Bonds

My world narrowed to the unwelcome sight of Alex's cold state and Miranda's glittering eyes, their silhouettes framed by the warm glow of the restaurant. "Fancy seeing you here," Miranda purred, sashaying towards our table with an air of malicious triumph. I blinked, the blood in my veins. suddenly icy. Of all the restaurants in the city, they had to choose this onb7

Ivan felt the shift in the atmosphere, his gaze following mine. His frown mirrored my own, a deep furrow creasing his forehead, "Miranda," he acknowledged curtly, his voice clipped. I wasn't sure who he disliked, his sister or Alex.

Miranda, oblivious to the tension she'd created, breezed closer, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Amaya, how lovely to finally meet you! The wedding chaos and pre-dinner frenzy kept us from properly connecting" She extended a manicured hand towards me, eyes glinting with a veiled challenge. “Miranda McCall, Ivan's charming little sister, And this," she announced with a theatrical flourish, "is Alex, my fiancé but I am sure you need no introduction." The way she drew out "fiance" felt like a deliberate barb which was weird because she couldn't possibly know about my marriage to him.

My father had made sure to bury every connection we ever had, so I was but a shadow in Alex's life.

A once before.

I forced a smile, plastering it onto my face like a poorly-fitting mask. Straightening my spine, I met her gaze with a chin held high. "It's lovely to meet you both," I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging within. "Why don't you join us?"

My invitation hung in the air, heavy with unspoken tension. Alex remained silent, his unreadable eyes fixed on me. Ivan frowned, a furrow creasing his brow, but stayed quiet.

Miranda's smile widened, a predatory gleam flashing in her eyes. "Oh, wouldn't want to intrude on your cozy little date night," she drawled, dragging out the last word with exaggerated emphasis. "Besides, Alex and I would have made reservations elsewhere if we had known."

The lie was transparent but none of us said anything

"Nonsense," Ivan countered finally speaking, his voice low and firm. "There's plenty of space. Pull up a chair."

Alex stepped forward, his face unreadable, an impassive mask, "We will go somewhere else," he said, his voice a rough scrape.

I met his gaze, a silent challenge sparking between us. The past, with its tangled threads of love and betrayal, hung heavy in the air. But this wasn't then. This was now, and I was no longer the fragile girl he'd left behind.

"It's fine," I said, my voice steady despite the tremor in my heart. "The more the merrier, right?"

Miranda's smile faltered for a flicker, replaced by a flash of annoyance. She shot me a glare, venom masked by a tight smile. "As you wish, darling."

"So, Amaya," Miranda chirped, her voice dripping with feigned sweetness after they settled in. "Tell me all about what you think of married life. Must be quite different from your past, wouldn't you say?"

I took a deep breath, refusing to give her the satisfaction of whatever she was fishing for.

"It certainly will be an adjustment," I replied, keeping my voice neutral. "But Ivan and I are learning to navigate our new roles."

Ivan shot me a grateful glance, a silent reassurance that he stood by me, something I didn't quite understand.

The conversation, if it could be called that, flowed like molasses. Miranda peppered me with thinly veiled insults, each one met with a calm, measured response. Alex remained mostly silent, his brooding presence a constant storm cloud casting shadows over the table.

I didn't know what her problem was. We had never met before this but I knew everything she was doing was to bait me, it wouldn't work. My wolf stirred feeling Alex's presence but at the same time, she wanted nothing more than to claw out Miranda's eye.

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A thought that brought a smile to my face.

I could feel Ivan's concern, his hand brushing mine under the table in a silent gesture of support. The touch was electric, sending a jolt of nervous energy through me yet I wondered still Why wasn't he saying anything?

The meal dragged ea, each mouthful a tasteless chore. Finally, I couldn't bear the suffocating atmosphere any longer. "Excuse me," I announced, pushing back my chai. "I think I need some fresh air!

Ivan rose immediately, his worried gaze locked on mine. "I'll come with you," he said, his voice tight.

Before I could respond, Miranda interjected, her voice sharp with suspicion. "I'm sure Amaya can handle a little stroll on her own. Don't want to interrupt your precious alone time, do we?"

I gritted my teeth, refusing to let her goad me. Turning to ivan, I met his gaze. "I'll be back in a moment," I said, forcing a smile. "I promise I won't take long."

With a last defiant glance at the table, I stepped out into the cool night air. The star-strewn sky felt like a balm on my soul, the crisp air cleansing the acrid taste of Miranda's venom from my tongue.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, letting the silence wash over me.

This wasn't the end, I realized. This was just the beginning of something I didn't quite understand, Glancing back at the entrance, it stared back at me like a mocking eye, but my feet refused to budge. Whatever Ivan's silent game with Miranda was, i didn't want to be part of it. The suffocating tension inside, coupled with the unexpected encounter with Alex, had left me raw. I needed air, any air, so instead of going into the restaurant, I opted for the cool bite of the rooftop.

As I stepped out, the city lights sprawled beneath me like a glittering jewel box, momentarily distracting me from the turmoil within. Taking a deep breath, I let the crisp air fill my lungs.

But the moon goddess, it seemed, had a twisted sense of humor. Because silhouetted against the pale light at the rooftop's edge stood Alex.

My heart threatened to leap out of my chest, but I held it down, refusing to let him dictate my rhythm. His back was to me, but the tension radiating from him was impossible to ignore..

"What are you doing up here?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper against the wind.

He didn't turn, but his shoulders clenched subtly. "The same thing you are doing," he replied coldly.

His tone cut through me like a winter wind. It was the same tone he'd used four years ago, the day he walked away, leaving me a shattered shell of the woman I once was. Now, it filled me with a familiar rage, a primal growl trapped in my throat.

My wolf lunged to the surface, her fangs bared at the mating mark burning on my shoulder, a constant reminder of our broken bond. At that moment, i hand hated it more than anything, a symbol of a promise betrayed, a love turned to ice. How could he be so cold? Where had the man who held my beneath starry skies, who whispered words of forever in the moonlight, disappeared to? Determined not to back down, I walked towards the rooftop's edge, the biting wind whipping at my hair. When I reached the precipice, I felt his shoulder stiffen, a flicker of movement in the otherwise stillness.

We stood in silence, the city lights a silent audience to the storm brewing within.

Finally, I broke the suffocating quiet. "Natalia told me what you did. Thank you."

My words hung in the air, unanswered. He stared ahead, his jaw clenched tight, a mask of anger hiding whatever turmoil raged within.

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"Alex," I pressed, my voice cracking with a mix of defiance and vulnerability. He didn't answer, but stowly turned to face me. Our eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, I saw it; a flicker of pain that minored the ane twisting my heart.

"Amaya," he replied, the name falling from his lips like a forgotten melody.

I shook my head, feeling the familiar sting of tears pricking my eyes. "There was a time it was silver,” whispered, my voice catching on the memory of stolen kisses and shared dreams. "

His eyes darkened, the gold flecks a low!

turning molten, his breathing turning ragged. He growled, a low rumble that vibrated through me, and took a step towards me. I retreated instinctively, my back hitting the cold stone wall. He stopped inches away, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my

skin,

"There was a time I thought you were different," he growled, his voice rough with barely contained emotions. "Not like the rest of them. Now you are nothing to me, Amaya Stone."

With that he turned, walking towards the exit. He stopped, taking one last glance at me, "You should have chosen better than the McCalls. That family will make you bleed."

The door slammed shut, the words echoing in the wind.