Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 418

**TITLE: Attachment 418**
**CONTENT:** 418 Thirsty, Huh?

**MINA**

I had no intention of allowing him a glimpse of my face. I was convinced that, for the moment, he remained oblivious to my presence.

The heavy cloak I wore shrouded my features, casting shadows that concealed everything save for perhaps the very tip of my nose. There was no way he could connect me to the utterly humiliating incident from the previous night at the hot spring.

With a swift motion, I rose to my feet and stepped back, putting as much distance between us as possible. Just then, the man let out a weary groan, a sound that coincided perfectly with Calista’s sudden shriek.

“My shoes! My dress! My mirror!”

Her belongings lay strewn across the ground, creating an embarrassing spectacle that drew the eyes of passersby. I crouched down immediately, compelled to gather the scattered items around me, hoping to quell her incessant whining. But her cries only intensified.

And then, as if a switch had been flipped, she fell silent.

I didn’t need to lift my gaze to understand the reason for her abrupt change.

It was painfully clear.

She had caught sight of him.

And she was captivated by what she saw.

He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his hair tousled from running, with strikingly defined features that seemed even more chiseled in the daylight. Even in his fatigued state, he resembled a statue, crafted for admiration.

What on earth was he doing here if he was indeed a werewolf?

I resumed gathering the fallen items, my scowl deepening beneath the hood of my cloak, when I heard Calista’s voice soften.

“Alpha Elias.”

My hand froze over a ribboned box, the name echoing in my mind.

“Alpha… Elias?”

The words slipped from my lips before I could catch them.

He turned his gaze towards me, and a smile broke across his face. My frown deepened further.

How on earth did he hear that? Then it dawned on me. Right, werewolves had exceptional hearing.

Calista, however, seemed to glow with excitement. She stepped closer, batting her lashes in a way that made me want to roll my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone apologetic. “I was in a hurry because people wouldn’t stop chasing me.”

“It’s alright,” she replied, her voice dripping with sweetness. “These dresses are nothing. I can always buy new ones.”

As he bent down to retrieve a box I had been reaching for at the same time, our fingers brushed ever so slightly. I recoiled as if I had touched a searing flame.

He didn’t comment on the accidental touch, but his gaze flicked back to me once more.

Calista, not one to be deterred, continued to chatter, feigning distress over her possessions, clearly attempting to redirect his attention. He nodded politely, but I could sense his eyes returning to me, like a moth drawn to a flame.

I kept my focus fixed on the ground, diligently continuing my task.

Then, to my surprise, he knelt directly in front of me and began helping me gather the remaining scattered items.

Calista gasped, her expression akin to a fish out of water.

“That’s okay!” she snapped, her sugary tone losing its luster. “She can handle it.”

Yet, he ignored her dismissal and persisted, casually picking up a few dresses and brushing off the dirt. Calista, seizing the moment, snatched the bags from his hands, her fingers lingering on his chest longer than necessary, before shoving them into my arms.

Elias raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, then asked, “What are your names?”

“I’m Calista, Alpha,” she said, her shyness a facade that barely masked her eagerness. “This is Mina.”

“Mina,” he repeated, and I turned my head away, still puzzled by the frequency of his glances in my direction.

“Is she your sister?” he inquired, directing his attention to Calista while subtly gesturing towards me.

“No,” Calista replied sharply, her tone hinting at offense. She forced a bright smile. “She’s our maid.”

He paused, his gaze shifting between us, as if trying to piece together a puzzle. “Do you live in the same house?”

“Yes,” Calista said dismissively. “But she just cleans and cooks.”

I expected him to take his leave at that moment, but instead, he spoke again, his voice calm and steady.

Calista whipped her head towards him, as if to answer on my behalf. “Yeah, so don’t bother trying to talk to her.”

I nodded, keeping my gaze fixed ahead, distancing myself further from their conversation.

Elias merely nodded in understanding. “I see.”

The walk seemed to stretch on endlessly, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, we arrived at the house.

Calista wasted no time, immediately offering him a glass of water.

“Here,” she said, presenting the glass with both hands, her smile radiant.

Then she turned to me, her expression shifting to one of command.

“Get some firewood from the back and cook us something.”

Turning away, I made my way to the back of the house. The ground there was uneven and littered with debris, leaves scattered around piles of wood. I bent down, searching for the driest pieces I could find.

As I gathered the wood, I muttered under my breath, “Was there no water available in the plaza? Why would he even bother coming all the way here?”

I huffed in frustration. “It’s not like any of this is my concern anyway.”

I stacked the pieces in my arms until I felt I had enough, then turned toward the door.

Just as I reached for the handle, a voice broke the silence behind me.

“I know that it’s you.”

The firewood shifted precariously in my grip, one piece nearly slipping free, but I caught it just in time. I turned my head, my breath hitching in my throat.

He was standing right behind me.

“What are you talking about?” I managed to stammer, my heart racing.

Elias stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

“I know,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s you I was with last night.”