Bonds

Chapter 153

-Maya’s POV-

“Amaya.”

The sound of my name snapped me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t realized I was pacing again. I should stop. I should calm down. But my mind was a whirlwind of worry and fear.

I shouldn’t have left him back there. I should have stood my ground, told him I was staying. Maybe if I had, things would be different. I wanted everything to be simple. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, get married, and live happily ever after.But my life was anything but simple.

A mate with trust issues, a father who was more like a villain than a parent, a dead brother I never got to know, a fake lover turned twisted enemy, and now witches. How much more could I handle? I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But I couldn’t. Not with the twins here. Everything was just a lot. Too much.

“Amaya!” Natalia’s voice was sharper this time completely pulling me back to reality. I turned to face her. “What?” I managed to say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.

“I’ve been calling your name for the past five minutes,” she said, her eyebrows drawn together in concern. “You need to stop pacing. Your energy is affecting the twins.”

I glanced at the twins. Nate was sitting quietly, his face turned towards me. Ivy was also quiet, her eyes fixed on me. I could understand Nate’s quiet. There were times he simply went quiet but never Ivy. Whatever happened between her and Alex’s aunt had something extra to it and I didn’t like it one bit..

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, feeling a pang of guilt. “I just…” I trailed off, not knowing how to explain the chaos inside my head.

“I know,” Natalia sighed softly. “We’re all worried. With Ivan looming over us and Alex gone, things are crazy. But for the sake of the twins, you need to calm down.”

I nodded, trying to take deep breaths. I needed to focus on the present. I needed to be strong for the twins.

“She’s been awfully quiet since we got back,” Natalia continued a, referring to Ivy.

“I know,” I replied. “Something happened between her and that witch. Or should I say, Alex’s aunt.”

Natalia’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

I hadn’t had a chance to fill Natalia in on everything that had happened. The car ride back had been filled with tense silence as everyone tried to process what we had seen.

“So, if she’s Alex’s aunt, how is she a witch? And most importantly, you don’t think Ivy is one, right?” Natalia asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

I shook my head. “No way. I don’t think Ivy is involved in any of this.”

when Riley entered the room. My heart sank

heard from Alex?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

answer. Her expression said it all. No. Two days and he still

weight of the world seemed to press down on me as I stood in the living room. Natalia’s understanding eyes met mine as I nodded towards the twins, a silent plea for a moment of solitude. She offered a reassuring smile

jarring reminder of reality, but it did little to clear the fog clouding my mind. Desperation gnawed at me as I searched

for the device, my fingers trembling. I looked at the caller

The silence that followed was agonizing. When the voice

mother’s voice echoed through the receiver. A wave of disappointment washed over me, replacing the fleeting hope with a heavy sense of

It’s

to let that tone hurt,” she replied, her voice

the pounding in my ears.

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Chapter 153

concern through the phone, Finally, she spoke, “Your father asked me to call. In his words, ‘Ask her if she has passed

second to collect myself, “You told me once he wasn’t always

long pause. I could hear her sigh through the phone, a sound filled with weariness and resignation. “I really

I felt a lump forming in my throat, “Is that really why

days ago. I’m calling now because I want to check on my daughter,” she replied, her voice

I whispered softly, my

really sorry about everything, Amaya. I wish I could do something to help.

whispered, clinging to the glimmer of hope she

she hesitated. “I know I’m the last

shaky sigh. “Me

and-”

sentence was cut short by the sound of Ivy’s voice. “Mom?” Her small voice echoed through the bathroom, pulling me from the conversation.

coming. I feel it in my bones. Just be careful, please.” Her voice was laced with a sense of foreboding. A chill ran

you later,” I replied, trying to sound

silence in its wake. I knelt down in front

eyes closed. “Not good,” she mumbled. I placed my hand on her forehead, feeling a slight warmth. “Does your head

her

some rest. If you’re not feeling

doctor,” she replied, her voice firm for the first