Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258 Soft

Chapter 258 Soft

ROWAN

666

+5 Free Coins

We had finally arrived in the South. I watched as the people stepped hesitantly inside the house which was originally meant for those without homes, an initiative I spearheaded when I was younger. Due to the livelihood project that Cade imposed upon all factions, all of them had moved out and built their individual houses.

However, we kept this place for those who would need it. I was glad that it was still here.

Francis and the other warriors moved in sync, hauling what little belongings they had, arranging them into piles along the hallway. They handed out warm meals, bowls of stew, and loaves of bread, and the smell of food began to soften the edge that clung to everyone.

Beside me, Calla’s hand wrapped around mine, her tiny fingers sticky with crumbs from the bread Emma had given her earlier. Francis and Emma’s eyes fell to her, their gazes softening, though Francis’s lips curled in that half–smirk I knew too well.

“I can’t believe something angelic like her came from someone like you,” Francis muttered under his breath.

I narrowed my eyes on him. “Don’t look at my daughter.”

His smirk faltered, and Emma shot him a look before crouching down in front of Calla. “You’re very pretty, like your mom,” she said.

Calla’s face lit up instantly. “Thank you,” she said with a beam. “You’re very pretty, too.”

I glanced at Tessa and found her watching our daughter fondly. I couldn’t help but smile, too. I ruffled her hair gently, and she leaned into my hand. I was grateful, in a selfish way, that she couldn’t comprehend the devastation around us. Because of that, she seemed to be alright even after everything.

“Mommy, new house?” she asked, her eyes wide as she scanned the unfamiliar walls.

Tessa nodded, her voice soft. “Yes, honey. We’ll be staying here for a while. Is that alright?”

Calla turned her gaze up to me.”As long as Daddy’s here,” she whispered.

I bent slightly, cupping her check. “Of course. Always.”

She smiled, satisfied, and leaned her head against my leg.

1/5

Chapter 258 Soft

+5 Free Coins

I straightened and turned to Francis. He had dark circles under his eyes, his posture sagging with exhaustion. “You should go,” I told him. “You had a long week.”

“Tell me about it,” he muttered with a yawn, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’ll take care of him,” Emma said firmly before he could argue, her hand already on his arm as though to guide him away.

I nodded once. “Good. He may have complained a lot, but he worked hard.”

Emma smiled gratefully, then pinched Calla’s cheek before she led her exhausted mate away.

When they moved off, Winston and Edith approached, appearing better than before.

“All of the rooms are occupied,” Winston reported. “Thank you for taking us here.”

Edith’s nod followed his words, gratitude in her eyes.

“You don’t need to thank us,” I said. “It’s the least I could do for letting me stay in your pack.”

Winston nodded. “Where are you going to stay?” he asked.

“At my house,” I answered.

“We’ll take care of everything here then,” he said with a small smile. “You guys should too dark now.”

1. go.

It’s

We exchanged nods before I reached for Tessa’s hand. We stepped back outside, and the night air was cool. I adjusted Calla on my hip, but she wriggled down, her feet crunching against the dirt path. She sniffed once, her little nose wrinkling.

Then she froze. Her small hand clutched my pants.

“No, Daddy,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Her wide eyes darted to the shadows that stretched out along the path ahead. “It’s dark. I don’t want to go.”

We looked down at Calla, her body trembling like a leaf in the wind. I crouched, scooping her up into my arms, holding her close so she could feel the steady beat of my heart.

“Not even if I carry you?” I asked softly, brushing my nose against her hair.

She shook her head fiercely and buried her face into my neck, her arms locking tight around

1. me.

I turned to Tessa, whose brows pinched in concern.

2/5

Chapter 258 Soft

+5 Free Coins

“Baby,” I murmured, “there are no more rooms left in the house. The couch is occupied, too. We need to go to your dad’s house.”

Tessa nodded in agreement. “Your dad’s house is big,” I added quickly, boasting to lighten the mood.

But Calla only shook her head. “No.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

Calla didn’t answer and continued holding onto me for dear life.

Meanwhile, Tessa sighed in frustration, playfully glaring at me. “You shouldn’t have built your house so far from the rest of the houses here.”

I scratched the back of my neck, sheepishly. “Sorry,” I muttered.

Her sigh deepened, and she shook her head again, strands of hair falling into her face.

Just then, the door of the house in front of us creaked open.

I froze, my arms tightening around Calla instinctively as two familiar faces peeked out–my mother’s gentle eyes and my father’s stern gaze.

We’d been arguing right in front of them.

Heat rushed to my ears. I hadn’t even noticed.

Just then, my dad stepped forward with the stern expression that had shadowed my entire childhood. Yet, as he spoke, it was anything but the sternness he showed on his face.

“We’ll take her in, if you want.”

“That’s Calla, right?” he added in a softer tone.

Tessa and I froze. Calla shifted, releasing her grip on me just enough to peek over my shoulder.

“Big house,” she muttered to herself. Her eyes widened in wonder. “I like.”

Before I could react, she wriggled out of my arms, dropped to the ground, and darted forward.

“Calla!” I started, lunging after her.

But she was faster than I expected, and before I knew it, she had wrapped her arms around my

3/5

15:06 Wed, Sep 24

Chapter 258 Soft

father’s thigh.

My eyes widened. What is she doing?

༥(66)

+5 Free Coins

I knew my father. He wasn’t the type to like these things. I was the youngest, and even then, I couldn’t recall a single time he’d let me cling to him like that.

And yet my stubborn, fearless daughter hugged his leg like he was her safe place.

She tilted her head back and looked up at him, completely unafraid. “Tall, big mister… carry, please.”

“Calla, don’t—” I began, feeling strangely panicked.

But before the words fully left my lips, my dad bent down without hesitation. His hands, calloused from years of work, slid under her arms. He lifted her before settling her against his chest.

My entire body was stiff. Tessa’s eyes went wide, mirroring my shock.

My father actually carried her.

Calla giggled, tucking her head under his chin. “You’re the combination of them,” my mother whispered softly to Calla as she stepped closer, her eyes shimmering.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify