Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 367

Chapter 367 Underestimated

ABEL

I arrived at the training grounds by myself first. I left Luna back at the house. She’d wanted to come with me right away, but I told her to get ready first and that I’d come fetch her later once everything was in order. Truthfully, I just wanted to make sure everything was safe. The thought of her stepping out into the open, where every curious eye in the pack would land on her, was enough to set my teeth on edge.

But the moment I stepped onto the field, I knew something was wrong.

There were way too many people here. For such an early training session, the grounds were practically full. Voices buzzed like flies, whispers carrying through the morning air.

Then, I saw Damon and my cousins lounging by one corner, looking out of place with their smirks and expensive clothes. Damon lifted a hand in a lazy greeting when he noticed me.

Training sessions were never closed off to the public, which meant that anyone could come watch. However, they never came. They didn’t wake up this early for anything. Not unless there was something they wanted to ruin.

I clenched my jaw and started walking toward Tyson. He was already out on the field, calling orders. The warriors were doing stretches, but his grin stood out immediately. Tyson wasn’t fond of early trainings. The fact that he looked this happy set off every alarm in my head.

“What’s gotten you smiling?” I muttered when I reached him.

He didn’t look at me, just kept his hands on his hips, watching the warriors. “Nothing.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What did you do?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, I felt their presence behind me.

“Are you finally going to be showing your mate?” Starr, one of my cousins, drawled.

I turned around slowly. “What are you talking about?”

They all smirked in unison. “Come on, Abel. Don’t play dumb. We know you’ve been hiding her. You don’t even want anyone near that little house of yours,” Kimmy, one of the youngest, added. She was still in high school, but she was already as vicious as others.

Damon added with a mocking laugh, “You must be ashamed of her, huh?”

I crossed my arms over my chest. The muscles in my jaw ached from holding back the growl in my throat.

“She must be hideous,” Starr sneered. “Otherwise, why keep her hidden away like some dirty secret?”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. The restraint it took not to snap their necks right there was monumental. It was too early for bloodshed.

Tyson, however, wasn’t nearly as patient. He scoffed. “As if. She’s much prettier than anyone in your clan.”

I shot him a sharp glare. “You told them, huh?”

He pursed his lips. “I can’t help it,” he muttered under his breath. “When you told me you’d take angel-”

One glare from me made him clear his throat, “—I mean, Luna here, I was excited.”

“Excited?” I hissed.

“Your cousins have been talking behind your back, man,” he said quickly. “They keep talking about how you’re going to end up alone, that no woman in her right mind would want you. That you’d probably marry some old lady for money because you’re ‘poor.”” He rolled his eyes. “You’re not even poor, Abel. You’re just simple. I couldn’t let them keep saying that crap.”

I clicked my tongue in annoyance. “I’m not going to take her here anymore.”

“What?” Tyson asked, his grin fading.

I glanced over my shoulder. My cousins were still there, leaning against the fence with those same smug faces. They looked like they were waiting for a show. Waiting for her.

“They’ll tear Luna down,” I muttered.

Tyson sighed. “As if Luna’s going to let herself be torn down. You’ve seen her. She doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

“That’s not the point,” I said sharply.

And before I could even turn around, I heard a voice that instantly made the entire world go quiet.

“Abel?”

Every muscle in my body went still.

I turned slowly, heart pounding in my chest, and saw her.

There she was, standing at the edge of the training grounds, sunlight spilling down her shoulders like she’d stepped out of some painting meant to remind men why they ever believed in heaven.

Luna was wearing that white dress I’d bought her from Ylarc. It was simple, but on her, it didn’t look simple at all. It looked sacred. Untouchable. Every inch of her glowed against the muted gray of the courtyard stones.

I could feel the eyes of my pack, of my cousins, of the soldiers training nearby–all turning to her, like moths to light. I heard someone whistle low.

Tyson, standing not too far from me, smirked. I could sense the thoughts spinning behind his eyes.

At that moment, I wasn’t only looking at my mate. I was looking at my weakness, displayed under the sun for everyone to see.

I didn’t think when I started walking toward her.

When I reached her, I saw what she was holding. A small lunchbox. She lifted it slightly.

“I told you I was going to come and get you,” I muttered, trying but failing to keep the frustration out of my tone. “You shouldn’t have come here alone.”

She was startled at my exasperation. “You were out this morning,” she said softly. “You didn’t even eat.”

Then, despite the tension that crackled between us, she smiled. “So… surprise?”

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.