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.”

pulled me 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

“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 power for

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

that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched so tight I swear I heard

and starting a full–blown warl” he yelled, his voice shaking with barely contained rage. “You could have done things differently! Instead, you

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Chapter 81

damn city’s on the verge of

“War doesn’t care about hurt feelings, Ivan. Alex

starting another, bigger fire?” Ivan shot back, disbelief dripping from his voice. “There’s a way out of this,

voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit back

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

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

smugness that made me want to punch him. “That’s the whole

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

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

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

even a flicker of sadness. “I need to take Amaya home.

alliance is over.”

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.”

fight, and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built this alliance on the promise of strength, and

Daniel,” Ivan countered, his voice tight with controlled fury. “It’s about strategy, about finding a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives. You just handed Alex a weapon, a reason

fair, and neither will 1. This city might be our home, but

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

another way,” Ivan pleaded, his voice softening slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything. We can’t just keep throwing fire at each other and expect the flames to

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You