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.”

me to continue walking until we got to the car. I hadn’t noticed my father approaching because my back was turned to him but his voice cut in, his voice though rough, held a chilling edge. “Alex deserves everything

try to turn this on Alex! Your reckless actions are what put Maya and everyone else in danger. 1 formed this alliance to strengthen our packs, not for you to use its power

thing already? The bomb? Then he goes after my company, throws

His

was something else there too. A coldness that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched so tight I swear I heard

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?

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Chapter 81

damn city’s on the verge of

“War doesn’t care about hurt feelings, Ivan. Alex lit the fire,

starting another, bigger fire?” Ivan shot back, disbelief dripping from his voice. “There’s a way out of this, Daniel. We can find a way to

a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk all over us? Let

me for a brief moment, but there was no

low and dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These are our people you’re putting at risk.

wolves now too, aren’t they?” My father countered, his voice dripping with a smugness that made me want to punch him. “That’s the whole point of this merger, remember? We’re one

by a white sheet. A cold dread filled

said with a shrug. “There are

being lost, families were being torn

even a flicker of sadness. “I need to take Amaya home. We’ll talk about this

alliance is over.”

even think about it,” he growled. “This isn’t about your pride or your need for revenge. This is about protecting our people. And if you

way.”

think that scares me? Alex started this fight, and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built this alliance on the promise of strength, and

reckless attacks, Daniel,” Ivan countered, his voice tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives. You just handed Alex a weapon, a reason to escalate this whole mess

my company. He doesn’t play fair, and neither will 1. This city might be our home, but it’s also a battlefield now, and

The tension between them was thick enough to choke on. My heart hammered against my ribs.l wanted to scream, to beg them to stop madness, but the words

voice softening slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything.

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You