Bonds

-Alex's POV-

My hands wrapped around her neck, caging her against the wall. Her lust filled out stared back at me and it took everything in me not to tear her pretty little dress and take her against the wall but she had always been my temptation, my weakness. "F*ck me, Alex.

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I let out a growl grinding my teeth, "Silver." It came out as a warning but I knew she wouldn't listen, "I dare you. You know you want to. F*ck me Alex."

Like that, every restraint slipped and I smashed my lips on hers. My claws extended, ripping her dress off her and she let out a gasp as my lips latched to one of her nipples. I bit down hard just the way she liked it.

"Alex please."

"Please what, Silver?"

My lips moved to the seconds, drawing the second bud into my hungry mouth, "Say it. Tell me exactly how you want it."

"I want you to... F*ck." She gasped out when my second hand slipped between her legs.

"Use your words, Silver."

"F*ck me. Please. I want you to f*ck me."

I released her, turning her around. She arched her back towards me and then without warning, pulled out my dick and slammed into her.

A bone-rattling crack of thunder split the sky, the sound echoing through the mansion like a gunshot. Rain lashed against the windows, the wind howling like a banshee outside. I flinched, the sudden noise jolting me out of the unsettling memories that had been swirling in my head, Those fragmented visions of Maya, the way she used to look at me- they'd been plaguing me for days ever since my visit to Adrian. His threats, laced with venomous hate, still hung in the air: "Watch your steps, Alex. Once I'm out, you'll pay for everything you took from me."

Taking a swig of my whiskey, I stared out the window at the relentless downpour. The Adrian I knew was long gone, consumed by a darkness that I woke up and walked with every single day of my life. His threats held no weight with me. He was getting exactly what he deserved for the life he took from me, the life he shattered.

Letting out a long sigh, I slumped deeper into the plush armchair closing my eyes then I felt her presence, "I was actually going to say a prayer of thanks to the Moon Goddess. I thought you had finally given me a helping hand and rid the world of you."

"If that's your way of saying you missed me, you aren't scoring any points," she sniped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I turned slowly to face her, a weary sigh escaping my lips. Getting rid of her wouldn't be difficult - I had that power. But Miranda, despite her sharp tongue and manipulative ways, had proven to be a valuable asset in certain situations.

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T Chapter 40

She sashayed towards the liquor cabinet, her high heels clicking rhythmically against the polished marble floor. Without asking. she poured herself a generous amount of whiskey, then perched herself on the edge of the bed with an air of entitlement.

"What brings you here, Miranda?"

"Can't a woman come see her fiancé?" she countered, her voice laced with a sweetness that didn't reach her eyes. The way she said "fiancé❞ sent a jolt of annoyance through me, grating on my wolf's instincts.

We locked eyes for a moment, a silent battle of wills. My bored stare met hers, as cold and calculating as a glacier.

"I heard your little mate went to jail," she finally said, breaking the silence. "If you ask me, they should've never let her out in the first place. Trash like her belongs locked up."

Her words were clearly designed to get a reaction, but today, I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. I simply took another sip of my whiskey, the amber liquid burning a soothing path down my throat.

Sensing my disinterest, she dropped the glass on the nightstand with a sharp crack. Her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a steely seriousness. "My brother came to see you!

The mention of Ivan piqued my curiosity, but only slightly. The tangled web of relationships between Miranda and her brother had always been a mystery to me. They seemed to exist in a constant state of love-hate, their bond as volatile as the thunderstorm outside.

"And?" I asked, my voice monotone.

She sat up straighter, her posture rigid. "You're going to help him."

Now this, this was interesting. A slow smile spread across my face, genuine amusement replacing my earlier boredom. "Why in the world would I involve myself with your brother's company? What use is he to me?"

Her eyes narrowed, "You'll help him because he's married to Amaya. A hurt to Ivan hurts Amaya too. Last I heard, Daniel Stone's company was on the verge of collapse. If Ivan follows suit, your precious little mate might just end up on the street, wouldn't your say?

Amaya had always been smart enough to stand on her own. That was one of the reasons I liked her. It didn't matter that she was the daughter of a multimillionaire. She had always believed in the power of hard work so I knew whatever happened to either of their companies would have little or no significant effects on her finances but still a cold, simmering rage burned in my gut as she spoke Amaya's name. Was it possible to feel such intense dislike for another human being? Miranda's manipulative tactics were infuriating, but I had to admit, her logic was sound. Whenever Amaya was involved, whether I liked it or not was still a weakness! couldn't ignore but still the word that left my lips was, "No."

