Bonds

Chapter 140

-Maya’s POV-

A searing pain ripped through me, a jolt of white–hot agony that stole the breath from my lungs. The world spun wildly, smoke and fire blurring my vision. My ears were filled with a deafening ringing that drowned out all other sounds.

Through the haze of pain, a primal fear gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. My children. Where were they? Astrangled cry escaped my lips as I tried to move, to reach out and find them but my body refused to obey. Every muscle screamed in protest, each movement a monumental effort. I was trapped, a prisoner in a cage of my own flesh and bone.

A choked sob escaped my lips, a raw sound of despair that echoed in the echoing silence.

Had I failed?

Had I not been fast enough?

Just as despair threatened to consume me, a sliver of movement caught my eye. A figure emerged from the smoke–filled haze. I let out a humorless laugh in my head. Ivan had come to finish it once and for all but then strong arms scooped me up, a gentle yet firm hold that cradled me against a solid chest. Through the haze of pain and confusion, a familiar scent registered in my brain, grounding me momentarily.

Recognition bloomed – Alex. Relief washed over me, a weak and tepid wave, but relief nonetheless.

But the relief was short–lived, overshadowed by a more pressing concern. “The twins…” I rasped, the words scraping like sandpaper against my raw throat. “Where are they?”

His face, illuminated by the flickering flames, contorted in a mixture of relief and pain. But his voice held a sliver of hope. “They’re alright, Amaya. Chistian got them out.”

Those words were a balm to my soul, a flicker of light in the encroaching darkness. They were safe. That was all that mattered. But even as the relief washed over me, a new wave of panic surged through me. My body felt heavy, impossibly heavy, and a searing pain radiated from every limb.

I tried to move, to turn and see for myself, but my muscles wouldn’t cooperate. I suddenly couldn’t feel anything yet I could feel the intense pain at thesame time. I really don’t know how it made sense but it did.

“Amaya?” Alex’s voice sounded strained, laced with a growing sense of urgency. “Can you hear me?”

I tried to nod, to offer some form of reassurance, but even that simple movement proved to be too much. A wave of dizziness washed over me, the edges of my vision blurring.

“Don’t worry,” He murmured even though I hardly heards him above the crackling flames. “We’ll get you out of here. Just hold on.”

His words were a lifeline, a fragile thread of hope that kept me tethered to consciousness. But the darkness was closing in, the edges of the world fading into an inky oblivion. The last thing I registered before succumbing to the darkness was Alex’s face hovering above mine, his eyes filled with something I had never seen before- fear.

And then, oblivion.

ragged. My body lurched upwards, propelled by a primal urge to escape, to find them.

cobwebs clouding my mind. The walls of the room swam into focus, the harsh fluorescent lights adding to the pulsing ache in my head. Slowly, the horrifying events of the warehouse came rushing back–the explosion,

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tide of panic “They

the source of the voice, my gaze landing on Natalia, who sat

concern.

I rasped, “Where

safe, Amaya. They’re being checked over

balm to my soul, easing the crushing weight of fear that had been constricting my chest. A weak smile tugged

I been

voice soft. “You took quite a beating

an eternity. So much had happened, yet everything felt like a blur. Images flickered in and out of focus – Alex face hovering above me,

–

a new wave of worry washing over me. “Did he get

to sadness crossing her features for a brief moment before she quickly masked it with a reassuring smile. “He’s a little banged

had been there. He had kept his promise, kept me safe. Ivan might still be out there planning whatever the moon goddess knows but it didn’t matter right now because everything was fine but just as I was about to drift

attention.

Everything wasn’t alright.

me, dispelling the remnants of drowsiness. I struggled to sit up

“It’s nothing. Go back to sleep, you need

had a tell – a rapid blinking that betrayed her attempts to conceal the

the sound heavy with unspoken worry.

pricked and ready for action. “You said he

the door and me. “But it seems when that bullet hit him while he was in his wolf form… well, when he died, by whatever miracle he was brought back, his wolf didn’t come back with

mind struggled to process her words. “What?” I

grimly. “I overheard him tell Christian that he can’t shift.”

years,” I countered, a flicker of hope sparking within me. “I’m

me off, her voice laced with urgency. “It’s not the same, Amaya. You could still feel your wolf, she was trapped inside