Bonds

Chapter Three

-Maya's POV-

The entire air was sucked out of the room or maybe it was because I forgot how to breathe. Memories, buried deep, surged back with an unbearable intensity.

I couldn't ignore the betrayal, the pain he'd inflicted when he coldly cast me aside. "I reject you, Amaya Stone," his words echoed relentlessly in my mind, each syllable a stab to my wounded soul. And yet, despite the hurt, a part of me couldn't help but acknowledge the lingering connection, the remnants of the love we once shared.

My mouth opened to say something- say anything. Luckily my father beat me to it when his growl reverberated in my ear, "What is he doing here?"

Ivan looked between Alex and my father while I watched the man who had ripped out my heart without a second thought walk towards Ivan's sister, whisper something in her ear before they made their way to the far end of the dining hall.

My wolf howled, urging me to make a move but I couldn't.

"I didn't realize Miranda would bring him," Ivan glanced at his sister who was chatting away happily as members of their pack congratulated her, his eyes narrowed, "And I did not realize their relationship had gone this far."

"You don't like him?"

There was no need to look at my father. I heard the smile in his voice when he asked the question.

"I have no feelings towards him. Alex Thorne is not a man I would trust but my sister has never been one to listen to me. I cannot tell her who she should or shouldn't be with."

The easy smile returned to his face, "Let's not let one bad egg ruin our evening, shall we proceed?"Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

The dinner went on and I was slowly dying. Everytime my eyes turned in their direction, my heart broke even more.

He used to smile at me just like that.

How could he not feel my wolf? How could he not feel the pain seeping from me? I hated how much it still hurt after all these years because the only thing I ever wanted to feel towards him was hate.

It came as a surprise that Miranda hadn't brought him to our side of the table for a formal congratulations but I went on with my food eating quietly.

Through the haze, I was aware of Ivan trying to make small talk but I could hardly focus.

"Behave yourself, Amaya," my father growled beside me suddenly, "Stop looking at him like a lost puppy. I don't want Ivan finding out about your ties to that bastard."

In the wake of my father's warning, I kept my gaze trained on my plate, refusing to let them eyes wander back to the distant corner when Ivan caught my unease.

"You are hardly eating, don't you like the food?"

"It's not that.. I.. The food is lovely.. I just.."

"Get out!" The sudden sharp command echoed through the hall.

All eyes shifted to my father who had risen to his feet glaring at Alex, a silent fury radiating from him. The room had fallen into silence, everyone anticipating what would happen next.

The smile fell from Alex's face as if he suddenly became aware of other people around him then it happened.

His eyes left my father, scanning the room like he was searching for something until they landed on me.

A flicker of surprise crossed his features as our eyes met across the room, a collision of emotions growing within me like a storm. My wolf stirred, responding to the magnetic pull, urging me towards him. I knew without a doubt that he felt it too- mirrored my feelings but just as swiftly as the connection sparked to life, his demeanor shifted. His eyes, once soft with a hint of recognition, hardened before traveling back to my father.

Ivan rose, attempting to diffuse the escalating tension, "Mr stone I think-" but my father's voice cut through like a blade.

"I want him out. I will not sit here anymore and eat in the same room as that bastard."

I had to give it to my father for holding out that long before snapping. His hatred towards Alex and his family was a longstanding flame that finally ignited, the reason for the rivalry between both packs still unknown to me.

Alex regarded my father for a moment longer then focused his attention back to his food. Miranda sat still, waiting for how it would play out, we all were.

"I will give you one more chance to leave, Thorne or you will regret it."

As if no one had spoken to him, Alex continued with his meal.

As the tension rose, my father commanded, "Take him out."

Two men, I recognized as members of my pack approached Alex, still he continued eating his food ignoring the escalating tension.

One of the men laid a hand on Alex's shoulder, and in an instant, he twisted it so fast that a bone snapped. I couldn't help but gasp, stunned by the sudden display of skill.

As the man let out an angry growl, "You will pay for that, you bastard," he swung his claws towards Alex, his companion attempting to grab him.

With practiced precision, Alex sidestepped the attack, smoothly evading the strike while gracefully maneuvering away from the other's attempt to grab him. Rising to his feet, Alex spoke calmly, almost unaffected, "This won't end well for either of you. Rethink your actions."

"I said throw him out," my father growled, signaling an impending clash.

I had never seen Alex in combat. Until that moment, he had been just a man - one who made billions and had been my once-loving mate. This version of him was an entirely different entity. His movements held a captivating elegance, a grace that effortlessly evaded their strikes, making it seem like a deadly dance.

Beside me, Ivan attempted to reason with my father, his voice strained with urgency. "Mr. Stone, please call off your men before this escalates and they end up dead. I do not want bloodshed in my house."

"Then you shouldn't have let your sister get involved with a bastard."

My attention darted between the argument and the escalating conflict. The room crackled with tension, the air thickening with the impending N

clash. Then, a thunderous Crash interrupted the dialogue as one of the men crashed onto side table, the shattering of glass and splintering of wood magnifying the chaos. Despite the commotion, Alex remained composed, a serene mask masking the intensity beneath the surface while the other man panted, relentlessly swinging his claws.

In one swift move, Alex seized the man's hand, twisting it until the man yelped in pain, then snapped his neck. The man crumpled to the floor-dead.

A gasp flew out but it wasn't from me.

Without reason, my eyes immediately went to Miranda who sat there beaming with pride.

Why wasn't anyone moving?

Alex stared at the man's still form a little longer with a look of indifference before raising his head to meet my father's angry gaze.

"I have no regard for you," his gaze flickered to me for a second, "or your family but do not test me. Kwill m do not text overlook this attack because it is a night of celebration for my fiancée but make no mistake, next time, it will be your dead body laying at my feet.”

He glanced at me one last time and there was nothing but hate in his eyes.

"Miranda."

With the brightest of smiles, she strutted towards him, linking hem with his. She glanced around hands the room, "My deepest apologies for the chaos."

She did not look apologetic.

It wasn't until they left and my father exploded that I realized that the worst was happening.

The father of my children, the man my wolf craved, was getting married to the sister of my fiancé.

But that seemed like the least of my problems when my father growled angrily, "He will pay for that and I will make him beg for death."

The worst had actually happened- Alex Thone had just declared an open war on my family.