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.”

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 he got. He started this war, and it’s

“Don’t you dare 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

the whole wedding thing already? The bomb? Then 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,

Daniel, between getting even and starting 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

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Chapter 81

and the whole damn city’s on the

Ivan. Alex

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

brilliant plan, huh?” My father challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let

for a brief moment, but there was no warmth in his eyes. Just a

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

my wolves now too, aren’t they?” My father countered, his voice dripping with a smugness that made me want to punch

by a white sheet. A cold

war, Ivan,” my father said with a

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

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 find another way,

alliance is over.”

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 need for revenge. This is

way.”

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

isn’t about reckless attacks, Daniel,” Ivan countered, his voice tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way to win

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

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

council, negotiations, anything. We can’t

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You