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.”

him but his voice cut in,

try to turn this on Alex! Your reckless actions are what put Maya and everyone else

was like a dismissal, “He started it,” he said, his voice gruff. “You forgetting 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

His

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

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

whole damn city’s on

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

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

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

but there was no warmth in his eyes. Just a steely glint

anymore, Daniel,” Ivan said, his voice low and dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These

his voice dripping with a smugness that made me

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

my father said with a shrug. “There

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

and something else – maybe even a flicker of sadness. “I need to take Amaya home. We’ll talk about this later. But one thing’s for sure this ends now. No more attacks, no more bloodshed.

alliance is over.”

isn’t about your pride or your

way.”

and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built this

about strategy, about finding a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives. You just handed Alex a weapon, a reason to

a dangerous glint. “He used it on me, on my company. He doesn’t play fair, and neither will 1. This

enough to choke on. My heart hammered against my

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

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You