, yet here I was, ready to run to him again.

Ivan’s grip tightened on my arm and I turned to face the stern expression on his face. “Don’t. You know how this ends. It’s been a long night, let’s just get you home.”

I turned back to see my father’s scowl deepening deep in conversation with someone nearby.

Ivan sighed, a sound laced with frustration. “Come on.”

His grip firm as he began to lead me away. We walked in a tense silence, the image of my father, alive but uncaring, heavy on my mind. We were almost at the car when a voice cut through the commotion.

“Ivan!”

We both turned to see a man approaching, his face etched with concern. He spoke quickly, his words tumbling over each other. “We need to talk strategy. This attack on Daniel Stone, you could be next…”

Ivan’s jaw clenched tight. He let out a frustrated huff. “Look, I appreciate you coming by, but this isn’t the time. We’ve had a rough night.”

He cast me a sidelong glance, his expression unreadable. “Besides,” he continued, his voice hardening, “this whole mess wouldn’t have happened if someone hadn’t gone and bombed Alex’s meeting.”

but his voice cut in, his voice though rough, held a

eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t you dare try to turn this on Alex! Your reckless actions are what put Maya and everyone

he goes after my company, throws me in jail like some criminal. What the hell did you expect me to do? Just lie down and let him walk

His

A coldness that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched so tight I swear I heard his teeth

a full–blown warl” he yelled, his voice shaking with barely contained rage. “You could have done things differently! Instead, you go behind everyone’s back and bomb his meeting? Now people are dead, Maya’s

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Chapter 81

damn city’s

Ivan. Alex lit the fire, now someone’s gotta put

bigger fire?” Ivan shot back, disbelief dripping from his voice. “There’s a way out of this, Daniel. We can find a way to settle things that doesn’t involve turning the whole city into

huh?” My father challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk all over us? Let him take everything I’ve

there was no

These are our people you’re putting at risk. My pack, your supposed ‘allies – they’re the ones getting caught in the

smugness that made me want to punch him. “That’s the whole point of this merger,

towards the body on the stretcher, its form covered by a white sheet. A cold dread filled my gut as

a shrug.

movie where the hero could just walk away. Lives were being lost, families were being torn

of sadness. “I need to take Amaya home. We’ll talk

alliance is over.”

growled. “This isn’t about your pride or your need for revenge.

way.”

I’ll be damned if

about reckless attacks, Daniel,” Ivan countered, his voice tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way to

had a weapon,” my father shot back, his voice laced with a dangerous glint. “He used it on me, on my company. He doesn’t play fair, and neither will 1. This city might be our

hammered against my ribs.l wanted to scream, to beg

be another way,” Ivan pleaded, his voice softening slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything. We can’t just keep throwing fire at each other and

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You