Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 415

**Attachment 415**

**Chapter 415: The Hot Spring Intruder**

**ELIAS**

The first day had been an ordeal, to say the least.

In fact, it was downright exhausting.

Rowan, in his usual straightforward manner, had clapped his hand on my shoulder early this morning and announced with a grin, “You’re in charge of the clearing operations today.”

And so began my day, which felt like a relentless marathon.

Since Montrose was still in recovery mode, we found ourselves toiling from the crack of dawn until the sun dipped below the horizon, striving to expedite the rebuilding efforts.

By lunchtime, I was at a loss, caught in a whirlwind of attention. It was as if I had morphed into a visiting Alpha or some newly minted celebrity. People were reaching out to touch my arm, showering me with gratitude, offering me food, and even embracing me with tears glistening in their eyes.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that Rowan had plastered my face all over the city, orchestrating this bizarre fanfare. That was precisely the kind of subtle chaos he was capable of.

Meanwhile, Rowan had the luxury of going home to his mate, his child, and a warm bed waiting for him. He could retreat and recharge, while I was left to fend off the adoring crowd. I tried to convince myself I wasn’t envious. Okay, maybe just a smidge.

As night descended, my vision began to blur, the edges fading into an indistinct haze from sheer exhaustion. A throbbing headache pulsed at my temples, and my back ached with the weight of the day. To add insult to injury, my glasses had shattered earlier when an overly enthusiastic wizard had embraced me with far too much fervor.

It was a disastrous combination.

“It’s getting late, Alpha,” one of the locals said with an apologetic tone. “Your men are still busy clearing the debris. Would you like to head back first?”

“No,” I muttered, my voice low. “If I sit down now, I’ll likely pass out and never wake up.”

A wiry man with kind eyes chuckled softly, “A good soak would do wonders, you know. There’s a hot spring not too far from here. It’s secluded and clean since getting there requires a bit of effort.”

A hot spring.

Oh, that sounded like pure bliss.

“Oh?” I replied, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling the tension there. “That sounds precisely like what I need right now.”

Their faces lit up at my interest. “Would you like us to guide you there, Alpha?”

“No need,” I replied, raising a hand to halt their eagerness. “Just give me the directions. I can manage on my own.”

They exchanged nervous glances. “But it’s dark out.”

“That’s alright. I’ll be back in an hour,” I assured them, my tone firm.

“We’ll follow once we finish cleaning up, Alpha,” one of them insisted.

I nodded, pressing my lips together to suppress any further concern they might express, and waved them off, eager to shake off their worries.

Turning away, I began to walk, mentally reciting the directions.

Right at the old oak tree.

Down the sloping path until the second fork.

Left in the direction of the sound of running water.

Keep going until the steam becomes visible.

My shoes crunched against the dirt path as I ventured into the forest. The tranquility of the surroundings would have been soothing had my vision not been flickering in and out of focus. Normally, night walks were second nature to me; my night vision was impeccable.

Usually.

But today, everything appeared slightly doubled and frustratingly fuzzy around the edges. The broken glasses were undoubtedly a contributing factor.

With a sigh, I massaged the bridge of my nose, mentally cursing every stone I stumbled over and every errant branch that brushed against my shoulder.

Then… something peculiar wafted through the air.

A scent.

Sweet and soft, reminiscent of ripe fruit and creamy milk. It was something undeniably pleasant.

I slowed my pace, intrigued.

“What is that?” I murmured to myself.

It was delicious, not in a predatory way, but in a comforting, alluring manner.

I inhaled again, almost involuntarily. At that moment, I felt my feet moving of their own accord.

I ambled forward, drawn by the aroma until the ground beneath me softened, and the gentle bubbling of the hot spring reached my ears.

Yet, even through the haze of fatigue, an instinctive alertness kicked in.

I wasn’t alone.

I halted a few steps short of the water, narrowing my eyes to peer into the dimness.

Suddenly, a voice emerged from the stillness, soft, sweet, and slightly trembling.

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