Bonds

-Alex's POV-

Fury gnawed at my insides, a bitter, acidic knot that twisted with every ragged breath I took. The image of Christian's smug smile burned behind my eyelids, a reminder of his infuriating game-playing. Adrian getting out was a major headache, that much I knew. But the truth Christian had withheld was a goddamn detonator, set to drive my wolf insane. To drive me insane.

The hit I had him make Daniel's company take had exposed his money laundering scheme, which was why he was currently being. investigated. That much I knew. What I didn't know was that Christian had neglected a crucial detail.

In his my haste to make Daniel pay for being a headache, I had inadvertently implicated Amaya. Danirl had forged signatures, laundering money in her name, forging a financial link between her and his company. So if Daniel was going down, so was she.

And that was unacceptable.

The memory of Christian's infuriating smirk as he turned his back on me after stating without an ounce of remorse that she had been arrested too sent a fresh wave of fury crashing over me.

But still I asked myself. Why couldn't I just walk away? Forget about the woman who had betrayed me?

But the answer was simple - I couldn't. I couldn't let her go no matter how hard I tried. Amaya, for all her flaws, was still innocent in this. She was a pawn, manipulated by her father and now caught in the crossfire of my war with him. The thought of her locked up in some godforsaken jail cell, ignited a primal urge within me.

Муи

wolf snarled. He liked Christian but at this point, I was trying so hard not to give into him, tear through the city and make Christian pay for keeping something as important as this from me. If I had known, I'd have found another to strike Daniel Stone but none that would ever had involved hurting her like this. I slammed my foot on the accelerator, the engine roaring in response as sped towards the police station.

The air crackled with nervous energy as I stormed into the station, the harsh fluorescent lights adding to the sterile atmosphere. My alpha aura pulsed around me, a silent command for respect and immediate attention.

"I'm here to see Amaya Stone," I declared, my voice hard and laced with an edge of impatience. A silent part reminded me that she would soon take his name but I ignored it.

The young officer behind the counter barely glanced up from his paperwork. "Do you have an appointment, sir? Are you her deference. lawyer?" His voice was flat, devoid of any

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

The officer finally looked up, his gaze flickering over my expensive suit and the glint of my Rolex watch. But there was no recognition, no hint of awe in his eyes. Just a flicker of annoyance at my perceived arrogance...

"Sir, everyone needs an appointment to see a detainee and you are not her lawyer sooo...," he repeated, his voice firm.

My wolf strained at the leash, its growl rumbling deep in my chest. The blatant disrespect from this underling was infuriating. "Look, kid," I growled, leaning forward, my voice a low, dangerous rumble. "I suggest you rethink your next words. I am Alex Thorne, and I will see Amaya Stone. Now."

11:34 Fri, 21 Jun ti Chapter 33

The officer's posture stiffened, his eyes widening a fraction. He clearly sensed the raw power emanating from me, the alpha energy that demanded obedience. But he held his ground, his jaw set in a stubborn defiance that surprised me.

"Mr. Thorne," he said, his voice still laced with a hint of nervousness, "Even for you, there are procedures to follow. Without an appointment, I can't let you see her."

The air crackled with unspoken tension. We were locked in a silent battle of wills, the young officer clinging to the flimsy shield of protocol while my wolf strained against my control, eager to rip through any obstacle that stood between me and Amaya.

The silence stretched, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the fluorescent lights. Finally, with a deep, controlled breath, I forced my anger down. There was no point in creating a scene.

"Fine," I conceded through gritted teeth. "Get me an appointment. Now."

The officer, visibly relieved, scurried to his computer. "It might take a few hours, sir," he said, dialing a number.

"Get me in to see her now."

H He flinched at the icy command in my voice. He stammered for a moment, clearly out of his depth dealing with an enraged billionaire. But the raw power simmering beneath the surface of my words must have gotten through to him. Without another word, he hung up the phone and grabbed a set of keys from a drawer.

"Follow me, Mr. Thorne."

We walked in tense silence down a sterile white hallway, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic click of his shoes on the floor. My wolf thrashed inside me, its anxiety mirroring my own. Why was I here? Was it guilt gnawing at the edges of my conscience, guilt for the situation she found herself in, a situation I inadvertently played a part in? Or was it the primal urge of my wolf, unable to bear the thought of our mate, rejected or not, locked away in a cage?

She wasn't our mate anymore, not after her betrayal. The memory of her betrayal sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me, a frown etching itself onto my face. Just then, the clang of the cell door opening pulled me back to the present.

Amaya stood at the entrance, her face an unreadable mask. Gone was the fiery defiance I was used to seeing, replaced by a stoic emptiness. There were no tear tracks, no signs of emotional breakdown. She had always been strong, I knew that much. But this stoicism, this utter lack of emotional display did not sit well with me.

The silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating. Finally, she broke it with a sigh laced with exhaustion. "Why can't you just leave me alone?" Her voice was flat, devoid of any emotion.

I didn't answer. The truth was, I didn't have an answer.

"Aren't you going to sit?" I asked instead, my voice gruff.

A sardonic laugh escaped her lips. "And you're suddenly capable of being a gentleman, I see."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I ignored the jab, the alpha within me wanting to take control. "Amaya, sit down,"

I commanded, my voice radiating my power. She might be an alpha female, but she knew, and I knew, that mine was stronger.

alpha She didn't argue this time, but the look she shot me was enough to singe my eyebrows. She took a seat across from me, her posture stiff and unyielding.

11:34 Fri, 21 Jun Chapter 33

"Do you want to gloat? All the hate you have for my father, finally getting what he deserves, right? And since my family is apparently. filled with terrible people, I guess that means I deserve this too."

"I didn't come here for your attitude," I growled, frowning. "Don't make this any harder than it already is."

"Well, I don't want you here at all, Alex," she shouted back, her voice finally cracking with emotion. "So get out!"

I stood up abruptly, my movements sending a jolt of fear through her. She m flinched back, shrinking into her chain.

"Watch. Your. Tone," I growled, each word a barely controlled snarl.

She narrowed her eyes at me, defiance flickering in their depths, but wisely chose to remain silent. With a sigh of frustration, I sank back down into the chair.

This wasn't going how I planned.

"You shouldn't have been arrested," I finally said, my voice calmer now. "Your father forged your signature and took money in your name."

Her reaction surprised me. No anger, no disbelief, just a blank stare. It was unnerving.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" I asked, frustration creeping back into my I voice.

Amaya remained silent, her gaze fixed on a point somewhere above my head.

The air grew thick with a suffocating silence.

"Damn it, Amaya!" I slammed my fist on the table. It clattered under the force of my blow, sending a jolt.

"Look at through the sterile room. in me,commanded, my voice still rough with barely contained anger.

Slowly, she turned her head, her gaze meeting mine. It was a struggle of wills, a silent battle for dominance.

But I wouldn't back down.

"Your father used you," I stated bluntly, pushing past the anger to focus on the facts. "He forged your signature and used your name to launder money. You had no idea, did you?"

Silence. Still, no reaction followed.

The two of us stared at each other, neither of us saying another word. Just when I thought she had finally gone deaf her lips parted. She closed her eyes, a lone tear escaping her lids. When she opened them, the emptiness was gone, replaced by an intensity that had my wolf lunging to the surface. It took everything in me to stop him from taking over when the next words spilled from her lips.

"I hate that I can't stop loving you."