Bonds

Chapter 121

-Maya’s POV-

Have you ever gotten to that point in your life where it feels like everything you built, everything you held dear, just crumbled around you, leaving nothing but a pile of smoking ruins? I shouldn’t have asked because I know the answer. At some point, everyone has felt that way but I didn’t think it would ever get to this point. Except, that’s exactly where I stood, tears blurring my vision as I stared at the wreckage before me.

Except, it wasn’t just the building or the blood on the concrete. It was… well, everything else. It was everything that had imploded in the aftermath of that stupid, impulsive kiss with Alex. I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t know why I did it. Natalia had spelled it out for me an hour ago, calling me a selfish bitch after she told me she didn’t ever want to ever see me again.

Nothing, not a single thing, not the rejection, not when my father told me he hated me, had hurt me more than the moment those words left her lips and she turned her back on me. The worst part? I deserved it. Every ounce of her anger, every bit of her hurt, I had earned it all. And it was all because of him.

Here I stood, lost and confused, with no idea where to even begin to pick up the pieces. Maybe, I thought, I should rewind. Go back to that moment before everything spiraled out of control. Go back to the beginning. Right after the kiss.

In that single, stolen moment, all I could think about was how strangely perfect it felt. Our lips were fused, and it was like his whole being was pouring into mine. I never wanted to let go, to disconnect from that feeling. But then, slowly, the reality of the situation started to seep in, and with a jolt, I pushed him away.

We stared at each other, both panting for breath. “Amaya,” he whispered, his voice thick with something I couldn’t decipher. “I–”

But I didn’t want to hear it. I didn’t want to hear whatever excuse or apology he was about to offer. So I did what I do best – I ran. I was a master at running away from my problems, a hypocrite through and through. And that’s exactly what I did. I ran.

That was the beginning of the end.

I wasn’t the horrible person I felt like. But he was still out

kiss, plastered all over my computer screen. I’d made plenty of mistakes

–

relentless. They were determined to destroy everything – my marriage, my reputation, my life. I naively thought that was the

headline imaginable. It wasn’t about me, thank Goddess but it was way worse. It was a video. A video of a man, a stranger, someone I’d never met and would never get the

the news broke. She was the only one left who I could turn to. I needed her help, needed a plan to stop this blackmailer before they destroyed my life.

goddamn world

started hunting us down like monsters in the night, calling us all sorts of names. Riots erupted everywhere. Every unsolved death, every unexplained attack from the past few years, they were all getting pinned on us now. Werewolves were scrambling to disappear, to find somewhere safe

Nobody was safe.

actually spoke to me without spitting fire. He even went so far as to assign some wolves from the pack

but it was something I chose to worry

tear my hair out. Alex? Nobody had heard a peep from him until the biggest bomb of all hit the media. It spread like wildfire – faster than

The

–

even a full day before the riots started. People were swarming his hotels, his restaurants, his company headquarters – setting everything on fire, smashing

my entire life. I had to know he was okay. My wolf surged

Chapter 121

dangers of venturing out with crazed humans rampaging

after me. He was still my best friend afterall. The next thing I knew, I was pushing through a throng

shifting right there to protect me. A gunshot rang out, sharp and sudden. It hit him.