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.

exasperation this

father 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 slurred speech, sent another wave of laughter

managed to force it down, turning to Natalia whose laughter had subsided into a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Alright,” I conceded, wiping a tear from my eye, “we’ve had our fun.

whipped around to glare at

and thick with swelling. It sounded vaguely like an apology, but it was hard to tell. “What did you say?”

by the puffiness around his eyes. “I said I

enough, my father turned his full glare on her. There really was a lot of glaring going on in

room.

Because if your plan involves begging Ivan for his wolves back, let’s just say it’s a non–starter.

passing between them then he mumbled, “I

stunned. “What did you

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

matter the situation, no matter the fire raging around him, Daniel Stone always managed to sound like an

me get this 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, now you want his help? And not even with

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supposed to be the messenger?” I

she snarled through gritted teeth, “I told you to be nice about it.” Then, turning back to me, she pleaded, “Honey, please. This pack has been in your father’s family for generations. He can’t lose it

slow sigh. “The whole world seems to be against Alex right now,” I muttered. “What makes you think he’s not already

something more to fight for,” she whispered softly.

escaped 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 known what it was like to have a father, not just an alpha. But wishes were just