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.”

the

from Alex?” I asked, my voice barely

Her expression said it all. No. Two days

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 in

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

ears as I fumbled for the device, my fingers trembling. I

silence that followed was agonizing. When the

through the receiver. A wave of disappointment washed over me, replacing the fleeting hope with a heavy sense of dread.

It’s

try not to let that tone hurt,” she replied, her

ears. “I just have a lot going on,

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Chapter 153

silence followed. I could almost feel the weight of her concern through the phone, Finally, she spoke, “Your father asked me to call. In his words, ‘Ask her if she has passed on my

once he wasn’t always like this. Do you think he’ll

phone, a sound filled with weariness and resignation. “I really don’t

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

three days ago. I’m calling now because I want to check on my daughter,” she replied, her voice softening. Her words were like a warm blanket on a cold day, offering a brief respite from the storm raging within

I whispered softly, my voice filled with

could do something to help. When this is all over, I hope we can both start over.”

too,” I whispered, clinging to the glimmer of hope

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

let out a shaky

and-”

“Mom?” Her small voice echoed through the bathroom, pulling me from the conversation. “I’ll have to call you back,” I

careful, please.” Her voice was laced

call you later,” I replied, trying to sound reassuring.

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

she mumbled. I placed my hand on her forehead, feeling a slight

nodded slowly, her eyes

Maybe you just need some rest.

replied, her voice firm for the first time.