Bonds

Maya's POV-

The grand hall buzzed with a nervous energy that sent shivers down my spine. The gala was meant to be a neutral ground for my father and Alex to finally talk things out. A night of peace and diplomacy. At least, that's what we all hoped for.

The vast space had been meticulously arranged to accommodate the expected influx of wolves. Alex's pack, several thousand strong by some estimates, had a designated section on one side of the hall. It was already filling up, a sea of men and watchful eyes. On the other side, a combined force of my father's pack and Ivan's own people sat together, a show of unity that felt more hopeful than real.

In the center, a raised platform awaited the main players. Ivan, the architect of this fragile truce, had a plan. He intended to address the entire gathering, to appeal to their reason, to make them see the futility of the ongoing conflict. Neither Alex nor my father had arrived yet, but the wolves were pouring in, the tension thickening with every passing moment.

Despite the festive decorations and the upbeat music playing in the background, a knot of apprehension tightened in my stomach. A primal instinct, a wolfish premonition, whispered warnings in the back of my mind. This wasn't going to be a night of peace talks and reconciliation. This, I feared, could turn ugly very quickly.

Then, the entrance doors swung open, and a hush fell over the crowd. Alex entered the hall, flanked by two older men. Their confident strides, their predatory gazes, sent a jolt through me. Even though I'd fought tooth and nail to move on, to push him out of my heart, my wolf wasn't so easily fooled. My head snapped towards him instinctively, our eyes locking in a silent battle of wills.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

There was no remnant of warmth in his gaze, no flicker of recognition. It was as cold and hard as the day he'd rejected me, a stark contrast to the smug smile playing on Miranda's lips as she walked beside him, their hands linked possessively, a mirrored image of the day I'd first seen them together Ivan greeted them both with a courtesy that felt strained even from a distance. He ushered them towards Alex's designated area, where the alpha took a prominent seat at the front.

A moment later, the doors opened again, and my father entered, a grim expression etched on his face. Petrov shadowed him closely. The air crackled with unspoken hostility as they made their way across the hall.

Ivan, with a forced smile, approached my father, extending a greeting. But even from here, I could see the tension radiating off him. My father's response was a curt nod, a barely concealed sneer twisting his lips.

The interaction left me feeling strangely detached, pushed further into the background. I turned around to find Natalia and Sarah watching. me with concern etched on their faces. Riley, unfortunately, had been called into a last-minute shift she couldn't get out of A part of me, a selfish part, couldn't help but feel relieved. This wouldn't be a safe environment for a human if things went south. "Are you oka

"Are you okay?" Natalia asked, her voice laced with worry.

I blinked, pulled back from the scene unfolding in the hall. "Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

Sarah snorted. "Because you're practically glued to that curtain, and your body is as tense as a coiled spring. That's why."

"I'm good. I'm good," I repeated, more for my own benefit than theirs. "I just... I just need this night to go well. I'm tired of the fighting, the senseless deaths. Every day this goes on, the risk of exposure grows."

Natalia reached out and squeezed my shoulder gently. "I know, Maya. We all are. But tonight will be okay. You'll see."

10:32 Sat, 22 Jun Chapter 58

Sarah offered a reassuring smile. "Yeah, it will. Now, I have to go mingle with the pack. See you inside." She leaned down and planted a quick kiss on my cheek before disappearing into the throng of wolves filling the hall.

Left alone with Natalia, a wave of doubt washed over me. "I don't know why I was ever excited about this gala," I confessed, "There's just this bad feeling in my gut, like something terrible is about to happen."

She squeezed my hand again, her touch conveying a strength that calmed my racing heart. "It will be alright. Now, come on. Ivan needs yo by his side tonight, and the whole world needs to see what a queen you look like in that dress."

With a deep breath, I stepped out of the curtained alcove, the emerald green dress shimmering like a captured oasis under the bright lights. The murmur of conversation in the hall died down instantly, replaced by a stunned silence. A thousand pairs of eyes, some curious, some wary, all turned towards me.

I felt the weight of their stares, the intensity of Alex's cold gaze boring into me from across the hall. My father's glare was no less unsettling. but I refused to back down. Squaring my shoulders, I held my head high and walked with measured steps towards Ivan, who stood expectantly on the raised platform.

Natalia, her eyes filled with silent encouragement, gave me one last reassuring smile before slipping away to find a seat among the crowd. Ivan's gaze met mine as I approached, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to fade away. Appreciation flickered in his eyes, a warmth that sent a blush creeping up my cheeks.

Then, as if suddenly remembering the gravity of the situation, he turned back towards the assembled wolves and raised his voice to address them. "Thank you all for coming tonight," he began, his voice ringing out clearly in the hushed hall. "We are all here for the same reason - to find a way to end the conflict that has ravaged our city for far too long."

He scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on my father and Alex for a beat longer than necessary. "The fighting, the deaths- they benefit no one. Our packs are dwindling, our strength is waning A low murmur of agreement rippled through the hall. Even among the most hardened warriors, a flicker of doubt could be seen. Ivan's words. resonated with a truth they couldn't deny.

My father, however, remained unmoved. A scoff escaped his lips as Ivan finished his opening statement. "Why should we stop?" Interjected, his voice laced with belligerence.

he I almost facepalmed myself at his question. Did he not see the devastation they were causing? Did he not care about the lives being lost?

Ivan locked eyes with my father, his expression hardening. "You just answered your own question, Daniel. We need to stop because it is leading to our destruction."

My father scoffed again, this time louder. "Destruction? We are winning this war, Ivan. Alex started this, and he needs to apologize before any talks of peace can even begin."

A tense silence descended upon the hall. All eyes turned towards Alex, who remained seated, his face an mask of indifference. He hadn't spoken a word since entering, and his silence spoke volumes. Was it arrogance? Defiance? It was impossible to tell.

The pressure in the room grew with each passing second, Ivan seemed to take a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.

A low growl rumbled through Alex's section of the hall. Some of his wolves shifted in their seats, their eyes flashing with anger. But Alex himself remained unfazed, his posture relaxed, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance. It was as if my father's words were nothing more than annoying background noise.

Ivan, his jaw clenched tight, watched my father with a mixture of anger and disappointment. "We are not here to rehash old grievances. We

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are here to find a solution."

My father opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word out, a sudden movement from Alex's section drew everyone's attention. Alex, who had been the very picture of nonchalance moments ago, rose slowly to his feet.

A collective gasp rippled through the hall. The air crackled with anticipation and then a series of sharp cracks echoed through the hall, the unmistakable sounds of bones shifting and rearranging. Alex's casual demeanor had vanished, replaced by a predatory intensity.

In that instant, the fragile peace that had held for the past hour shattered completely. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic drum against my ribs. My wolf, sensing the imminent danger, stirred restlessly within me, urging me to fight or flee.

Then, with a voice that seemed to emanate from the very depths of his being, he spoke a single word. A word that hung heavy in the air, a death knell to any hope of d