Bonds

Chapter 141

-Alex’s POV-

The first thing that registered when consciousness flickered back was Christian’s face hovering above me. My head throbbed and a relentless ringing filled my ears. But a primal urge cut through the pain – I had to get to them.

Christian helped me to my feet, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. Time was a precious commodity, there was no room for hesitation or collecting my thoughts. I stumbled towards the direction of the blast, my vision blurring at the edges.

Then I saw her, sprawled on the ground with two tiny bodies huddled beside her. A choked sound escaped my throat, a sound that was both relief and terror rolled into one.

“Get them,” I rasped, my voice hoarse and raw. “I’ll get Amaya.”

Without waiting for a response, I rushed towards her, scooping her fragile form into my arms. It wasn’t until we were safely out of the warehouse that the weight of reality settled upon me. These weren’t figments of my imagination, a dream conjured by exhaustion or hope. They were real. Two lives, two children, products of Amaya and me.

And suddenly, I didn’t know what to feel. A maelstrom of emotions swirled within me – fear, confusion, a flicker of something akin to pride. How could I, someone raised by a monster, be a father? Not to one, but two children? The thought sent a fresh wave of nausea washing over me.

The questions gnawed at me relentlessly, growing louder with each passing moment. Until we reached the safe house, Natalia and Riley rushing forward to take the children from Christian. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to draw closer. I didn’t allow myself even look at them. A primal fear, a fear I hadn’t acknowledged since my mother’s death, gripped my heart. It was a fear of failure, a terror of not being good enough, of disappointing the two innocent lives I’d helped create and it remained like that after I placed Amaya on the bed and the doctor Riley had brought assured me that she would we fine.

So would they.

Christian’s voice was the only thing that had broke through the fog clouding my mind when he asked what was wrong, and for the first time in my life, the carefully constructed walls I’d built crumbled. I confessed everything – the fear of failing them, the crushing vulnerability I felt that my wolf was somehow gone, the fear that I would turn out to be exactly the monster my father raised me to be and I just didn’t know what to do or how to feel.

оша

My mind remained blank as we all crowded around the television, Adrian’s face filling the screen. His eyes gleamed with a predatory glint, a glint that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of reality, confirming my suspicion – he knew we were watching.

dripping with venomous satisfaction. “As you all know already, Alex Thorne is one of them,” he declared, his words laced with malicious pleasure. “Part of the monsters that have been plaguing our world, masquerading as one of us. Did anyone ever wonder why humans would suddenly

narrative designed to paint me as the ultimate villain. He would point to the recent war with

–

exhausted to care. The accusations washed over me like a wave, failing to stir

I mumbled

towards me, surprise etched

protested.

countered, my voice devoid of emotion. “They’re already scared of us. I was already the enemy, and now I’m the monster responsible

shake of his head. I felt Amaya’s gaze burning into me, a silent question hanging heavy in the air. With

in my head intensified with every beat of my heart. Everything hurt – physically, emotionally, my very soul

apex predator, always on top, always in control. Dealing with situations, crafting strategies, coming out on top

whenever they were awake and today, my feet faltered, drawn towards the door yet repelled by an invisible force and like I had done for

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10:44 AM

Chapter 141

stared out at the glassy surface of the lake wondering if this was it. The end of my story. Everything I’d ever known, everything I’d strived for, reduced to ashes at my feet. Had I truly lost it all? Played right into Ivan’s hands? With a

terrified to even approach. And then there was Amaya. As if summoned by my thoughts, I heard her voice soft and hesitant behind me, “Natalia said you haven’t gone near them.”

hung heavy in the air, one I had no answer for, one I wasn’t sure she even expected an answer to. She moved closer, the space between us shrinking until we stood shoulder to

both of us mesmerized by the rippling reflection of the setting sun on the lake’s surface. Finally, she spoke, “Thank you for keeping your promise. Thank you for

words stuck in my throat, a lump forming there, refusing to be swallowed. She didn’t press for an answer, instead she sat down on the grassy bank. I looked down at her, her face was still bruised and she had injuries all over her body but she was

our lives would have been like if you hadn’t rejected

but there was no anger in her voice, no accusation. It was laced with a