Bonds

Chapter 139 -Alex's POV- A knot of dread twisted in my gut the moment we pulled up to the location. Even from a distance, something felt off, a wrongness that sent something I didn't like crawling down my spine. I knew the entire situation was a gamble, a dance with the devil, but this... this felt different.

My wolves were already ready, waiting outside for my order. The plan was simple - Amaya would enter first, confirm the twins' safety, and then I would follow, providing unseen backup. But the moment she disappeared through the doorway, a sickening premonition washed over me.

I lingered in the shadows, my senses on high alert. Silence stretched, thick and heavy, broken only by the pounding of my own heart. Just as I was about to move, a sound sliced through the air - the unmistakable click of a gun being cocked.

My blood ran cold. Every muscle in my body tensed, ready to spring into action. Slowly, cautiously, I turned, my gaze landing on the figure standing behind me.

Miranda.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she met my eyes. "Well, well, well," she drawled, her voice dripping with venomous sarcasm, “if it isn't my oh-so- alive fiancé. Thought you were a goner." * 2 43 2 60 is I let out a frustrated groan, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. The last thing I needed right now was a confrontation with Miranda. “Miranda," I gritted my teeth, "put the gun down. This isn't the time.” She threw her head back and bellowed with laughter, a chilling sound that echoed in the empty space. "The nerve," she spat, her voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Making demands when you're the one cornered like a rat. Pathetic." I took a tentative step towards her, but she instantly reacted, her finger tightening on the trigger. "Don't even think about it, Alex," she warned, her voice low and menacing. "I don't know how you cheated death this time, but trust me, I won't miss my second shot." "Miranda," I growled, my voice a low rumble. Trying to reason with her felt pointless, but I had no choice.

A cruel smile twisted her lips. "What is it, Alex? Scared? You always act so tough, so powerful. But I see right through you, you know. Nothing but a scared little boy hiding behind a mask." Her words stung, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. I had to get to Amaya, to the twins. Every passing second felt like an eternity, the silence broken only by the ragged rhythm of my breath and the incessant pounding of my heart.

"You know," She continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I used to be envious of her. Amaya. It felt like you only ever had eyes for her, that no matter what, the two of you were destined to be together. I always wanted what she had. But you know why I couldn't have it, Alex? Huh? Tell me!" I stared at her, my expression blank. Frankly, I didn't care about her childhood sob story. From the look in her eyes, it was clear she was on the verge of a breakdown, and the last thing I needed right now was an emotional outburst.

But as if sensing my disinterest, she continued, her voice thick with barely contained rage. "Because your monster of a father stole my childhood! Tore my family apart right in front of my eyes! You know what that does to a person, Alex? It fucks you up real good. I tried to get help, but the damage was already done." 12 She took a shaky breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And then, when Ivan started this vendetta... it felt right. The thought of seeing you all suffer, of getting skind of twisted revenge. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad if you hadn't always been such an arrogant jerk to me.” A bored sigh escaped my lips. "Are you done with your little pity party, Miranda?" I snapped, my voice laced with frustration. "I didn't ask for a history lesson about your dysfunctional childhood. I was a child myself back then. I had no control over what my father did. Bringing Amaya, the children, andinto this... it's pointless. My father's dying, Miranda. He's a shell of his former self. He wouldn't last a minute in a fight. Why aren't you going after him? He's the one who destroyed your life. Not me. Not Amaya. Not the kids." A flicker of something akin to pain crossed her features, a fleeting glimpse of the vulnerable girl she once might have been. But it was quickly replaced by a hardened mask of anger.

"Shut up!" she screamed, the gun trembling slightly in her hand. "One more word and I swear..." Her voice trailed off, but the threat hung heavy in the air.

My frustration simmered, but I forced myself to remain calm. I knew escalating the situation wouldn't help anyone. I needed to find a way to disarm her, both literally and figuratively. But how? My gaze darted around the room, searching for anything that could givean advantage. There was nothing. Just us, and the weight of a very volatile situation.

"Miranda," I started again, my voice softer this time, "we both know this isn't the answer. You won't find peace by hurting me, or Amaya, or the children. Let go of the hate, Miranda. It's eating you alive." 1/2 *Easy for you to say," she scoffed, her voice laced with bitterness. "You have everything. A family, a future. What do I have?" ) Her words struck a chord within me. Despite everything she'd done, there was a hint of sadness in her eyes, a flicker of despair that resonated with a part of me.

"You have a chance to start over, Miranda," I said gently. "Let the gun go. Walk away from all of this. There's still tfor you to build a life for yourself, a life that doesn't revolve around revenge." Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the ragged rhythm of our breaths. Miranda stared at me, her face a mask of conflicting emotions. Was she considering my words? Hope flickered within me, a fragile flthat could easily be extinguished.

But then, the sound of her laughter shattered the fragile silence. It wasn't a light chuckle, not a friendly giggle. It was a harsh, maniacal sound that sent shivers down my spine.

"I told Ivan that I'd be a fantastic actress! Look at your face, completely fooled! You actually thought for a second I was having doubts." That was it. The gwas over. I wouldn't waste another breath trying to reason with her. My muscles tensed, preparing to turn and walk away, to put as much distance between us as possible. But before I could take a single step, her voice cut through the air, sharp as a whip.

"Don't even think about it!" she snarled, "I swear, I'll shoot you right here, right now. And you know I'm not bluffing."

I forced my gaze to meet hers, schooling my features into a mask of boredom. It was a desperate attempt Π to regain control of the situation, to project an air of indifference I didn't quite feel. "You shot Amaya, not me. If you were going to take a shot at me, you'd have done it already. Now, like I said before, I really don't have tfor this ." My words hung heavy in the air, a challenge laced with a bravado I hoped she wouldn't see through. But a slow, chilling smile spread across her face, a predator savoring its prey.

“Ivan has a message for you,” she purred, her voice dripping with malice. “I hope you got to say your goodbyes, because this is the end of your story." And then, the world erupted in a deafening roar. The gun in her hand spat fire, the bullet screaming through the air in a blur of violence. But her aim wasn't true. It wasn'tshe was targeting. The bullet slammed into the wall behind me, showeringwith dust and debris.

For a split second, I was frozen in shock. Her sudden attack had takencompletely off guard. But then, a horrifying realization dawned on me. This wasn't about killing me. It was a diversion. He knew I was alive. He knew I would cwith her.

Reacting instinctively, I channeled every ounce of energy to shift. My body tensed, ready for the familiar transformation.

ion. But nothing happened. Ptried again, the om desperation clawing at my throat.

"Con," I growled internally, willing my wolf to appear. But silence.

There was no answer, no surge of power, no comforting presence of my wolf at my side.

For a horrifying moment, a sickening realization dawned on me. Ever since that strange light had broughtback from the dead, I hadn't felt my wolf's presence within me. It had been there, a constant companion for as long as I could remember, a source of strength and power. But in the chaos of everything that had happened, fighting for my life, racing to get the twins, I hadn't noticed his absence. Now, faced with this immediate threat, the truth hitlike a physical blow. My wolf, the very essence of who I was... gone.

The shock of this discovery threatened to overwhelmwhen the blast hit, a blinding white light engulfing my vision. The force of the explosion sentflying.

6 I slammed against the rough stone wall, the impact stealing the breath from my lungs just as my world faded to black.

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