Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 420

**TITLE: Attachment 420**
**Chapter 420 Intrigued**

**ELIAS**

I observed her as she exited the kitchen, her footsteps quick and purposeful. The edges of her cloak brushed against the doorframe, a fleeting reminder of her presence as she slipped into the back of the house, leaving no glance back. There was a sense of finality in her departure that stirred something within me.

In stark contrast, the girl beside me—Calista—was far too close for comfort. Her hand was almost glued to my arm, rubbing it as if she were trying to buff it to a gleaming finish.

I stole a glance at her hand, then redirected my focus to the plate before me.

The food was delightful. My earlier exclamation of surprise had not been mere politeness; I was genuinely taken aback. I couldn’t recall having tasted anything quite like this before. Perhaps it was just that my mother had never been much of a cook, or maybe it was a mix of both.

Despite the limited ingredients, the dish radiated warmth and satisfaction. A person capable of crafting such comfort food didn’t align with the narrative Calista was weaving.

I speared another piece of meat, savoring the flavors as my thoughts wandered back to the events of that morning.

I had been engaged in my routine rounds around Montrose, ensuring that the new rebuilding plans were being implemented, confirming guard rotations, and assisting civilians who still flinched at the slightest loud noise. It was during this time that a group of women spotted me.

And that’s when the chaos erupted.

A cacophony of voices erupted around me: “Alpha Elias!” “Thank you!” “Could you please sign this?” “Wait, just one picture!”

I didn’t mind the attention; gratitude was certainly preferable to fear. However, being chased down a narrow plaza by a dozen women of various ages was a bit overwhelming. I maneuvered through the throng, ducking beneath a vendor’s tarp, and made my way toward a quieter alley, only to collide with her.

Even beneath her heavy black cloak, her scent enveloped me like a powerful embrace, striking me right in the chest.

She had claimed not to wear perfume, which left me puzzled. No one could smell that intoxicating without some form of aid. It wasn’t natural—certainly not for werewolves, and definitely not for witches.

Unless…

No.

I swiftly quashed that thought.

Mates had a magnetic pull, a connection that transcended logic. I had studied this phenomenon relentlessly in my youth, especially after being told that I might never have a mate at all.

What I felt around Mina was not that.

She was not my mate.

I was jolted back to the present when Calista leaned her cheek into her hand, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

“Don’t let your curiosity about her get the best of you,” she advised lightly. “And for heaven’s sake, don’t get too close.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “What do you mean by that?”

She offered me a pitying smile, as if I were a child who didn’t understand the dangers lurking in the shadows. “We took her in out of pity. She’s an orphan, you see. Her father abandoned her mother before she was even born, and her mother died during childbirth.”

A frown creased my forehead as I absorbed her words.

Calista had excused herself to her room for a moment, her incessant chatter beginning to overwhelm me. By the time she returned, I was already positioned in the doorway, ready to make my exit.

“I hope we see each other soon,” she said, her voice brightening.

“We’ll be traversing all of Montrose until everything is complete,” I replied sincerely. “So we will cross paths again soon.”

Her smile widened, a genuine spark lighting her eyes. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to accompany you?” she asked, stepping closer, her eyes searching mine.

“I’ll be fine. Thank you,” I responded, trying to maintain a polite distance.

Disappointment flickered across her face, but she quickly masked it, waving as I stepped outside. I returned her farewell with a proper goodbye and began walking down the dirt path.

I had barely taken ten steps when my Beta, a rookie named Ezra, called out to me. He had only been on the job for a month and was still navigating the awkwardness of his new role. He had recently succeeded his father and was striving to prove his competence.

“Alpha, where are you?” he asked, his voice tinged with anxiety. “I’m being bombarded with questions I can’t answer!”

I chuckled softly to myself. “Alright, alright. I’m on my way back.”

But just as I turned the corner, something caught my eye—a shadow flitting at the edge of my vision, gliding through the narrow alley as if it were weightless.

With a swift motion, I ended the call. A small smile crept onto my lips as I watched Mina vanish into the depths of the forest, a bow clutched firmly in her hands.