Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 413

**TITLE: Attachment 413**
**Chapter 413: Dying Alone**

**ELIAS**

As I stood in the corner of the room, I watched Arden embrace her newborn child, a moment that seemed to crystallize time itself. The air was thick with emotion, and tears of joy cascaded down the faces of everyone present, a collective outpouring of relief and happiness after the stormy months we had all weathered together. It felt surreal, witnessing such a profound moment of love and new beginnings.

In truth, I was genuinely happy for them.

I felt a warmth swell in my chest, a sincere joy that enveloped me like a comforting blanket.

Yet, I remained at the periphery of this idyllic scene, arms crossed, leaning against the wall as if trying to absorb every detail. I had never been one to fit into these picture-perfect moments; they always seemed to belong to others. But I had been a silent observer since the very beginning of their tumultuous journey. I had seen them unravel, fall in love, stumble again, and somehow find the strength to rise from the ashes. I had earned my place here, even if it was just as a witness to their love story.

Arden’s laughter floated through the air like a gentle melody as she placed a soft kiss on her baby’s forehead, while Cade stood beside her, his face radiating pure joy as if he might burst from the happiness swelling inside him.

It was a beautiful scene.

A tranquil scene.

And perhaps that was precisely why the universe chose that moment to intervene.

Calla, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly froze. Her eyes glazed over, an unsettling emptiness overtaking her gaze as if she was peering into a chasm only she could fathom.

The atmosphere shifted, the room falling into an uneasy silence.

“What did you see, sweetheart?” Rowan’s voice sliced through the tension, laced with concern as he leaned closer to her.

Calla didn’t respond to him. Instead, her gaze drifted toward me, locking onto my face with an intensity that sent a chill racing down my spine.

My brows furrowed in confusion. “What? What are you staring at? I don’t owe you candy today,” I quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

With a deliberate movement, she pointed a tiny finger directly at me.

“I saw Uncle…” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Children were already an enigma, but this psychic child was something else entirely. The way she looked at me sent shivers creeping along my spine, an instinctual dread settling in my gut.

I forced a grin, lifting my chin defiantly. “Yeah? You saw me? What does your favorite uncle do in your vision? Save the world again? Become famous? Finally get a girlfriend?”

Her expression remained unchanged, as if my words had fallen on deaf ears.

“You died alone.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

The room was enveloped in silence for what felt like an eternity until Rowan, ever the jokester, attempted to break it.

“That’s what you get!” he declared triumphantly, slapping my shoulder with a laugh that felt too loud in the thick atmosphere.

I scowled, irritation bubbling to the surface. “For what?”

“That’s your karma,” Cade chimed in, a chuckle escaping his lips, amplifying the tension.

“Wow,” I said, raising both hands in mock exasperation. “Amazing. It’s truly heartwarming to witness all of you take advantage of a sensitive man for your own amusement.”

“Weak,” Rowan coughed out, a smirk plastered on his face.

“You’re all insensitive—every single one of you. This is a hate crime,” I muttered, rolling my eyes, but beneath my sarcasm, the truth gnawed at me.

Calla’s ominous words burrowed into my mind like an unwelcome parasite, refusing to let go.

Just then, my phone buzzed in my pocket, a welcome distraction.

“I have to take this,” I said, pulling the device out and waving vaguely as I stepped back. “Mom’s calling. I probably need to head back.”

Rowan snorted, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Go. Before you start crying.”

I flashed him a grin, managing a two-finger salute. “Congrats to both of you,” I nodded toward Cade and Arden, sincerity lacing my words. “Seriously.”

But as I turned to leave, my smile vanished in an instant.

My mom hadn’t actually called.

The screen was blank, a stark reminder of the lie I had told to shield myself from the truth that loomed like a specter.

In reality, Calla’s vision was nothing new.

It echoed the whispers I had heard for years, the ominous predictions that had been woven into the fabric of my life.

That my mate was gone.

Dead.

I was destined to live my entire life without ever discovering the other half of my soul.

Those words came from shamans, seers, and the hushed voices of elders—people who claimed to possess a magic that felt more like poison, seeping into my veins and festering deep within me. That was why I had thrown myself into my studies at the Elite Order Academy, shedding my former self for a so-called Casanova era.

Why not? I had no mate, anyway.

Frustration bubbled up inside me as my phone buzzed again, this time with a familiar caller ID.

I frowned and glanced down at the screen. It was my mother.

“Mom,” I said slowly, trying to rein in my incredulity. “Why are you introducing me to women now?”

“I’m just presenting your options!” she replied brightly, her eyes sparkling with hope. “Your father and I talked about it. We thought that maybe it’s time. You know. Since your friends all have partners now. Some even have kids!”

I dragged my fingers down my face in exasperation, disbelief washing over me.

This couldn’t be happening.

Just then, my dad appeared, descending the stairs with a smile that suggested he had already envisioned my future children.

“I see you met them!” he announced, his voice filled with approval. “Both lovely girls. Excellent choices. Wonderful temperaments. Good health.”

I stared at him in disbelief, my mind racing to comprehend his words. “What?”

He gave me a thumbs-up, while I merely sighed and closed my eyes, frustration bubbling to the surface.

Mom clasped her hands together, her face an innocent mask. “They’re not your type?”

“That’s not—Mom, that’s not the point.”

My father stepped closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. “Son. Look. We’re not pressuring you. We’re not like Rowan’s parents. We don’t care about the girl’s rank or wealth. We just want you to have someone.”

At that moment, something bitter churned in my throat, a mix of anger and sorrow.

I knew exactly what this was about. They were aware of my fate, having consulted shamans from various territories, all delivering the same grim message. I wouldn’t just be alone—I had already lost the chance at love.

I swallowed hard, the weight of their concern pressing down on me.

My mother sighed, cupping my cheeks with her hands, her touch both comforting and suffocating. “We don’t want you to be alone, baby!”

My father placed a warm hand on my shoulder, his presence both a source of comfort and a reminder of the expectations I felt suffocating me. “You deserve someone.”

I straightened, stepping back to create a barrier between us. “Leave,” I said firmly, my voice steady. “Both of you.”

They looked disappointed, but with a single glance from me, they understood and, without uttering a word, turned to leave.

Once the ladies were gone, I exhaled, the tension leaving my body like a wave receding from the shore.

“Don’t do this again,” I said, turning back to face my mom and dad, my voice steady but laced with frustration. “Seriously. Don’t.”

My mother blinked at me innocently, as if genuinely confused. “I see. So you don’t like blondes?”

“Mom!” I exclaimed, exasperation bubbling over.