Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 29

-Alex's POV-

Let out an irritated sigh before moving towards Miranda. Amaya was already gone, whisked away by Natalia who

looked like she was about to erupt Eke a volcano, Miranda was still sprawled on the floor, clutching her face and

letting out a string of very undignified s o b s. The bartender woman who had been at Amaya's side, was staring

wide-eyed at the scene. "Please sir," she squeaked, "You two need to leave. Now."

| shot her a glare that instantly clamped her mouth shut. She took a nervous step back, her eyes darting

betweenand the whimpering mess on the floor. Reaching down, | grabbed Miranda's arm, intending to help

her up.

"Don't touch me!" she shrieked, slapping my hand away with surprising force. The entire bar had fallen silent,

everyone's attention focused on the unfolding . The air c**d with tension, thick with the scent of stale beer

and the uncomfortable silence that followed Miranda's outburst. It was starting to grate on my nerves.

"Enough of this," 1 growled, my voice low and dangerous. "Get up right now. You're making a scene and starting

to irritate me. A lot."

My words seemed to have the desired effect. Miranda, perhaps sensing the shift in atmosphere, finally stopped

her sobbing fit. Sniffling back tears, she scrambled to her feet, grabbing her purse with one hand and wiping at

her red-rimmed eyes with the other. Without a word, she stalked towards the exit, her shoulders hunched as if

trying to shrink away from the curious stares of the patrons.

| followed close behind, casting a final look around the bar. Every head was still turned, eyes wide with a mixture

of fear and morbid curiosity. With a m**| groan, | sent a quick text message to Christian, outlining the situation

and asking him to deal with any potential fallout. There would definitely be questions in the morning, and

Christian, with his talent for smooth-talking and discreet intimidation, was the best person to handle them.

|

Stepping out into the cool night air, | closed the door to the bar behindwith a heavy thud. The street was

quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos | had just left behind. Taking a deep breath, | let out a long sigh, the tension

slowly draining from my shoulders. This whole night had been a mess, from the surprise encounter with Amaya

to the brawl with Miranda. | just wanted to go home, crawl into bed, and forget the entire evening ever

happened.

But she would not let me. As if she suddenly felt my presence, she stopped walking, turning around to face me,

"This is all your fault, you know," she hissed.

| grunted noncommittally, focusing on the flickering streetlight overhead.

She continued, her voice rising with each word, "You just stood there like a statue while that... that she-wolf

attacked me!"

"You weren't exactly playing saint, Miranda," | finally interjected, my voice flat and devoid of any emotion. It felt

easier that way, a shield against the chaos of the night.

"A saint?" she scoffed, throwing her hands up in the air. "She's the one who lunged atlike a rabid dog! All

because of ss**d remark | made. And you just watched!" "You were provoking her," | pointed out, my tone

even, almost bored. The truth was, the whole fight had happened so fast it was a blur. But | wasn't about to

admit that to her. "Oh, so now I'm the bad guy?" she shrieked, "You k

know what? Maybe you were happy to see Amaya humiliatelike that. Maybe that's why you didn't

even try to stop her!"

| finally gave her my attention, a flicker of annoyance crossing my features despite my best efforts. "Here we go

again with the conspiracy theories, Miranda. It's getting old." "Conspiracy theories?" she threw her hands up in

the air, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Is that what you call it? Con, Alex, givescredit."

Frustration bubbled over in me. She just wouldn't let it go. | don't know what your problem is, Miranda," | said,

my voice tight. "But something definitely is wrong with you. You askedto chere, Why were you even

herd in the first place? Were you following her?"

She scoffed, her arms crossed defensively. "Following her? Don't be ridiculous, had no idea the would be here.

It's a small city and | chere to meet a friend from work."

"You wish you had any friends," | remarked drily. All | wanted was to get away from the and get some

sleep.

"Whatever," she said, dismissively. "The point is, | wasn't following anyone. Unlike you, apparently.” Her voice

dripped with accusation.

"Unlikewhat?" | challenged, narrowing my eyes.

"Don't play dumb. We both know you have a thing for Amaya still. No matter how much you pretend like you

don't."

| clenched my jaw, anger starting to simmer beneath the surface. "I don't have a thing for her. | told you before,

she is a thing of the past." | growled, forcing the words through gritted teeth.

