Bonds

-Maya's POV-

"You don't have to say it back," he rushed on, his voice attempting to mask the vulnerability I saw reflected in his eyes. "And maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty. I just... can't hide how I feel. You're an amazing woman, Amaya, and..."

He trailed off, searching my face, and a wave of panic washed over me. I couldn't let him get any closer, not emotionally, not physically.

"I have kids," the words tumbled out in a rush, escaping my control before I could stop them.

He blinked, a flicker of confusion replacing the affection in his eyes. "What?"

I could almost hear my father's voice, a chilling echo in the back of my head, warning me against this very moment.

"Two of them," I blurted out, my voice ragged. "Twins. And I didn't... I mean, my father didn't want me to tell you. But I don't want to lie to you anymore, Ivan."

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. The longer he remained silent, the heavier the weight of my confession became.

"Ivan? Please, say something."

Then, a flicker of something dark crossed his features. Anpor? Hurt? Whatever it was, sent a shiver down my spine.

"How long were you going to keep it a secret?" His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. "Wait, that's not even the question I should be asking. Who is the father?"

My mouth gaped open and closed like a fish out of water. No words came out, no justifications, no explanations.

Frustration flared in his eyes, quickly replaced by a chilling resignation. He let out a humorless scoff "Fine," he muttered, the single word heavy with disappointment.

He turned away, his broad shoulders slumped in defeat, "I trust you can find your way back to wherever you go to hide your lies," he said, his voice cold and distant.

"Ivan, please!"

He didn't turn around. He just kept walking, leaving me alone in the echoing silence of the room. As he reached the doorway, a sliver of fear flickered within me. "Are you ending the marriage?"

He paused, turning his head slightly. The expression on his face was unreadable. "No, Amaya," he said finally. "I'm not. But I need time. Time to process this." He paused again, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer before he continued, "I'll call you when I have things figured out."

Then, with a final, heavy sigh, he disappeared out the door, leaving me alone in the darkness with the deafening silence of my own secrets.

My legs trembled as I left the building, each step echoing the turmoil within. Stealing a deep, shaky breath, I opted against calling a cab. Walking, I reasoned, might offer a semblance of control amidst the chaos.

The city streets pulsed with a frenetic energy as 1 walked. My destination remained unknown, my mind consumed by the fallout that awaited me. My father's face, twisted with fury, flashed through my thoughts, fueling a fresh wave of dread.

The rhythmic clatter of my heels filled my ears and without realizing it, my steps had carried me towards a bar.

I stopped to stare at the sign for a moment.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

The Rusty Compass.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by the warm, comforting scent of stale beer and well-worn leather. The low murmur of conversation hung in the air, punctuated by the occasional clinking of glasses. A lone young woman stood behind the bar, her auburn hair cascading down her shoulders in fiery waves. Her face, etched with the lines of experience, held a warmth that belied the weariness in her hazel eyes. Her name tag read "Biley."

"Can I get a double scotch, neat?"

She glanced up, lingering on my face for a beat longer than necessary. Her eyes, the color of melted chocolate, held a flicker of concern, "Rough her gaze night?"

1 slumped onto the wom barstool, defeat coursing through me. "The roughest of them all," I confessed, letting out a shaky sigh.

One glass turned into two, then three and before I realized, I was spilling my guts to a complete stranger.

Riley listened patiently, her expression a mask of quiet understanding. When I finished, a heavy silence settled between us.

She opened her mouth to talk then, a sudden commotion erupted near the back of the bar. Three burly men shoved their way through a swinging door, their laughter grating in the previously subdued atmosphere. One of them, a man with a shaved head and a gold chain glinting around his neck, slammed a wad of cash onto the counter.

"Three rounds of your strongest stuff, sweetheart," he barked at Riley, his gaze leering. "And make it quick."

Riley's jaw clenched, and a flicker of defiance sparked in her hazel, "I'm sorry but there are no drinks available. This is a peaceful bar and it is not for you and your gunes."

The gold chain around the shaved head of the newcomer clanked as he slammed his fist on the counter, the force rattling the glasses behind Riley, "This place ain't for the likes of us, huh? What makes you think you can throw us out, sweetheart?"

"You are are bikers. This bar has its rules. Bikers aren't allowed in here. I'm pretty sure you know that. You are just looking to make trouble"

His buddies joined him as he moved closer until he was in Riley's face, "Again Lask. What are you going to do about it?"

I gripped the edge of the barstool, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

"Look," interjected, my voice surprisingly calm despite the churning in my stomach, "Maybe it's best if you guys just-

"Who are you to tell us what to do?" The man sneered, his gaze flickering to me with undisguised hostility. "This ain't your business, lady. I suggest you stay out of it."

"Actually," I countered, taking a deep breath, "it kind of is. This is a decent place, and causing trouble isn't exactly on the menu."

A slow smirk spread across his face. "This some kind of joke, sweetheart? You think you can throw us out?"

One of his buddies, a hulking mass of a man let out a guttural laugh. "Yeah, maybe she should show us how it's done."

The entire bar seemed to hold its breath, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I knew I was out of my league, but something about their disrespect towards Riley, the way they were trying to intimidate her, intimidate me made my wolf growl in anger.

"Maybe I will."

My posture straightened, my chin lifted a fraction, and a steely glint entered my eyes as they turned to black before flickering back to normal.

12:01 Thu, 20 Jun Chapter 17

Sensing the shift in my demeanor, the man's smirk faltered for a brief moment. Before he could reast.m leaned forward, my voice dropping to alow growl "Look, I get it. You and your buddies want to act tough. But trust me, this isn't the place for that. Now, why don't you all just take your elsewhere before things get messy?"

business Silence descended upon the bar. Patrons stared, their eyes wide with surprise. Even Riley seemed taken aback by my sudden display of confidence.

Honestly, I didn't know where it came from but I felt my wolf pacing, I felt her anger. She had been quiet for too long.

He stared at me for a long, tense beat. Then, a humorless chuckle escaped his lips. He turned to his buddies, sending a silent message and before I knew it, one of them came at me.

The guy lunged fueled by arrogance and aggression. In a flash, my body reacted instinctively. Channeling my wolf, I sidestepped his attack with feline grace, my movements a dance between predator and prey.

With a swift motion, I disarmed the lunge, twisting the guy's arm behind his back and forcing hing to the m ground. The impact echoed through the bar, a sudden hush fottowing the thud. His buddies, now realizing the precariousness of their situation, exchanged uneasy glances.

As the hulking mass advanced, I embraced my werewolf strength. My fist connected with precision, sending him reeling backward. I moved seamlessly between opponents, a blur of controlled violence, utilizing my werewolf abilities to anticipate their moves.

The man with the shaved head, still recovering from my initial redirection, attempted a wild swing. I ducked effortlessly, seizing the opportunity to disarm him as well. The barstool I gripped earlier became an extension of my power.

Amidst the chaos, the bar's patrons watched in stunned silence but no one tried to intervene.

With a final, assertive move, I positioned myself between them and the exit. "This is your last chance to leave peacefully. Don't make me show you the consequences."

Their retreat was swift, stumbling over each other in a hurry to escape the embarrassment. The bar's atmosphere gradually shifted from tension to relief, the patrons exchanging shocked glances.

Turning to Riley, her eyes now wide with a mix of awe and fear, she stammered,

"I saw your eyes and your hands... what are you? What kind of monster are you?"