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.”

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

“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

gruff. “You forgetting the whole wedding thing already? The bomb? Then he goes after my company, throws me

His

coldness that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched

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 meeting? Now people are

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Chapter 81

damn city’s on the verge

about hurt feelings, Ivan. Alex

“There’s a way out of this, Daniel.

what’s your brilliant plan, huh?” My father challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back and let him walk all over us? Let him take everything

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

dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These are our people you’re putting at risk. My pack, your supposed ‘allies – they’re the ones getting

wolves now 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 realized what

in war, Ivan,” my father said with a shrug. “There are casualties. You

wasn’t some game, some movie where the hero could just walk away. Lives were being lost, families were being torn apart, and

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 need for revenge. This is about protecting our people. And

way.”

“Threats, Ivan? You think that scares me? Alex started this fight, and I’ll be damned if I let

tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives. You just handed Alex a weapon,

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

against my ribs.l wanted to scream, to beg them to

softening slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything. We can’t just keep throwing fire at each other and expect

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You