Chapter 19: Rowan's Offer

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• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 66: Gone Again

  TESSAI didn’t know how long I had been there. The lake lay still before me, dark as a sheet of glass, reflecting the rising moon and the gold-streaked sky above it before the last traces of light completely vanished. My eyes were puffy—perhaps even a shade of red. I had cried for far too long, and here I was, reduced to this state. A small chuckle escaped my lips as I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the darkening waters. My eyes looked like they had been devoured by a hundred cockroaches. However, that fleeting amusement faded quickly when I remembered the situation I was in.If I told Arden about all this, maybe I wouldn’t feel so impossibly lonely. Maybe she’d say something that would make everything feel normal again. She was the only one who could do that, the one who wouldn’t look at me with either pity or confusion.Nobody knew what had really happened—not even Rowan. Only my older sister was aware of the details, and even then, it wasn’t the whole story. I stayed beside

• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 65.2: Long Overdue

  As the sun dipped below the horizon, Tessa still hadn’t returned.“Everyone, we’re about to have dinner!” Mr. Thompson’s voice boomed across the campsite. “Please head to the clearing for the food!” The aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, melding with the earthy dampness that accompanied the coming night. I remained rooted in place, scanning the trees and cabins. Students began drifting toward the clearing in pairs and groups, laughter and conversation resonating across the grounds. Yet, there was still no indication of her whereabouts.“Have you seen Tessa?” I inquired of some students who passed by. “Nope,” one replied distractedly. I bit my lip and turned away, only to bump directly into someone’s chest.“Woah,” Cade muttered, steadying me with his hand. “Where are you rushing off to?” “I was looking for Tessa.” I let out a deep, frustrated breath. “Since the battle, I haven’t seen her.” Cade’s brows furrowed in concern. “She hasn’t come back?” “No.” He paused m

• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 65.1: Long Overdue

  ARDENSienna had left after our battle, appearing utterly humiliated. I felt on top of the world, knowing that she was finally getting what she deserved. Tessa nudged me gently. “You did good,” she whispered. “Thanks,” I whispered back before refocusing my attention on the battle area. The second match concluded with the East’s triumph, closely followed by the South. The North representative stumbled on his own paws, resulting in a mere single point surplus. This meant it all came down to the last battle. Whichever team wins here will claim victory. There was a noticeable increase in excitement in the air. The sky above us wasn’t as intense anymore, but it still felt hotter than usual, wrapping us in a thick layer of anticipation. “All four True Alphas,” Sir Thompson declared, stepping into the center of the stone square, “will now engage in a non-lethal battle of dominance.” “Remember,” Miss Loveson called from the edge, “this is just for fun. Do not break bones. We’ve just fi

• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 64: Dominated

  ARDENMr. Thompson stood beside Miss Loveson, appearing tired yet excited at the same time. I honestly couldn’t blame them. Aside from checking papers in the middle of nowhere, where phone signal was difficult to retrieve, they had to act like camp counselors for a group of partially matured adults. “You came here to let your wolves breathe,” Mr. Thompson started, “so let’s give them what they want.”“A battle!” Miss Loveson echoed, her voice sounding cheery. “It’s going to be faction-based,” Mr. Thompson continued. “We will have three rounds. One wolf from each faction will come up here, and the True Alphas will fight last.” I surveyed the crowd and noticed the excited glimmers in their eyes. Tessa smirked, nudging my shoulder. “I guess we can fight without repercussions this time,” she muttered. “We’ll give each competitor a score: 4 points for first place, 3 points for second, and so forth. We will tally these points at the very end, and the faction with the most points wins!”

• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 63.2: Body Showdown

  We were giggling before we even stepped out of the cabin. By the time we finally reached the lake, the sun had climbed high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything. Once again, the stunning view provided a comforting balm after all the irritation Sienna had caused. Dozens of students were already there, their voices clattering together in laughter. Some had stripped down to their swimsuits, while others lounged on blankets or walked barefoot along the rocky shore."You can swim if you want," I suggested. Tessa shook her head and settled down beside me on the rocky slope. “I don’t want to get wet. I just want to sit with you.” For a while, we fell into a comfortable silence, allowing the comforting sounds of the lake to wash over us. “Are you alright now?” I finally asked, breaking the stillness. She still seemed a bit down from time to time, and I wanted to check in on her. Tessa smiled softly, the brief shadow lifting from her features. “Yeah. I just had a headache that

• Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine   Chapter 63.1: Body Showdown

  ARDENThe prelims were finally over. After days filled with tears, sweat, and fervent prayers, it was done. Because the school claimed to want to take care of our ‘mental health’ and overall ‘well-being,’ they were sending us on a two-day, one-night vacation, sponsored by Mr. Winters himself. Mr. Winters decided to send us freshmen to a serene nature retreat while the seniors enjoyed a beach getaway, all while the teachers prepped the grades and finalized the semester results. We were told this was a “well-earned break.” It was a nice gesture, that is, if you could overlook the fact that this was the first time he had ever done anything like it. That alone was enough to make my wolf perk up, ears mentally pinned back in suspicion. Why now? Why this sudden wave of generosity? It didn’t feel like a reward; it felt more like a distraction. I still remembered the footage—the constant presence of his piercing eyes. Where is he taking those videos? What’s he doing with them? My gaze