Bonds

-Alex's POV-

I don't know the specific place werewolves go when they leave this earth. Humans believed in heaven and hell. Werewolves, unlike humans, believed our creation came from the moon goddess. She was written in stories to be a kind and gentle soul but if there was a place like hell that was created for our kind, I was definitely going there for kissing her.

The moment my lips touched hers, I felt it all.

Was it possible to be dead and still be living?

I was sure that was what had happened to me in the last four because right now? All I felt was life, like a rekindled fire burning inside me. Her lips were as soft as I remember, her soft body molded into my hard frame. We were made for each other. I had known this from the moment I first saw her.

My hands wrapped around her waist pulling her into me. I wanted to consume her, bury whatever distance existed between the two of us. I deepened the kiss and that was why it all came crashing down.

I was suddenly shoved off her, then a slap followed. At least her claws were tout this time. She stared at me with different emotions coursing through her face but the most dominant was shock.

Shock because she had kissed me back. I could still taste her, my body hummed with anticipation. My wolf paced relentlessly in my head growling the same word that had haunted me since I saw her: Mate.

He wanted her but we couldn't have her, not after everything that had happened. Not after what she did. She continued to stare at Alex. me then as if she was suddenly yanked out back to reality, hee eyes narrowed, "F*ck you, Her hands trembled as she gathered the papers then grabbed her bag before heading out of my office. She gave me one last glance, her eyes conveyed the message that I already told myself.

I shouldn't have kissed her then she was gone, the door shutting behind her leaving me how I had been these last four years since I drove her out of my life.

Alone and Empty.

My hand instinctively reached for my phone and with a few taps, I sent a terse text to Christian: "At The Den. Now."

Grabbing my keys, I practically bolted out of the office. My head was spiraling with conflicting emotions- anger, regret, a primal urge to possess - but one thought echoed louder than all others: I shouldn't have kissed her.

The Den was an exclusive haven for the city's elite, a place where whispered deals solidified empires and fortunes were gambled away with nonchalance. As I strode through the mahogany doors, the murmur of conversation dipped momentarily, then resumed its steady flow.

A well-trained waiter materialized before me, a knowing smile playing on his lips. He didn't need to be told my usual - a double Scotch, neat. The amber liquid burned down my throat, a temporary escape from the fire burning within me.

In my loneliness, I was starting to think Christian was the only one I still had in my corner. My parents. My wolf growled at that

11:37 Fri, 21 Jun ti Chapter 48

thought. I was already angry, there was no need to fuel the anger by having thoughts of them.

Closing my eyes, I tried to find peace in the familiar sting of alcohol, but it was futile. My mind had already drifted back, back to a time before betrayal had poisoned the well of trust.

A frown creased my forehead as I stared at the brightly colored ice cream truck parked at the edge of the park. "What are we doing here?" I growled, the irritation evident in my voice, Amaya's smile, radiant and carefree, could have rivaled the summer sun. "Getting ice cream, silly," she chirped, her voice brimming with mischief. "Didn't you get the memo?"

"I don't eat ice cream," I muttered, feeling inexplicably defensive. It was a childish treat, and even when I was a child, I had never tasted it. I was not allowed to.

Her bright eyes widened in mock horror. "What? How can you not like ice cream? It's the perfect summer treat! Come on," she pleaded, taking my arm before I could protest. "I'll even let you pick the flavor."

A dark look crossed my face at the word "flavor" - a subtle reminder of the double meaning of the word. She knew exactly where my mind was headed, a blush creeping up her cheeks as if to confirm my suspicions but still, that didn't help the frown on my face.

Exclusive clubs and high-end restaurants were more my scene, places that exuded power and control. This was the last place! thought I would ever be caught dead in.

Despite being her mate, despite the electrifying connection we had, she had insisted that I court her then she would decide if she wanted to be claimed by me or not. That was a bull story because we both knew how it was ending, now that I had found her, I was not letting her go.

I agreed to her wishes because I realized that I would do just anything for her which was why I allowed her to drag me to a park and we were currently standing in front of an ice cream truck, because the alternative, the thought of losing her, was simply unbearable.

Unbearable-that was the headline of my present tale.

"If you're planning on crying your heart out," a voice drawled, laced with a hint of amusement, "tell me now so I can turn around and find a more stimulating afternoon.This is from NôvelDrama.Org.

I snapped back to reality at the voice, squinting through the haze of alcohol and swirling emotions, to see Christian standing before me. His usual stoic expression was replaced by a look of mild curiosity, a rare sight on his face. He slid into the seat opposite me.

"I shouldn't have threatened you. I apologize for that." Those were the first words that left my lips.

His eyes flickered with surprise, a rare sight for Christian. Nothing ever surprised him but I too never apologized.

"Since when does the almighty Alex Thorne apologize?"

I ignored his jibe, "I know you do what you can, more than I could ever ask and you shouldn't be on the receiving end of my anger."

He frowned, the amusement fading from his expression. "What the hell is going on with you? Are you dying? Because that's the only explanation I can come up with for this bizarre display of self-awareness."

Chapter da I clenched my fists, the urge to lash out threatening to consume me. But I held my tongue, forcing myself to breathe deeply. Now wasn't the time for a pointless brawl.

"I kissed her," I finally admitted, the words scraping raw against my throat, Silence stretched betweemus, punctuated only by the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversations from nearby tables.

"Oh, Alex," he wheezed, his laughter subsiding into breathless chuckles. "You finally did it, didn't you? You couldn't resist the forbidden fruit any longer."

"It was bound to happen, I suppose," Christian continued, his voice regaining its usual sardonic tone. "It was only a matter of time before you cracked. It was fun watching you pretend like you didn't want her."

"What now?" He continued, his voice devoid of amusement now, replaced by a sharp edge of curiosity. "Are you planning on some grand gesture of reconciliation? Because I hate to break it to you, but your little fairytale might have a snag. She's married, Alex and there is nothing you can do to change that. You ended whatever you two had whee when you threw her out of your house. When you kicked her out of your life."

My eyes darkened, "She broke my trust. After everything I had done for her, she went behind my back, stabbed me in the back then twisted the knife."

"So what?" He leaned forward meeting my gaze head on, "You hate her but you still want her because she was a good f c k? Miranda isn't doing it for you anymore?"

My eyes turned to black completely and my wolf lunged o the surface, "Don't ever talk about my mate like that again.

There was not a single flinch from him. Christian had seen me at my worse. He faced me squarely knowing my wolf could break free apy second, "You just called her your mate. Why don't you stop your bull st ecause I am so da m n tired of it.

second-you You want her so stop fighting it and go and get her. Oh wait, you can't? Because you picked her away and now she is bound to someone else."

His words, each one that kept leaving his mouth only aggravated me further,

"Christian," I growled, "Shut up."

"No Alex, I am not going to. You lost her and now there is no getting her back.

You did it and there is no one else to blame but you." At that moment, I lost all control, my hands slashed against his skin and I roared, "She is to blame because she cheated on me with him!"