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.”

the car. I hadn’t noticed my father approaching because my back was turned to him but his voice cut in,

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

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

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

Daniel, between getting even and 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?

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Chapter 81

damn city’s on the verge of

feelings, Ivan. Alex lit the fire, now someone’s

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 a

what’s your brilliant plan, huh?” My father challenged, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “Just sit

me for a brief moment, but there was no warmth

said, his voice low and dangerous. “You dragged all of us into this. These are our people

that made me want to punch him. “That’s the whole point of this merger, remember? We’re one pack

white sheet. A cold dread

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

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

a mix of anger 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

alliance is over.”

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

way.”

scares me? Alex started this fight, and I’ll be damned if I let him finish it. We built

a way to win without sacrificing innocent lives. You just handed

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

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

slightly. “The council, negotiations, anything. We can’t just keep throwing

You can’t re

reason with a snake.You