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.”

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

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

goes after my company, throws me in jail like some criminal. What the hell did you expect

His

A coldness that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched so tight

yelled, his voice shaking with barely contained rage. “You could have done things differently!

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Chapter 81

whole damn city’s on the verge

feelings, Ivan. Alex

from his voice. “There’s a way out of this, Daniel. We can

dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk

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

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

they?” My father countered, his voice dripping with a smugness that made me want to punch him. “That’s the whole

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

with a

movie where the hero could just walk away. Lives were being lost, families were being torn apart, and all because these Alex

my father, 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

alliance is over.”

father opened his mouth 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

way.”

damned if I let him finish it. We built this alliance on the promise of strength, and that means protecting ourselves from those who

about finding a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives.

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 home, but it’s also a battlefield now, and I won’t

enough to choke on. My heart hammered against my ribs.l

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

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You