Bonds

-Alex's POV-

I stood there, watching Amaya flee the scene, my wolf surged forward, urging me to chase after her. But I knew better. I knew I shouldn't have been there in the first place, inserting myself into her life like a wedge. I had been a fool to think I could just show up and pretend like nothing. had changed. My wolf was still reeling, and now it was pushing me to go after her, to claim her as mine. But I knew that was a recipe for disaster.

Ivan's eyes narrowed, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity as he turned his attention back to me. His mask was slipping, revealing a glimmer of the darkness beneath. I almost smiled, knowing that no one could be that perf that put together, without hiding something.

And Ivan was definitely hiding something.

"Why won't you leave her the f*ck alone?" he snarled, his voice low and menacing.

I met his gaze, my expression neutral, but my wolf seething beneath the surface. He must really have a death wish, I thought, to challenge me like this. I didn't back away, though. I just stared at him, my eyes locked on his, daring him to make a move. My wolf was lunging against the surface, eager to break free and defend me, but I kept him in check.

Ivan's eyes darkened, and his alpha aura hit me like a wave. It was a dark, tainted energy, one that made me question my previous assessment of him as harmless. There was more to Ivan than met the eye, and I made a mental note to dig deeper. His aura was like a punch to the gut, making me almost take a step back.

Almost.

Miranda's voice broke through the tension, her tone tiny and fragile. "Ivan," she whispered, her hand on his arm. "Let's just go."

She sounded like a scared little girl, her usual manipulative demeanor replaced by a quivering uncertainty. I allowed myself to look at her, and she looked scared. Scared of what Ivan would do. Her touch on his arm finally snapped him out of it, and he backed away, his eyes returning to normal. His gaze clashed with mine, and I still had a neutral expression on my face.

"Stay away from Amaya," he growled, before turning and walking away, leaving me and Miranda in an awkward silence.

I thought it was rather ironic how we were engaged, yet so distant. The only connection we would ever have was when I f*cked her. I expected her to say something, anything, in her usual calculating manner, but she didn't even look at me. She just clutched her bag, turned around, and walked away, leaving me to wonder what had just transpired.

It was sealed.

I had to know what the f*ck just happened. I needed to know what Ivan was hiding, what he was capable of. The questions swirled in my head, making my wolf restless.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Christian's number, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Ivan and Miranda. He answered on the first ring, his signature drawl dripping with boredom. "Are you calling to apologize for almost ripping my head off?"

I narrowed my eyes, my gaze fixed on some point in the distance. I had almost forgotten about our last encounter, what with everything that had been happening, Christian had a habit of provoking me, pushing my buttons until I snapped. And he had taken it a little too far last time. But I wasn't in the mood for his games right now.

"Where are you?" I said instead of answering his question, my voice firm and commanding.

BeelShort

10:23 Sat, 22 Jun Chapter 62

He let out an irritated sigh, the sound carrying clearly over the phone line. "Italy." "Okay," I said, my mind already racing with the logistics of getting to him.

"Okay what?"

"I'm on my way.

I ended the call without another word, my mind already moving on to the next step.

I made another call, this one to my pilot, instructing him to prepare my private jet for takeoff. Less than thirty minutes later, I was boarding the plane, Ruth, my efficient assistant, already having everything I needed waiting for me on board. I really needed to double, if not triple, her salary. She was the most efficient person I knew, always anticipating my needs before I even knew them myself.

I took off my suit, feeling a little more at case in my casual clothes. It was just me on the plane, which was exactly how I liked it. I couldn't stand the air hostesses' lingering gazes, their flirtatious smiles. There was a time when it had entertained me, but ever since she came into my life, everything changed. A bitter pill I had to swallow.

I went to the bar and poured myself a drink, the amber liquid glowing in the dim light of the plane. I sat down, swirling the liquid in the glass as the pilot announced it was time to take off. I brought the glass to my lips, feeling the coolness of the glass against my skin, then tipped it back, letting the liquid burn down my throat.

As the plane lifted off the ground, I closed my eyes, letting the memories I tried not to remember flood my mind. Amaya's smile, her laughter, the way she used to look at me. I felt a pang in my chest, a familiar ache that I had been trying to ignore for months now. But it was no use. She had implanted herself under my skin, I tried to act like I could tear myself away from me but I couldn't.

But when I rested my head against the seat, Amaya's face vanished, replaced by another woman's face. This woman still had a smile on her face, but it was a sad one, tinged with a hint of melancholy. I knew this face, this smile.

My mother's.

I was transported back to a memory from my childhood, one that I had long suppressed. I was eight years old, holding up a crude drawing for her to see. "What is this?" she asked, her voice gentle, but laced with a hint of wariness.

I beamed with pride, "It's a picture of you and me. My family." I had drawn us the best way any eight-year-old would-like stick figures. But my mother's face fell, a frown immediately growing on her face. She gently pushed my hand down, the painting going along with it, and looked around nervously to see if anyone had noticed. There were some of my father's men lurking in the background, pretending not to pay attention, but I knew they were watching us, watching my mother particularly, to make sure she didn't escape.

"Where is your father?" she whispered. I frowned, feeling a surge of anger and fear. "He's not a part of my family. He is a monster." My mother quickly covered my mouth with her hand, her eyes pleading. "Don't let anyone here hear you say that, Alex. Your father is not a monster. He is just a complicated man."

I started to protest, but she cut me off. "No buts, Alex Please, for my sake, don't ever say that again. To me, or to anyone." Her beautiful eyes were pleading, and there was no way I could say no to her. I nodded silently, feeling a lump form in my throat. She finally smiled, and I loved it when she smiled, but it was a sad smile, a smile that hid a thousand secrets and fears.

Then she tried to move, but winced in pain. I knew why. She hadn't fully healed from the lesson my father had taught her for raising me to be “insolent". Яlooked down at my wrapped hand, feeling a surge of anger and resentment. Neither had I. But I smiled at her, rising to peck her cheeks, trying to comfort her. "I love you, mum."

A lone tear slid down her face, and she opened her mouth to talk, but before she could say a word, a shadow fell above the two of us, and we

10:23 Sat, 22 Jun 201

both looked up to see a man with a stony expression standing over us. His eyes were cold, his jaw clenched, and his voice was firm and commanding. "The Alpha wants to see you."Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I stood up, instinctively wanting to protect her, but his voice cut in, sharp and authoritative. "Not you." He turned his gaze to my mother, his eyes lingering on her face for a moment before he spoke again. "Let's go."

She squeezed my hand lightly, a gentle pressure that spoke volumes. She stood up, her movements slow and hesitant, and followed the man out of the room. She turned her head one last time, and she still had that smile on her face when she whispered, "I love you too, my little

The memory faded, and I was back on the plane, the drink still clutched in my hand. I wish I had told her that I loved her a thousand more times, told her how much I loved her smile.

I would have if i had known that that was the last time I would ever see it.

I would have held on to her tighter, would have never let her go.