Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182 Patched–up Family

Chapter 182 Patched–up Family

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The ride into Ylarc was quiet, but not an uncomfortable one. I leaned against the window, watching the scenery shift from the familiar routes of Fenra into something softer and quieter. The streets here were narrower, the people a little more ordinary.

I had been here before–years ago, when my parents were still alive. They brought me to the markets sometimes, or to the festivals where lanterns lit up the river. I remembered laughing, holding my father’s hand, my mother’s voice humming in my ears. But after they were gone, I never returned.

Zaria and Cameron’s family often came to Ylarc. They’d speak about it as if it were their second home. Summers by the river, dinners at little taverns, strolls through the town squares. They never invited me along, though. I used to tell myself I didn’t mind, but now, being here again, I realized how much I’d been left out of.

We didn’t stop in the lively center. Instead, Owen led us toward the forest. Civilization thinned out until only scattered cottages lined the roads, hidden behind trees that swayed with the breeze. We had to walk a few meters up the mountains after the bus dropped us of, and when we arrived, I blinked at the sight before me.

It was a humble home, tucked quietly at the edge of the woods. A single–story house, small enough to belong only to two people, maybe three at most. The walls were weather–worn, the windows clouded, and the roof looked like it had stories to tell. Still, there was something peaceful about it. A place that wasn’t too far from civilization, but far enough that it felt private.

“This is it,” Owen said, pushing open the wooden gate. He carried my belongings, setting them down by the door. Dust clung to the old steps, and cobwebs hung from the corners of the window frames.

Inside, it was the same. Owen dropped my bags on the floor with a soft thud, frowning as he brushed a cobweb off the doorway. “Are you sure this is okay for you?” he asked in a hesitant tone. “It’s… well, you can see it’s not exactly ready for anyone to live in.”

I smiled, a genuine one. “This is more than enough, Owen. Really, I’m thankful. I can’t believe you even have a house in Ylarc.”

He clicked his tongue and muttered, “It’s complicated.”

Curiosity tugged at me, and I tilted my head. “Complicated?”

He sighed, finally setting down the last of my bags. “It’s from my dad. He… left when I was young, saying he didn’t want to be tied to a pack. You can call him a rogue of some sort, though he never liked the word.”

I gasped softly, the sound slipping before I could stop it.

“He settled here eventually,” Owen continued, “and when he died, he left the house to me. I haven’t been here for a long time, so it’s been sitting like this.”

I stepped closer, laying a hand on the worn wooden counter. “Thank you,” I said simply.

Owen hesitated, then said, “I have to warn you, though. Ylarc is known to be a place for humans, but this part-” he gestured to the surrounding forest outside the window, “-is filled with people from other packs.”

My brows furrowed. “Rogues?”

“Well, not technically,” Owen explained. “They’re people who came here for the sake of starting anew. They came here to settle and build something else–a new pack, one that isn’t known in Fenra. It’s a secret, I guess. One I’ve kept, too.”

I looked at him, searching his expression, and then smiled softly. “Thank you, Owen.”

The words felt too small for what he’d just given me. So I stepped forward and hugged him.

His body stiffened, freezing as though he hadn’t expected it. Then, he just clicked his tongue in that familiar way and muttered, “Anytime.”

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4:34 PM P P •

Chapter 182 Patched–up Family

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He pulled back first, looking at me with a question in his this?”

eyes. “Are

you sure you don’t want me to tell anyone

else about

I shook my head. “No. I’ll tell them at the right time. For now, this stays between us. Thank you again.”

He looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he just sighed.

I forced a smile and lifted my chin. “Now, you have to leave. You have a shift, right?”

Qwen clicked his tongue again, looking reluctant. “I might as well quit that place.”

I chuckled at that, shaking my head. “You need the money.”

“I could just stay here,” he muttered under his breath.

“You can’t,” I said firmly. “You have to study, Owen. You have to keep moving forward.” I gave him a little push toward the door. “Now, go.”

He groaned but obeyed, stepping out into the fading daylight. “I’ll visit a lot!”

“Don’t worry

about me, either!” I shouted after him, closing the door behind me.

The house grew quiet.

