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.”

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

Your reckless actions are what put Maya and everyone else in danger. 1 formed

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

His

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

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,

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Chapter 81

whole damn city’s on

doesn’t care about hurt feelings, Ivan. Alex

from his voice. “There’s a way out of this, Daniel. We can find a way to settle things that doesn’t involve

My father challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk all over us? Let him

me for a brief moment, but there was no warmth in his

“You dragged all of us into this. These are our people you’re putting at risk. My pack, your supposed

now too, aren’t they?” My father countered, his voice dripping with a smugness that made me want to punch him. “That’s the

stretcher, its form covered by a white sheet. A cold dread

Ivan,” my father said with a shrug. “There are casualties. You gonna cry

being lost, families were being torn apart, and all because these Alex couldn’t seem to settle their differences like

his eyes burning with a mix of anger and something else – maybe even a flicker of sadness. “I need to take Amaya home. We’ll talk about this later. But one thing’s for sure this ends now. No more attacks, no more bloodshed. We

alliance is over.”

to retort, but Ivan cut him off with a sharp gesture. “Don’t 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 can’t see

way.”

this fight, and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built this alliance on the promise of

Ivan countered, his voice tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way

it on me, on my company. He doesn’t play fair, and neither will

thick enough to choke on. My heart hammered against my ribs.l wanted to scream,

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

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You