"oh,

con. Look at your face! You were practically glowing when you saw her. Still hopelessly in love with the girl

who broke y your heart."

"She didn't break my heart, Miranda," | snapped. "And you have no idea what happened between us so shut up

about it."

"Yeah, right. That's what they all say. But the truth is, you're still hung up on her. And no matter what you do,

she's never going to take you back. She's with my brother now. You lost your chance." Her words hit a nerve, a

raw vulnerability | desperately tried to keep hidden. Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating Miranda

seemed to take my silence as acceptance, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

"Look at us, Alex," she said, her voice softening slightly. "Two lost souls, pining after what we can't have. Maybe

that's why we work so well together. We understand each other."

There was a strange glint in her eyes, a hint of something more than sympathy. My gut clenched, a primal

instinct warningto take a step back. But before | could move, she was on me, her arms wrapping around my

neck, her body pressing close.

"Miranda," | started to pull away, but she heldtight.

"Don't," she whispered, her voice husky. "Just stay withfor a while. Forget about Amaya. Forget about

everything else. Just us, here and now."

The heat of her body pressed against mine, the desperation in her voice... for a moment, | faltered. The

loneliness that had been gnawing atfor so long threatened to consme.

But then, a vision of Amaya's face flashed in my mind. "Miranda, stop it," | growled, pushing her away. She

stumbled back, a look of shock and hurt on her face. "You haven't f**dsince she cback into the picture. |

know you, Alex. | know your wolf wants it. You have been starved for so long and | know you aren't f¥*g anyone

else"

My voice was flat, "No, | don't"

Her face hardened, the vulnerability replaced by a cold anger that mirrored my own. "Fine," she spat. "Then what

do you want? She's gone. Get over it!"

Her words were cruel, a deliberate jab at my deepest insecurities. | felt a surge of anger rise within me, hot and

primal. "Shut up, Miranda!" | roared, my voice laced with a dangerous edge.

She flinched at my outburst, but then squared her shoulders, defiance flickering in her eyes. "What will you do if |

don't?" she challenged, her voice trembling slightly.

The air c a c kle d with tension. In that moment, the world around us seemed to fade away. The anger that had

been simmering beneath the surface for the entire night boiled over. My vision narrowed, focusing solely on

Miranda's face, flushed with defiance and a hint of something... else. A primal

instinct, raw and unfamiliar, surged through me. It was a hunger, a need to overpower, to silence. Before | could

even process what was happening, my body moved on its own.

With a speed that surprised even me, | lunged forward, grabbing her upper arms. Her gasp of surprise was cut

short as | pulled her roughly againstThe heat of her body sent a jolt through me, but it was quickly

overshadowed by the burning intensity of my own emotions.

"Shut. Up," | growled, the words a low rumble in my chest. My voice wasn't mine anymore, it was deeper,

rougher, laced with a pots i didn't recognize.

Her eyes widened in shock. Her bravado seemed to falter under the intensity of my gaze. For a terrifying

moment, | just held her there, the primal urge to dominate warring with a sliver of reason clinging to the edges

of my mind. Her scent, a mix of perfand sonsething distinctly hers, filled my senses, igniting a confusing c o

k ail of desire and aggression.

Then, as abruptly as it began, the urge shifted. The row hunger inorphed into something more... urgent. Without

any conscious thought, | leaned down, my lips crushing against hers.

"You got what you wanted, didn't you?" | said finally, niy tone dry. "I gave you an as

m you have been practically begging for. Now, if you're done with your tic performance, get in your car.

The last thing | need is for someone to attack you again and then have to deal with your annoying pack

breathing down my neck."

She remained rooted to the spot, her

gaze locked on mine. But the

defiance that had flickered in her

eyes earlier was replaced by a

burning hatred so intense | could pra

tally feel the heat yadidngoff her

" *

Yowersh Rorrible person, Alex, she

spat, her voice laced with venom. A

ghost of a smile played on my lips.

I" n : :

Maybe," | conceded, my voice devaid

: [1 [i

of any real emotion. "But aren't we

both horrible people, Miranda? You

were the one who practically dragged