Bonds

Chapter 143

-Maya’s POV-

This was one of those moments where you know laughter is completely inappropriate. A tiny giggle would be the worst thing you could do, but I was fighting a losing battle against the laughter bubbling up inside me. Natalia seemed to have lost the fight entirely, already doubled over in full- blown laughter. My father, who had been staring intently out the window, finally ripped his gaze away and glared at her.

That was all it took.

My own laughter erupted, a loud burst that had me clutching my stomach. It only lasted a second before my mother’s voice cut through the merriment, laced with heavy disapproval. “The two of you, stop it!” she scolded.

But Natalia and I were lost causes. We locked eyes, and the laughter surged back

even stronger.

There must’ve been a lot of confusion on your end, so let me rewind to the beginning. When the text from my first popped up on my screen, I knew I should just ignore it. Daniel Stone could go straight to hell for all I cared. Answering the call felt like a terrible idea, but then one call turned into five, and the guilt of ignoring my mother gnawed at me. I just couldn’t bring myself to pick up.

Then Riley asked why my phone kept blowing up. So I told her my mom was freaking out, insisting I come help my dad. She listened quietly, then hit me with a truth bomb that left me speechless. Her own mother died giving birth to her, and Riley would give anything to take just one phone call from her.

Guilt. Pure, unadulterated guilt that was what I felt afterwards and so I answered then called Natalia, explained the situation, and here we were.

This was definitely not what I’d expected. My father had been attacked. Beaten to a bloody pulp, according to my mother, all on Ivan’s orders. Not only that, but Ivan had somehow managed to poach most of our pack members, basically declaring himself alpha of both our packs. It was a disaster. A full–blown catastrophe. I knew it. Whatever twisted plan Ivan was cooking up just got a whole lot more dangerous with the combined forces of two packs at his disposal.

But there we were, doubled over with laughter, because my father, the usually intimidating figure, looked like a cartoon character. His face was swollen to the size of a basketball, his features distorted and bruised. The glare he was trying to shoot us was more comical than anything, like a grumpy toddler refusing his nap.

Looking back, I know we were acting childish. There was so much at stake, a war brewing on the horizon, and here we were, reduced to giggles by my father’s unfortunate appearance. But you have to understand, this man… well, let’s just say I’d endured a lot under his roof. This moment of amusement, this unexpected release, I was going to savor it.

cracked with exasperation this time. “There is no

mumbled something under his breath, his voice muffled by the swelling. “I told you,” he grumbled, “you shouldn’t have called her.” Even that, his

down, turning to Natalia whose laughter had subsided into a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Alright,”

My mother pleaded, then whipped around to glare at

beard, his words slurred and thick with swelling. It sounded vaguely like an apology, but it was hard to tell. “What did you say?” I pressed, narrowing my eyes at

distorted by the puffiness around his eyes. “I said I was sorry

asshole, Natalia finished with a glare, and sure enough, my father turned his full glare on her. There really was

room.

his wolves back, let’s just say it’s a non–starter. One, he nearly killed me, twice. And two, those wolves chose to follow him. They pledged their loyalty to him, not to

gaze flicked nervously to my father, a silent exchange passing between

blinked, momentarily stunned. “What did you just

scowled even deeper. “I said I need Thorne’s help. So tell him whatever plan he’s cooking up against Ivan,

around him,

straight, Natalia said, her voice laced with disbelief. “You hate the guy, you two went to war with each other, a war that spilled over into human territory and is causing Alex all sorts of problems right now, and on top of that,

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to be the messenger?” I

family for generations. He can’t lose it to Ivan. Alex has the most influence, the most power to go up against him. Let your father help with whatever crazy

to be against Alex right now,” I muttered. “What makes you think he’s not already fighting tooth and nail to survive this war that

mother met my gaze, her eyes filled with a desperate hope. “Because you gave him something more to fight for,” she whispered softly. “And as long as Ivan is a threat, he won’t stop fighting for them.”

my lips. “Fine,” I conceded. “I’ll talk to him. For your sake, Mom.”

For a fleeting moment, a strange thought flickered across my mind. I wondered what it would have been like if Jeremiah had survived. Maybe then I would have