Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 370

Chapter 370 You’re Not Weak

LUNA

I was the one who pulled him away from the scene. Abel didn’t resist when I grabbed his hand; he just followed, silently, while I dragged him across the dirt path toward his house.

I didn’t even realize I was ranting until halfway there.

“Have you just been taking their shit all this time?” I demanded, spinning around to face him briefly before continuing to walk. “Do they talk to you like that every day? Do they look at you like you’re… like you’re something to be ashamed of?”

“No,” he muttered quietly. “I don’t talk. I act.”

“Even if!” I snapped, stopping again and glaring at him. “Even if you act, Abel, you should have told them off! You can’t just stand there and take it like that! You’re not-” I paused, searching for the words. “You’re not weak!”

He didn’t answer, and that only fueled the irritation curling in my chest. “I get that you’re older and definitely more mature,” I continued, “but you shouldn’t let them trample on you. They don’t get to humiliate you like that and walk away thinking they’re better.”

I knew I was talking too much, but I couldn’t stop myself. All that built–up anger on his behalf just kept spilling out. His silence frustrated me even more because it made me feel like he was used to it.

We reached the small clearing in front of his house, the wooden steps familiar now from the nights I’d spent here. I stopped abruptly, turning to face him again.

Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

“You really are scary,” he said under his breath, stepping closer until our faces were just inches apart. His voice had that teasing warmth I’d missed. “I’m shivering in my boots.”

“I’m serious,” I muttered, crossing my arms, though my heart was already softening at the look in his eyes.

He chuckled quietly, reached up, and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I said while pouting.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my lips. It was brief but enough to leave me breathless. When he pulled back, his gaze lingered on my face for a long moment.

“You really can’t give them the title now,” I said finally. “They will not be able to lead the people here, Abel. They’re cruel and selfish. Your people deserve better.”

“I met some of the children earlier,” I continued, trying to keep his attention. “They adore you. They trust you. You’re the one protecting them. If someone like Jaxon took over…” I shook my head. “He would ruin everything.”

I reached out, wrapping my hands around his wrists. “Hmm?” I urged softly, trying to catch his eyes. “Promise me you won’t let them take this from you.”

His gaze finally lifted to mine. Then he exhaled slowly and brushed his thumb across my knuckles.

“Today’s the full moon,” I whispered, the realization hitting me all at once.

I swallowed. “So I know what that means for us.”

“I want to give you an heir,” I said quietly.

“Luna,” he said softly, and when I looked up, he was already smiling. However, it wasn’t the smile I’d expected. It wasn’t full of hope or warmth.

That smile scared me more than Jaxon’s threats ever could.

He reached up again, brushing his fingers along my cheek. “Let’s eat?” he asked.

“What?”

He nodded toward the door. “Let’s eat what you brought.”

I was thrown off by the abrupt change. “But-”

He didn’t wait for me to finish. He turned and pushed the door open and entered.

For a second, I stood frozen on the porch.

Something was wrong.

I felt it deep in my gut.

***

Something was truly strange.

The full moon was tonight at midnight–and it was supposed to be the night when we completed the bond.

It was supposed to be happy.

We had showered earlier and washed away the dirt and tension from the day. I thought we would wait together, talk, maybe laugh a little, the way we used to before things got intimate.

But instead, it was night now, and Abel was lying beside me on the bed. Silent.

The faint sound of his breathing filled the room. His back was to me, his shoulders broad but slumped. He looked… tired. Not physically–though I could see the strain in the way his muscles shifted when he breathed.

But the clock on the wall ticked closer to midnight, and I felt myself growing uneasier by the minute.

For a few moments, I just lay there, listening. My heart was hammering so loudly that it drowned out the night sounds. When I finally opened my eyes, the room was bathed in silver light. His side of the bed was empty, the sheets still warm where he’d been.

He was gone.

He’d said sorry.

Why was he sorry?

I pushed the blanket off, my hands trembling, and slid my feet into my slippers. My body felt like it was running on instinct now. I could smell him still, faint traces of his scent clinging to the air.

I followed it without thinking.

My feet carried me quickly across the forest, toward the faintest pull of his scent. My heart pounded against my ribs, faster with each step. He couldn’t have gone far. He wouldn’t.

Except… he would.

He’d said sorry.

I broke into a run.

The wind whipped against my face, and I realized how fast I was moving. Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe something else entirely, something tied to the full moon and whatever bond had deepened between us.

His scent grew stronger.

My feet hit the edge of the lake. For a moment, I saw nothing but the reflection of the trees.

Then my breath caught.

Something broke the surface.

A pale ripple.

And then I saw him.

Floating.

Unmoving.

“Abel!” I screamed.

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.