All Chapters of Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

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

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

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

ARDENThe water didn’t feel so cold anymore. I was floating on it like it weren’t the very thing I had once feared most. I didn’t even realize how far I had come until Cade let out a soft chuckle behind me. “What?” I asked, turning my head over my shoulder to look at him. “You’re doing it.” “Doing what?” “Swimming.” I paused mid-paddle; the motion felt so natural now that it didn’t even register in my senses. I had pushed through the lake without clinging to him, without hyperventilating or freezing up. The fear that had once paralyzed me was... gone. Or, maybe not entirely erased—but drowned out by something undeniably stronger. By him. I turned around, floating gently toward him. The moonlight caught the angles of his face, casting shadows across his cheekbones and highlighting the water that dripped from his jaw. “I guess I am,” I whispered. A small smile appeared on his lips. “I told you I wouldn’t let you drown.” That warm flutter returned to my chest, filling me with a

ARDENEverything felt too good to be true. And maybe it was. Still, I wanted to hold onto it—just a little longer.When I opened my eyes, I found myself curled up against Cade’s chest, my cheek pressed to the steady rise and fall of his breathing. His arms were still wrapped around me, even in sleep. He looked so peaceful like this, his brows relaxed, lips slightly parted. He hadn’t experienced a nightmare this time. A small smile flickered across my lips as I watched him. Was it selfish to hope this moment meant something? Whoever this “Honey” girl was—the one whose name had haunted his dreams—was it too much to believe he could forget her in my presence?Something twisted in my chest. Maybe I didn’t want to know the answer.I stayed there for a while, letting my fingers lightly brush the ridge of muscle on his arm, trailing softly, lazily over his skin. It felt dangerous, allowing myself to feel this much, but I couldn’t help it.Then, slowly, his eyes fluttered open. When they fin