Bonds

-Maya's POV-

The silence was almost dealening as the three of us stared at him. Ivan spoke up first, his voice laced with a cold edge I'd rarely heard before. "What is he doing here?" he asked, his eyes narrowed at Alex.

Miranda's smile didn't falter. "Why don't we go and find out?" she suggested, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She sauntered towards him, her hips swaying with a confidence I could only dream of "Fiancé," she called out loudly, "what are you doing here?"

Alex didn't even glance at her. His eyes remained fixed on me, his gaze piercing through me like a knife. I felt a shiver run down my spine as the memory of our last encounter - the kiss-came rushing back. I tugged on Ivan's arm, trying to pull him away. "Let's just go," I whispered urgently.

But Ivan wasn't having it. "No," he said, his voice firm and resolute. "I want to know why he's here." His grip on my arm tightened, and I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

Miranda reached Alex's side and began talking, her voice a steady stream of chatter. Alex listened, his expression bored, but his eyes never left mine, Ivan pulled me closer, and I felt a sense of dread wash over me.

This wasn't going to end well.

As we approached the SUV, Ivan spoke up again. "What are you doing here, Alex?" he asked, his voice firm.

Alex regarded him with a disinterested expression before turning back to me. "You're okay," he said, his voice plain, but his eyes flickered with relief.

I didn't respond. I just kept staring at him, my mind racing with questions.

Why was he here?

What did he want?

ad he come to see me?

Why had Miranda fanned herself dramatically. "Why is it so hot outside? Maybe we should go inside. Amaya looks like she might have a heart attack." She batted her eyelashes at Alex, but he wasn't having it.

"She's fine," he said curtly, his eyes never leaving mine.

At the same time, I spoke up. "I'm fine."

Our eyes met, and I felt a jolt of electricity run through me. Ivan stiffened beside me, his grip on my arm tightening. Quickly trying to salvage the situation, I turned to him, "I want to go home."

Ivan didn't budge. He just stood staring at Alex with the most hateful expression I had ever seen him wear. I needed to get out of here because I knew if whatever happening here escalated into a fight, without a doubt, Alex would end up on top.

"Ivan, please take me home," I tried again, my voice a little louder.

Alex's eyes darkened immediately, and the atmosphere seemed to thicken. I felt a sense of foreboding wash over me. Talk about never

113

ending drama.

"I want to know why he is here," Ivan replied, his voice firm and unyielding, his eyes fixed on Alex with an intensity that made me shiver. I cursed internally, wondering what had brought on this sudden show of ego. Alex finally tore his gaze away from mine and regarded Ivan, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"I came to see Amaya," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "I was married to her, after all."

The words hung in the air like a challenge, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Everything seemed to stop working at that point - the air on my skin froze, and I couldn't breathe. Miranda looked shocked, her eyes darting between Alex and Ivan as if she couldn't believe that Alex had said it out loud. I wanted to disappear, to fade into the background and avoid the tension that was building.

Ivan's expression didn't change, but his voice was laced with a cold anger. "As you can see, she's fine. So you can go." He dismissed Alex with a wave of his hand, but Alex didn't budge. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes locked on Ivan with a fierce intensity.

"You're keen on acting like the powerful alpha here," Alex sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "So different from how you came to my company weeks ago, begging me to help with your failing company." The words were like a slap in the face, and I felt my head snap towards Ivan in shock.

His company was failing?

Was that why he looked so tired all the time?

Alex wasn't done, and he continued to taunt Ivan, his voice laced with venom.

"Or sending Miranda to beg me to help," he added, his eyes flicking towards Miranda, who looked like she wanted to sink into the ground. Ivan's face was red with anger, and he took a step closer to Alex, his fists clenched at his sides.

"You're so damn hateful, you know that?" Ivan spat, his voice low and menacing. "But you know what? Amaya is with me, married to me. It doesn't matter how much power you have, she is mine, and you will never have her. The words were like a challenge, a declaration of ownership that made my skin crawl. I felt like I was a prize to be won, a possession to be fought over.

The mask of indifference fell from Alex's face, and he looked like he was ready to kill. His eyes blazed with anger, and his fists were clenched at his sides. I realized that this was more than just a simple argument. This was a battle for control, a fight for dominance. And I was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do or who to turn to and worst of all?

Why did Alex look like he wanted to own me? Like I suddenly meant something to him.

Without thinking, I started to back away from the two men, my eyes fixed on the parking lot behind me. I couldn't stand there anymore, listening to them argue over me like I was a prize to be won. Ivan's words still echoed in my mind - "she is mine, and you will never have her" and I felt a surge of anger and humiliation. I didn't belong to either of them, and I certainly wasn't going to stand there and be fought over like a piece of property.

As I took a step back, both men's attention snapped to me, their faces frozen in surprise. Alex's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through me like a knife. Ivan's expression softened, and he took a step towards me, his hands outstretched in a calming gesture.

"Amaya, wait," he said, his voice low and soothing "I didn't mean to-"

But I wasn't having it, I kept backing away, my eyes fixed on the parking lot behind me. I just wanted to get out of there, to get away from the tension.

Miranda had gone completely quiet seeming out of her element.

"Amaya, stop," Ivan tried to touch me, his voice a little louder now. "Please, just listen to me."

10:22 Sat, 22 Jun M Chapter 59

But I didn't stop. I kept backing away, my heart pounding in my chest. I could feel Alex's eyes on me, boring into my skin like a cold wind. I didn't dare look at him, didn't dare meet his gaze. I knew what I would see there- anger, hatred, and a possessiveness that made my skin burn.

"Amaya, damn it," Ivan said, his voice sharp now. "Stop right there."

I could see the cars, the people milling around. Finally, I turned and ran, my feet pounding the pavement as I sprinted, I could hear Ivan's voice behind me, calling out my name, but I didn't stop.

My feet burned, and I hated more than ever how I felt so disconnected from my wolf. Before the rejection, I would have healed from the accident almost immediately, or maybe not even been injured at all. But now, my wounds throbbed with every step, a constant reminder of my lost abilities. I felt like a shadow of my former self. NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

As I ran, the parking lot blurred around me, a sea of cars and people that I barely registered. I didn't dare look back, fearing what I might see.

I pushed the thoughts away, focusing on the burn in my legs and the ache in my chest. I had to keep moving, had to get away from the tension and the anger that seemed to be building by the second.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I slowed to a stop, my chest heaving and my legs trembling. I looked around, taking in my

surroundings. I was in an unfamillar neighborhood, one that seemed quieter and more residential than the bustling streets Thad left behind. I didn't recognize any of the houses or buildings, and for a moment, I felt a pang of fear.

Where was I? And then I heard a voice I didn't think I would ever hear again. My entire body froze but I managed to turn my head coming face to face with him.

He looked so different. so different from the man I knew. A slow chilling smile tilted his lips, "Long time no see Amaya."

I gulped, managing only a single word, his name, "Adrian."