Bonds

-Maya's POV-

Alex's grip tightened on my wrist, his knuckles tuming white with the force. The surprise in his eyes was quickly replaced by something else, a primal possessiveness that sent a shiver down my spine. For a moment, the defiance I felt faltered, replaced by a flicker of fear.

But it was a fleeting emotion. Squaring my shoulders, I met his gaze head-on. "Let go of me, Alex!" I hissed, yanking my hand back with surprising strength. The pain in my leg shot up again, a searing reminder of my vulnerability, but I ignored it.

"It's none of your business!" I snapped.

His eyes narrowed further, his jaw clenching tight. "It is my business," he countered, his voice a low growl. "You are beating his mark right where mine used to bel How dare you?"

I stared at him, incredulous. Was he seriously asking me this right now? The fight outside raged on, the sounds of snarls and crashes echoing through the corridor. Here we were, in a dimly lit back room, and he was fixated on the mark Ivan had placed on my shoulder.

"Are you being serious right now?" I spat, my voice laced with anger. "There's a battle outside, one you started with your reckless order! Wolves are probably dying right now, and you're worried about a stupid mark? News flash, Alex, you rejected me. You tossed me away like yesterday's trash. I quit my job to get away from you, and all you can do is grab me and question my choices?"

"I just saved your life," he muttered, his voice gruff.

"I didn't ask for your help!" I shot back, my temper flaring. "Now let go of me! I need to find ivan and the others, see if they're alright."

Ignoring the throbbing pain in my leg, I pushed myself to my feet. The world tilted slightly, and I grabbed onto the nearest armchair for support. The fact that we were both completely naked, the adrenaline of the fight finally fading, suddenly hit me. But right now, that was the least of my concerns.

He stared at me, his expression unreadable. "You'll get yourself killed out there," he warned.

"Then call it off!" I countered. "You gave the order, call your wolves off!"

The anger in my voice surprised even me. But the thought of Ivan and the others, caught in the middle of this chaos Alex had unleashed, filled me with a fierce protectiveness.

He hesitated, his gaze flickering towards the closed door. The sounds of the fight seemed to intensify for a moment, then recede slightly.

"They won't listen to me now," he muttered, his voice defeated. "It's too late."

Frustration bubbled up inside me. "Too late for what?" I snapped. "Too late to stop the fight you started? Too late to apologize for the way you treated me?"

My words hung heavy in the air, a challenge and an accusation rolled into one. Alex flinched, his jaw clenching tight. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but then he let out a defeated sigh.

"There's a lot we need to talk about, Amaya," he said finally, his voice softer now. "But right now, you can't go back out there. Your leg is injured."

He gestured towards the armchair where I had been sitting moments ago. There was a flicker of concern in his eyes but I wasn't ready to let Chapter 101

down my gu guard. The anger and hurt from his rejection were still raw, and the situation we found ourselves in was far from ideal.

"I can take care of myself, Alex," I said coolly. "Thank you for the, uh, medical attention. But I think I'd rather take my chances out there with my friends than stay here with you."Text © owned by NôvelDrama.Org.

With a determined glint in my eyes, I took a tentative step forward. The pain shot up my leg again, sharper this time, but I gritted my teeth and pushed on.

He moved to grab my arm, but I swatted his hand away. "Don't touch me," I warned, He froze, his hand hovering in mid-air for a moment before slowly retracting. A flicker of something akin to shame crossed his face, but it was quickly replaced by a look of stubborn determination.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But you're not going anywhere in that condition. Here, sit."

He didn't wait for my response, but instead moved with surprising gentleness, pushing the armchair closer to me. I hesitated for a moment, torn between my anger and the throbbing pain in my leg.

Finally, with a sigh of defeat, I lowered myself onto the plush cushion. The cool fabric felt soothing against my hot skin. Alex watched me with an unreadable expression as I settled in.

“Look," he began, his voice calmer now, "I know you're angry. And you have every right to be. I messed up, big time. Rejecting you was a mistake, the biggest one of my life."

His words hung heavy in the air and I froze for a moment. Did he just apologize? After all these time, after everything, he was apologizing?

"But explaining that now isn't going to change anything," he continued, his voice low. "Right now, we need to focus on getting you out of here safely."

I stared at him, unsure of how to respond. The anger still simmered within me, but it was starting to be overshadowed by a wave of confusion. What exactly was going on with him? Why the sudden change in demeanor?

"How did you even know about the mark? How did you know he marked me?" I finally asked, ignoring the other other million questions going through my head. He hesitated, then ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Let's just say I have my ways."

His answer wasn't satisfying, but I knew pushing him wouldn't get me anywhere right now. I had bigger problems to deal with, namely the battle raging outside and the safety of my friends.

"Can I at least get you some water?" he asked hesitantly, his voice almost sheepish.

I looked at him, surprised by the simple request. He looked genuinely concerned, a stark contrast to the domineering Alpha I was used to.

"Sure," I finally said after a moment's hesitation. "Water would be good."

A small smile flickered across his face, a fleeting glimpse of the Alex I had known before. He turned and moved towards a small sink tucked away in a corner of the room amd my head was spinning.

What the f*ck was happening?

Did I wake up in some kind of alternate universe?

Why was he apologizing after everything?, Why was was he suddenly being not cold?

Amd water? Really water?

As he filled a glass with water, I couldn't help but take a moment to really look at him. He was covered in dust and blood from the fight, naked. It was unsettling but before I could dwell on that thought any further, he returned with the water, offering it to me gently, I took the glass from him, our fingers brushing briefly. A spark of electricity shot through me, a jolt that sent a shiver down my spine.

For a moment, our eyes met, and I saw a flicker of something in his gaze, something that mirrored the turmoil within me. Was it regret? Hope? Whatever it was, it left me breathless and confused.

The anger, the hurt I had been pushing down, surged back to the surface, fueled by a fierce protectiveness for apologies aren't Xack, "YouT g

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going to change anything. I don't know what game you think you want to play but I am not interested, if you really want to do something meaningful, tell your wolves to stand down. Stop this war.

End it now!!

The anger in my voice seemed to surprise him, momentarily wiping the concern from his face. "They won't listen to me now. The fight's gotten out of control. I promised them blood." "Then find a way to make them listen!" I roared, my own frustration boiling over. "You're the Alpha, aren't you? Act like onel"

A tense silence descended upon the room, broken only by the distant sounds of the battle. We locked eyes, a storm of emotions swirling within them- anger, hurt, confusion.

Just as I was about to break the silence, a low rumble echoed through the room, followed by @sickening creak. A piece of plaster from the ceiling rained down, landing at Alex's feet with a soft thud.

His eyes widened in horror. "The building..."

Another rumble, louder this time, sent a tremor through the floor. Dust motes danced in the dim light, swirling around us like miniature phantoms. "It's collapsing!" I yelled, scrambling out of the armchair. Panic clawed at my throat, momentarily erasing the anger that had fueled me moments before. Alex lunged towards me, his hand outstretched. "We need to get out of here, now!"