Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 129

Chapter 129 Inauguration

ARDEN

The day of the elections finally arrived.

Everything we worked for was going to be decided in just a few hours. The day came heavy with tension. I could feel it in the way Cade squeezed my hand that morning.

For weeks, we gave it everything we had. Cade visited territories, answered every question, stood in front of every elder and child with that same steady conviction that made me fall in love with him.

The South stayed silent throughout it all. We hadn’t heard a whisper since Winters was arrested. Their territory remained tight–lipped, and Rowan, despite being casual with us, also felt detached. Still, we knew they wouldn’t get in the way.

The East was a different story. Elias‘ parents came forward. They held press conferences and town meetings and even addressed the Academy directly. Their message was clear. The East was backing Cade.

And then the West. When leadership was handed to a distant Trevane–one no one really expected to rise -people were skeptical. Alpha Abel Trevane. He wasn’t like the rest of the Trevanes, not cut from that cold and polished cloth.

Abel was the black sheep of the family. A quiet Alpha in his early thirties who’d spent most of his life away from the central territories. People said he lived like a recluse. And then, out of nowhere, he emerged, took control, and the West surprisingly followed.

He endorsed Cade instantly.

The public then started to believe that this really was a new chapter.

Now, we were here, waiting.

The Northern Auditorium was packed. All eyes were on the wide screens above the stage. Faces I’d come to know–students, campaign staff, friends–were all holding their breath. Even Honey, dressed in a pale yellow dress, stood tall beside us, her hands clasped tight. Cade’s parents were there too. His mother was teary–eyed, his father stone–still but proud.

A long day of counting, confirming, and deliberating was finally coming to an end.

I held Cade’s hand tighter.

One minute.

Then a voice echoed from the stage, reading off the final tallies.

“With four of the four territories in agreement, and an uncontested lead in citizen and academic vote… we now formally declare the new Praetor of Fenra to be… Cade Callahan.”

For a split second, no one moved. It didn’t feel real. My heart slammed in my chest, and Cade just stared ahead, not breathing.

Cheers, claps, screams, hands flying in the air, wolves standing on chairs filled the room, Honey gasped

11:08 Sun, 10 Aug

Chapter 129 Inauguration

and clapped wildly, and Cade’s mother wept into his father’s shoulder.

But before anyone else could reach him, Cade turned to me.

His arms wrapped around my waist and lifted me off the ground and spun me in the air. I laughed and held onto him as tightly as I could.

He pressed his forehead to mine.

And just like that, it was official.

Cade was the Practor of Fen

I still couldn’t believe it.

Me. The First Lady of Fenra.

But here I was, standing tall beside Cade, the love of my life, as he was sworn in as the youngest Practor in our country’s history.

The Grand Hall of the United Factions was filled with wolves from all over the country, all gathered to witness a new beginning. The chairs were lined with embroidered symbols of every faction, flags hanging from the ceiling in their full colors. Cade’s crest was finally raised among them, woven in silver and navy.

Salvi, Bethany’s old assistant, bald and somewhere in his mid–forties, met us at the entrance of the hall. His eyes were glassy as he shook our hands.

“She would be proud,” he said quietly “So proud.”

I squeezed his hand back, feeling my throat tighten. “Thank you,

He stepped back, giving us space.

I whispered.

When I finally took my seat at the very front–next to Honey, who looked stunning in a soft blue dress- my legs trembled just a little.

This was really happening.

Cade stood on the raised stage, the flags of Fenra behind him. His uniform was formal but not traditional. He refused the gold regalia and instead wore black and silver.

The High Council Elder stepped forward with an ancient scroll, voice echoing through the silent hall.

“Cade Callahan. Do you accept the oath of office?”

Cade raised his right hand. “I do

“Do you swear to serve Fenra and its people, to guide without greed, to speak without fear, and to protect the lives of all under your watch?”

11:08 Sum: 10 Add earl

“Then by the will of Fenra, and the judgment of the people, you are now recognized as our Practor

“I want to thank everyone here,” Cade began. “And I want to thank those who are no longer with us. Because this victory… is as much theirs as it is mine.”

“I know what a lot of you are thinking. That I’m young. That I still have much to learn. And you’re right. I do. But I also know what it’s like to fight for something without any assurance of winning. I know what it’s like to lose people you love. And I know what it’s like to be let down by those who were supposed to protect us.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify