Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 414

**Attachment 414**
**Chapter 414 The War Is Over**

**MINA**

Today was different. A sense of lightness hung in the air, a rare occurrence that caught my attention.

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I could tell they were in high spirits because they had risen early, an unusual feat for our household. After heading out for another hunt—my previous night’s catch of boar had been disappointing—I returned home to the enticing aroma of food sizzling in the pan. This was a delightful surprise; usually, I was the one cooking, ensuring everything was ready by the time they stirred from their slumber.

I laid the large birds I had hunted on the kitchen floor, their presence filling the space with a promise of a hearty meal.

Rowena glanced up at me, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “Well, go on,” she urged, flicking her wrist dismissively toward the floor, as if inviting me to take charge.

Seizing the moment, I grabbed a plate and heaped it with food, eager to enjoy their cheerful mood before settling into my usual spot on the floor.

As we began our meal, Calista skewered her eggs with a fork, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a flourish. “See? I told you I could cook,” she proclaimed, her eyes sparkling with pride as she directed her words toward Corvin.

“I just don’t do it because it’s a waste of my time,” she added with a playful smile, her confidence radiating.

Corvin pursed his lips, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. I took a bite of the eggs, only to find them too salty for my taste. It was surprising that Calista had taken the initiative to cook; she rarely bothered with such things.

I chewed slowly on the crust of my bread, my mind wandering back to the inexplicable shift in their mood.

Something had definitely changed.

“I still can’t believe that the war is over,” Rowena declared suddenly, leaning back in her chair, her eyes reflecting a mix of disbelief and hope.

I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

“We’ll see a shift soon. Fenra promised they would help us rebuild the nation,” she continued, her tone filled with cautious optimism.

Calista straightened, her face lighting up with excitement. “I’ve always liked Fenra! The Roses were far too overbearing. It’s been like this for too long. They deserve to be defeated,” she said, her voice brimming with conviction.

They deserve to be defeated.

**IVOV ZI**

**Chapter 414 The War Is Over**

She had a point there.

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I paused mid-bite, my ears perked up, absorbing every word. The war had begun only this year, ignited by the Roses’ declaration to obliterate Fenra. Yet the struggle had cast a long shadow over Montrose for years, initiated and perpetuated by the Roses themselves. They were the reason for the hunger that plagued our people, the reason witches were confined within their homes, and the reason Montrose had become a place of fear and isolation.

If it was truly over…

Calista clasped her hands under her chin, her eyes sparkling with joy. “I’m in such a good mood because I saw the Alphas this morning! They were so handsome,” she gushed, her voice tinged with dreamy excitement.

I tilted my head, intrigued.

The Alphas were here?

“I’ve always wanted a werewolf boyfriend,” she continued, her voice filled with pride. “I’ve heard that those from Fenra live such good lives. Once one of them becomes my boyfriend, I’ll take you two there!”

“You can have one,” Rowena chimed in approvingly. “Montrose will open its borders again soon. You’re pretty enough, dear, and you have good manners.”

I kept my gaze lowered, not daring to meet their eyes for too long. Calista could talk endlessly about boys and the handsome strangers who cast her glances. The idea of choosing someone I liked, of dreaming openly and without restraint, felt utterly alien to me.

“What about the ladies?” Corvin interjected suddenly, his voice curious.

“Are any coming to help?”

“No,” Calista replied quickly. “I heard they were already mated.”

Corvin slumped back in his chair, a look of resignation on his face. “Thought so.”

I finished the last bite of my bread and delicately brushed the crumbs off my shirt. Rising to my feet, I felt the urge to steer the conversation away from charming Alphas and toward the more pressing matter of the war’s conclusion.

In my haste, my plate slipped from my grasp and clattered to the floor, causing them to jump in their seats, startled by the noise.

“What the heck was that?” Calista exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“It’s over?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “The war… is really over?”

Rowena’s scowl deepened instantly. “Don’t interrupt,” she said, her tone sharp.

I ignored her irritation; I needed to know. For years, Montrose had been suffocated under the Roses’ oppressive rule.

I had nearly forgotten it existed. The sky was already shifting into a deep indigo blue, the kind that heralded the onset of night, but I knew the paths well enough. I was familiar with which tree roots to avoid and which stones were loose. I had traversed that route countless times before the war rendered everything perilous.

But now… now I could go, even if just for a little while.

A small smile tugged at my lips, surprising even me. I rarely smiled; there hadn’t been much reason to. But the thought of revisiting that place stirred something warm within my chest.

The walk was a bit far, but I preferred it that way. My steps were light against the serene forest floor, the grass still damp from the rain a few days prior. I closed my eyes for a moment, allowing myself this fleeting moment of peace in a life that seldom afforded me such luxuries.

When I opened my eyes again, the stream lay before me, glistening under the fading light.

My smile widened without my consent.

I shrugged off my cloak and placed it neatly on a flat stone. Stepping closer, I felt the cool air brush against my skin. I didn’t strip down completely, just to my undergarments, as no one ever ventured here, especially not at this hour.

I dipped one toe into the water, followed by the other, and then I slipped the rest of myself in with a small gasp as the warm water enveloped me. The stream was a hot spring, soothing my aching muscles.

“Oh,” I breathed, a laugh escaping my lips.

It must be nice, I thought, sinking deeper, to possess some kind of power like this. Witches were supposed to have at least one gift. Even the weakest among us had something to offer.

But I had none.

It was just another chapter in my life’s saga of misfortune—born a witch with no magic.

Just then, I heard the faint crunch of gravel beneath footsteps, followed by a low groan, as if someone was either annoyed or simply weary.

A chill swept through my body, despite the warm water.

Someone was here.

Someone was approaching.

I straightened up immediately, my heart racing. My hands instinctively flew to cover my chest, and I sank deeper into the water, my eyes widening at the sound of rustling bushes a few feet away.

Another step.

Closer.

“Who’s there?” I blurted out, my voice trembling.