Bonds

Chapter 142 -Maya's POV- The moment the words left Alex's lips, a hollow ache settled deep within my gut. "There is no fight back," he said, his voice flat and devoid of life. It was like watching a flflicker and die - the fire that had always burned bright in his eyes extinguished.

Even with Natalia whispering explanations in my ear just moments before, the truth slammed intowith a brutal force. He was scared. Afraid to even approach them.

I didn't know the details of what transpired between him and his father. From the way things were going, I could only imagine the man was a walking nightmare, someone who'd left deep scars on Alex. He was terrified of becoming the very monster his father might have been.

Ignoring the chaos swirling around us, I knew I had to act so my feet ledstraight to him staring at the lake. His posture lacked the usual confidence and it was in that moment that I knew I didn't want to lose him.

So when I said I forgave him, I meant it and when I said it was tto fight back, I meant it too but there was something even more important to do right now.

Alex needed to meet his children.

He hadn't spoken a word since I'd gently insisted he couldn't avoid them forever. Now, he paced outside the room like a caged animal, his anxiety palpable. Meanwhile, inside, I prepared the twins. It was a delicate task, explaining such a complex situation to three and a half year olds.

Especially Ivy. My sweet, sassy little girl. She was the one who clung most fiercely to Ivan.

"Mommy, where's Ivan?" she'd asked earlier that day, her voice thick with a confusion that tugged at my heartstrings. There was no easy answer, no simple explanation that wouldn't send her little world spinning.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage. It wouldn't be a perfect conversation, there would be bumps along the road, but it had to be done. It was tfor them to meet their father.

"Sweetie," I began, my voice as gentle as I could muster, “remember how we talked about families? How sometimes families are big and sometimes they're small?” Both Nate and Ivy nodded, their bright eyes fixed on me. “Well," I continued, "today, we're going to meet someone who is a very important part our family. Someone you haven't met yet." "His nis Alex," I continued, my voice dropping to a soft whisper. "And he's... well, he's the reason you and Nate are here." of Silence descended upon the room. My words hung in the air, a foreign concept waiting to be digested. Nate tilted his head, a question forming in his big blue eyes. Ivy, however, remained blissfully oblivious.

"But where's Ivan?" she piped up, her lower lip trembling slightly.

Explaining was a task beyond my current vocabulary, at least for their young ears. Instead, I opted for a gentle redirection. "Honey," I said, scooping her onto my lap, "Ivan isn't our family anymore. He stopped being nice to us and did svery bad things. Well, Alex is different. He's kind and brave, and he wants to meet you and Nate very much." I put my hand forward holding my breath, "Now I'm not going to force you if you don't want to meet this new person but if you do want to just squeeze my hand." This breath Nate stared at my hand for a moment then squeezed. Ivy looked in between the two of us then puffed out a breath before squeezing. I let out a breath of relief., Squeezing their hands back, I stood up. "Con. Let's go meet Alex." With a determined glint in my eyes, I opened the door, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Alex stood outside, his back ramrod straight, but with a tremor that betrayed his anxiety. His gaze darted nervously betweenand the doorway, a mixture of fear and longing clouding his expression.

"Alex," I began, forcing out a smile, "these are Nate and Ivy. They're finally ready to meet you." A kaleidoscope of emotions flickered across Alex's face - fear, disbelief, then a surge of belief and relief. It was as if a dam had broken within him, releasing a torrent of conflicting feelings. Finally, a flicker of pride settled in his eyes as they landed on the two tiny figures clinging to my legs.

He towered over them at six foot four, a giant compared to their miniature frames. But he seemed to understand the unspoken message in my gaze, because he crouched down awkwardly, even then remaining a good distance above them.

"I'm a father," he whispered, more to himself than to us. The words hung heavy in the air, a quiet declaration that resonated deep within me.

1/3 10:33 AM Chapter 142 A pang shot through my chest. I'd done what I had to do by keeping them away from him, protecting them from the chaos that had been our lives. But in that moment, a wave of guilt washed over me. I had robbed him of these precious moments of fatherhood.

He extended his hands hesitantly, palms open, as if offering a handshake or sother gesture of introduction. "Hi" Nate and Ivy, however, remained glued to my legs, peering at him with wide, curious eyes. The silence stretched, thick and heavy, and for a fleeting moment, I feared this initial meeting wouldn't end well.

Then, unexpectedly, Nate reached out. He didn't take Alex's hand, but instead, stretched out a tiny hand and touched his face. Alex inhaled sharply. His gaze flicked down to Nate's hand, as if assessing this unexpected touch.

Nate's small voice broke the silence. "You stole the blue in my eyes," he declared, his tone serious.