A slow smile, laced with a hint of malice, spread across my face. "No?" She echoed, the single word laced with disbelief. For a moment, her carefully constructed facade seemed to slip, revealing a flicker of genuine surprise. But it was fleeting, replaced by a steely determination as she quickly regained her composure.

"Why wouldn't you care?" she pressed, her voice a low growl. "Only a blind person wouldn't see that you still have affection for her."

I raised an eyebrow, taking a deliberate sip of my whiskey and savoring the way it burned a warm path down my throat. "Affection? Like I have told you before, she is nothing to me. I do not care what happens to her."

The words burned in my own throat like they were stinging me from the inside but I enjoyed watching as the color drained from her face. I set the glass down with a decisive clink, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. Rising from the armchair, I took a slow, deliberate step towards her, my movements measured and predatory. She instinctively backed away, her bravado momentarily shaken. The power dynamic in the room had shifted, and she wasn't comfortable with it.

"Look, Miranda," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "let's get one thing straight. Your little games, your manipulative tactics- they don't work on the. I see through them clearer than the rain outside."

I stopped mere inches in front of her, towering over her petite frame. My gaze met hers, a cold challenge that sent shivers down her spine, I could see it in her eyes. Caging her with my body, I reached out and slowly, deliberately wrapped my hands around her throat. My grip wasn't enough to cause serious harm, but it was tight enough to restrict her breathing and send a clear message. Leaning closer, I spoke directly into her ear, my voice barely a whisper. Warm breath tickled her cheek, sending a tremor through her body. "I, Alex, move the pieces on this chessboard," I said, each word dripping with icy dominance. "And Amaya, for all her supposed importance, is nothing more than a pawn in my game. You'd be wise to remember that. So get off your high horse, Miranda, and stop pretending to be a queen. You are wearing my wolf thin, you know what happens when I let him out."

Her face contorted in a mixture of fear and defiance. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, the urge to lash out evident. But she knew, as well as I did, that a fight here wouldn't benefit her. Not against me. With a strangled gasp, she nodded curtly, her voice hoarse as she managed a weak, "I understand."

Only then did I release my hold, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips. Miranda stumbled back, gasping for breath and clutching at her throat.

"Good," I said, my voice returning to its usual calm. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business empire to run but first lie back and spread your legs."

Her gaze snapped to mine, "What?"

I had to remember this one of the reasons I kept her around and my memories of Anaya had been leaving me so much on edge. I needed a release and Miranda was a good f*ck.

"I do not like to repeat myself."

Instantly hers switched from fear to desire at my tone and she laid back, spreading her legs. A smile graced my face as I stared down at her.

This was going to be a really long night.

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The words burned in my own throat like they were stinging me from the inside but I enjoyed watching as the color drained from her face. I set the glass down with a decisive clink, the Q sound echoing in the sudden silence. Rising from the armchair, I took a slow, deliberate step towards her, my movements measured and predatory. She instinctively backed away, her bravado momentarily shaken.

"Look, Miranda," I said, my voice low and dangerous, "let's get one thing straight.

Your little games, your manipulative tactics they don't work on me. I see through them clearer than the rain outside."

I stopped mere inches in front of her, towering over her petite frame. My gaze met hers, a cold challenge that sent shivers down her spine, Poould see it in her eyes. Caging her with my body, I reached out and slowly, deliberately wrapped my hands around her throat. My grip wasn't enough to cause serious harm, but it was tight enough to restrict her breathing and send a clear message.

Leaning closer, I spoke directly into her ear, my voice barely a whisper.

Warm breath tickled her cheek, sending a tremor through her body. "I, Alex, move the pieces this m chessboard," Y said, each word dripping with icy dominance. "And Amaya, for all her supposed importance, is nothing more than a pawn in my game. You'd be wise to remember that. So get off your high horse, Miranda, and stop pretending to be a queen. You are wearing my wolf thin, you know what happens when I let him out."

Her face contorted in a mixture of fear and defiance. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, the urge to lash out evident. But she knew, as well as I did, that a fight here wouldn't benefit her. Not against me. With a strangled gasp, she nodded curtly, her voice hoarse as she managed a weak, "I understand."

Only then did I release my hold, a satisfied smirk playing on my lips. Miranda stumbled back, gasping for breath and clutching at her throat. "Good," I said, my voice returning to its usual calm. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business empire to run but first lie back and spread your legs." Her gaze snapped to mine, "What?"

I had to remember this one of the reasons I kept her around and my memories of Anaya had been leaving me so much on edge. I needed a release and Miranda was a good f*ck.

"I do not like to repeat myself."

Instantly hers switched from fear to desire at my tone and she laid back, spreading her legs. A smile graced my face as I stared down at her.

This was going to be a really long night.

11:36 Fri, 21 Jun e