I turned, letting my eyes travel across the small space. It was far from perfect, but it was mine for now.

Slowly, I placed my hand on my stomach. There was a small bump now, barely noticeable unless you knew to look for it. Six weeks. The thought made my chest tighten, fear and wonder tangled together.

“There’s a lot to do, baby,” I whispered, my thumb brushing gently against the fabric of my shirt. “Let’s get to cleaning.”

I rolled up my sleeves, looking at the duster in the corner. But before I could even lift it, a sharp knock echoed at the door.

I paused for a while before finally walking to the door. I opened it, my hand still gripping the duster I had been holding a moment ago, and froze.

Before me stood an elderly couple. Their presence startled me at first. Both of them looked kind, but there was something quietly commanding about the way they carried themselves.

“Oh, what a pretty girl,” the old woman said the instant her eyes landed on me.

I felt my cheeks burn, a blush rushing to my face so quickly I had to bow out of pure embarrassment. I was never good at handling compliments. But then, her gaze dropped lower to my stomach. Her wrinkled hand flew up to her mouth, and she gasped.

“She’s carrying a child!” she exclaimed in awe. “Owen did not mention this.”

My eyes widened. I looked down at myself, then back at her, utterly dumbfounded. How could she possibly know? My free hand instinctively covered my abdomen, even though I wasn’t showing.

“Pardon my wife,” the man beside her said gently. “She is quite instinctive.” He looked at me with soft gray eyes before adding, “Owen mentioned his friend would be coming here. We haven’t seen him in a while, not since he visited here with his father. He asked us to take care of you.” His lips tugged into a smile. “And now, I know why.”

My grip on the duster loosened, and I lowered my head again, unsure of what to say.

My name is Winston,” the man continued warmly, gesturing toward himself, “and this is my wife, Edith. We’re what you could call the leaders of our small pack–not an Alpha or Luna, because we don’t have such blood. But…” His voice carried pride as he went on, “…we’ve kept this place alive for generations. Welcome to the Eternal Woods Pack.”

I smiled faintly at the name. Eternal Woods. There was something so peaceful about it–like a place untouched by the chaos of the world outside.

Before I could respond, Edith’s sharp eyes fell on the duster still dangling in my hand.

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4:34 PM P P .

Chapter 182 Patched–up Family

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“Oh!” she gasped again, this time almost scolding. “Were you about to clean, deary? No, no, no.” She hurried forward, her hands flapping to shoo the idea away. “You can’t. You need to rest.”

“But-“I started, only for her to cut me off by calling out over her shoulder.

Almost immediately, two figures appeared–a girl and a boy, perhaps around my age. They moved with familiarity, clearly at home here.

“These are our adopted grandchildren,” Edith introduced with obvious pride.

The girl stepped forward first, a spark of energy in her eyes. Her hair was cropped short, her smile wide. “Hey!” she said. brightly. “I’m Noelle. I was adopted because my real family was about to send me to prostitution, and I escaped.”

I was startled by her bluntness. She said it so matter–of–factly, without a trace of shame.

“And I’m Solomon. You can call me Sol,” the man said right after, his voice calm and even. His eyes, though, didn’t meet mine. Instead, they stayed slightly off to the side, unfocused. “I’m blind. My family abandoned me when I was little.”

For a moment, I could only stare at them. Their honesty was staggering. How could they air their struggles so easily, while I could barely breathe under the weight of my own?

Swallowing hard, I muttered under my breath, “Umm, hi. My name is Tessa and I’m pregnant.”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Noelle and Sol gasped in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement instead of pity.

“The baby is going to be so cute!” she squealed, clasping her hands together.

“Yes,” Sol added firmly, his blind gaze turning toward me. “And you definitely can’t be cleaning.”

“That’s right,” Noelle agreed, snatching the duster from my hand before I could react. “We’ll be the ones to do that!”

“We’ll take care of everything,” Sol echoed.

I stood there, disarmed. For so long, I had felt like an outsider everywhere I went. But here, I was being told to rest, to be cared for.

My lips trembled as a small smile broke free. As I looked at all of them, I realized something.

This might not be so bad after all.

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