A shaky laugh escaped my lips. Relief washed overas Alex seemed to understand immediately. "I will give it back," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I will give you everything I have." A tear escaped my eye, tracing a warm path down my cheek. Nate, always the more perceptive of the two, seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere. He let go of Alex's face, a small smile playing on his lips. “You promise?" Alex nodded solemnly, his own lips curving into a genuine smile for the first time. "I promise." I gently nudged Ivy, hoping to encourage her to interact with Alex. But she remained stubbornly behind my legs. Alex turned to her, his smile faltering slightly under the scrutiny of her gaze. He tried again, this taddressing her directly. "Do you want everything in the world too?" he asked, his voice softening even further.

Ivy's reply was immediate and blunt. "No, I want ice cream," she declared, her voice dripping with a level of sass that contrasted her age. Then, with a wiggle and a determined push, she propelled herself away fromand took off running down the hallway.

Nate, mistaking her sudden movement for the promise of ice cream, let out a yell of delight and sprinted after her. "I want ice cream too!" he shouted, his small feet pounding against the floor.

A moment later, a shrill scream, followed by a burst of giggles, echoed down the hallway. "Get off me!" Ivy shrieked, her voice laced with playful annoyance. It was clear Nate, in his usual enthusiastic way, had tackled her to the ground.

I let out a sigh, shaking my head as Alex stood up to his full height. "She'll caround,” I said reassuringly. "She's a little..." I hesitated, searching for the right word. Stubborn was the first that cto mind, but it didn't feel quite right.

"Resilient?" Alex finished for me, a smile playing on his lips.

We stood in an awkward silence for a moment, the only sound the distant echoes of the children's laughter. He glanced down the hallway where they'd disappeared, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Should we go get them?" he asked.

as we "They're not destructive," I replied with a tired smile. “As long hear them, they're fine. Besides, they'll probably end up finding Natalia. She's their resident sugar supplier. Maybe we should go check on them, but again, I'm trying to teach them that..." I stopped mid-sentence, realizing he was smiling again.

harrowed my eyes, "What is funny?" "A nervous rambling isn't the most effective teaching method," He laughed, breaking the ice. I rolled my eyes playfully, pushing past him with a mumbled excuse. “Go check on your children, Alex. I need to use the bathroom." The truth was, I needed a moment to collect myself.

I was almost at the bathroom door when I heard hi nicknfrom a lifetago. "Silver.” call after me. He used the one nthat always managed to disarm me, the one whispered Turning back, I met his gaze. His face held only gratitude, "Thank For everything."

Taking a deep breath, I forced a small smile onto my lips before pushing open the bathroom door. Stepping m inside, I locked the door behind me, the click echoing in the sudden silence. My reflection stared back ata woman on the verge of something new. My eyes sparkled, a hint of a forgotten joy flickering within them. My cheeks burned with a flush that wasn't entirely due to the warm water I'd splashed on my face. They were right - the bob haircut suited me. It framed my face in a way that felt both familiar and refreshingly different. Looking at myself, I couldn't help but feel a surge of... "Happy," my wolf completed the thought in my head, her voice a soft echo in the quiet space.

I sent a playful jab in her direction, al mental nudge that would have elicited a playful growling the past. "You've been awfully quiet lately," I teased, but the playful banter died in my throat when she didn't respond. A sigh escaped my lips, a heavy weight settling on my chest. "I'm sorry," I whispered, the words thick with regret. “I'm sorry I let myself fall for Ivan. I'm sorry I let him get close to you, that I let him mark me." This time, she responded, her voice a comforting rumble within my mind. "You didn't know," she explained, her words filled with a quiet understanding. "And I felt it, he felt wrong. That's why I cleared off the mark." 2/3 Chapter 142 I couldn't help but grin at her candor. "So it wasn't just because you were being possessive about Alex?" I teased, feeling a spark of her usual playful humor flicker within our connection.

"That too," she admitted with a hint of amusement. Then, her voice grew serious. "I can't feel his wolf anymore. He's gone." A wave of dread washed over me. "We'll find a way to get him back. No matter what." Then, a flicker of guilt crossed my mind. "I should have told you the moment you returned," I confessed. "I really missed you."

There was a moment of silence, a beat of absence that stretched for what felt like an eternity. Then, her voice filled my mind once more, a comforting murmur laced with a hint of hidden worry. "I missed you too, Amaya," she said softly. "And I've always been here, even when you couldn't feel me. I'll be here with you, right by your side, for whatever is coming." Her words trailed off, the communication link snapping shut abruptly. The sudden silence after her reassuring presence sent a shiver down my spine. The dread that had been momentarily quelled by my reunion with Alex surged back with a vengeance.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the counter. Bracing myself, I reached for it, half expecting another taunting message from Ivan. But the message wasn't from him. It was from my mother, and the words that scrolled across the screen did little to alleviate the dread gnawing at me: "Something terrible has happened. Amaya, please. Your father needs your help." X