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.”

approaching because my back was turned to him but his voice cut in, his voice though rough, held a chilling edge.

anger. “Don’t you dare try to turn this on Alex! Your reckless actions are what put Maya and everyone

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

His

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

rage. “You could have done things differently!

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Chapter 81

and the whole damn city’s on the verge of

father scoffed. “War doesn’t care about hurt feelings, Ivan. Alex lit the fire, now someone’s gotta put it

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

voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk all

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

said, his voice low and dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These are our people you’re putting at risk. My pack,

made me want to punch

the stretcher, its form covered by a white sheet. A cold dread filled my gut as I

is what happens in war, Ivan,” my father said with a shrug. “There are casualties. You gonna cry

the hero could just walk away. Lives were being lost, families were being

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

alliance is over.”

isn’t about your pride or your need for revenge. This

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 the promise of strength, and that means

strategy, about finding a way

had 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 might be our home, but

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 wouldn’t

anything. We can’t just keep throwing fire at each other

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You