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 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

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

started it,” he said, his voice gruff. “You forgetting the whole wedding thing already? The bomb? Then he goes after

His

there was something else there too. A coldness that made me shiver, Ivan’s jaw clenched

barely contained rage. “You could have done things differently! Instead, you go behind everyone’s

88%

Chapter 81

damn city’s on the verge

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

another, bigger fire?” Ivan shot back, disbelief dripping from his voice. “There’s a way out of this, Daniel. We can find a way to settle things that doesn’t involve turning the whole city into

voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just

gaze flickered to me for a 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

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,

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

father said with a shrug. “There are casualties. You gonna cry

This wasn’t some game, some movie where the hero could just walk away. Lives were being lost, families were being torn apart, and all because these Alex couldn’t seem to settle their differences

father, his 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 about

alliance is over.”

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.

way.”

sound that 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 protecting

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 to

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

tension between them was thick enough to choke on. My heart hammered against my ribs.l

another way,” Ivan pleaded, his voice softening slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything. We can’t just keep

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You