Bonds

Chapter 86

-Maya’s POV-

The trance he’d somehow woven around me shattered and anger surged through pushing aside whatever bewilderment had kept me rooted to the spot. I took a sharp step back, my glare burning into his impassive face.

I

“You knew? You knew your father killed my brother before I was even born, before I even had a chance to meet him?”

He blinked twice, a flicker of something crossing his features that was gone too quickly for me to decipher. “I didn’t. My father just told me. I would have told you.” He studied me for a moment, his gaze so intense it felt like he was trying to see right through me. “If you knew what my father did to your family, why did you ever agree to mate with me? You should have hated me too.”

“I just found out that I had a brother,” I forced out, my voice trembling slightly. “Even if I had known… I loved you, I would have chosen you

still.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off before he could utter another word. “I don’t want to hear it, Alex. Whatever you have to say, I don’t. I am done with this conversation. The only thing I have to say is this – you need to stop whatever it is you’re planning against my father. People will die.”

“People already died,” he shot back, his voice tight with its own brand of anger. “My wolves died.”

eath, the exhaustion of it all settling in my bones. “Aren’t you tired of this? This endless cycle of drama, violence? Can’t we

I let out a shaky breath, just… stop?”

He didn’t respond, leaving me staring at him in a tense silence. A wave of frustration washed over me. “You know what?” I finally said, shaking my head. “Do whatever you want, go crazy, you and my father can kill yourselves for all i care. Just leave Ivan out of it.”

My words hung heavy in the air, the unspoken threat clear. But instead of the contrition I craved, his eyes flared with unexpected anger. “Ivan? That’s all you care about now?” he snapped.

my lips. “Shouldn’t I?” Lretorted. “He’s my husband, after

the anger seeming to simmer just beneath the surface. He clenched his jaw shut, then

down.

the door. “I’m sure everything is fine

my wrist. A jolt of electricity ran

talking to you,”

his. “Well, I am done talking to you, Alex. The time for talking is over. We could have talked about those photos four years ago. We could have avoided all this drama,

don’t have anything to say to you now.” continued, my voice firm despite the tremor in my heart. “Just leave me the hell alone.”

10:29 sat, zzJun

Chapter 86

his voice low, “when you come here every day. You’re

be the one

the one who kept secrets, the one who lied and manipulated, the one

hurt and confusion. “You know what? I spat, my voice

still have another two weeks left on your

for two more weeks. I can find another job, another design firm that doesn’t have the emotional

flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by a stubborn set to his jaw. “You’re overreacting,” he said, his voice clipped. “This

You didn’t

voice tight. “You’re free to leave. But

finished.”

stared right at him. This back and forth, this endless cycle of accusations and hurt… I was done. I was tired. Physically, my body

me off the project. I

when all this is over,” I continued, my voice dropping to a

it was the only way I could

laced with such icy finality that I watched him physically take a step backwards. A flicker of hurt, a physical manifestation of pain, crossed his