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.”

entered the room. My heart sank

asked, my voice barely

No. Two days and he

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 in return and then I retreated to

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

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

into the phone. The silence that followed was agonizing.

wave of disappointment washed over me, replacing the fleeting

It’s

that tone hurt,” she replied,

ears. “I just have a lot going on, and I’m really

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Chapter 153

she spoke, “Your father asked me to call. In his words, ‘Ask her if she has passed on my request to

second to collect myself, “You told me once he wasn’t always like this. Do you think he’ll ever go back to being happy?”

could hear her sigh through the phone, a sound filled with weariness and

followed was heavy with unspoken words. I felt a lump forming in my

she replied, her voice softening. Her words were

I whispered softly, my voice

Amaya. I wish I could do something to help. When this is all over,

the glimmer

to end the call when she hesitated. “I know I’m the last person you want to talk to about this, but

let out a shaky sigh.

and-”

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

careful, please.” Her voice was laced with a sense of foreboding. A chill ran down my spine as I listened

will, Mum. I will call you later,” I replied,

silence in its wake. I knelt down in front of Ivy, her small figure looking lost and vulnerable. “Hey,

“Not good,” she mumbled. I placed my hand

nodded slowly, her eyes still

you just need some rest. If you’re not feeling better, we’ll have it checked out, okay?”

she replied, her voice