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.”

was turned to him but his voice cut in, his voice though rough, held a chilling edge. “Alex deserves everything he got. He started this war, and it’s time we finished

everyone else in danger. 1 formed this alliance to strengthen our packs, not for you to use its power for

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

His

that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched so

getting even and starting a full–blown warl” he yelled, his voice shaking with barely contained rage. “You

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Chapter 81

the whole damn city’s on the

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

voice. “There’s a way out of this,

voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just

to me for a brief moment, but there was no warmth in his eyes. Just a steely glint

said, his voice low and dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These are our

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 pack

form covered by a white sheet. A cold dread filled my gut as I

happens in war, Ivan,” my father said with a

were being lost, families were being torn apart,

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

alliance is over.”

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

way.”

scraped against my ears. “Threats, Ivan? You think that scares me? Alex started this fight, and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built this alliance on

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

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

My heart hammered against my ribs.l wanted to scream, to beg them to stop

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

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You