Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 291

Chapter 291 Stressed Out

Chapter 291 Stressed Out

TESSA

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There were a thousand things left to do, and yet everyone kept telling me it was all taken care of.

The problem was–it didn’t feel like it.

I sat at the long dining table, staring down at the third slice of chocolate cake on my plate. My fork was already halfway through it when Arden’s voice cut through my very fragile state of denial.

“Relax,” she said firmly. She bounced Jared lightly on her lap, her dark hair pulled back into a loose braid.

“I am relaxed,” I muttered, though the force with which I shoveled cake into my mouth might have betrayed me.

Arden raised an eyebrow but didn’t push further. Instead, Jared cooed in her arms, the sound so perfectly timed it was somehow mocking. That little boy–four months old and already the center of the world. I swore, he wasn’t just advanced, he was a baby genius!

He had said his first word two weeks ago at four months. Most babies, according to every parenting book out there, don’t say their first word until ten to fourteen months. Even Calla had said her first word at six months.

Meanwhile, Jared had been saying “mama” more times than we could count. We were all there to witness it, and Arden had looked like she was about to dissolve into happy tears.

Meanwhile, Cade had been campaigning–no, begging–for “papa” ever since. However, Jared just stared at his father with those huge, knowing eyes, like he could say it if he wanted to, but didn’t.

And I swear to the Moon Goddess, I think he was holding out just to see Cade suffer.

That kind of intelligence in an infant was terrifying and hilarious at the same time.

Still, Cade had gone off with Rowan, Elias, and Able to their monthly council meeting in the United Factions, leaving me here with Arden, Emma, and Luna Mila–three women who currently looked like they were staging an intervention.

“Another slice,” I said quickly, reaching for the plate before anyone could argue.

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Chapter 291 Stressed Out

The three of them exchanged a look.

I glared at them. “Don’t even think about it.”

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Luna Mila gave the faintest sigh before sliding the next slice of cake across the table. Her diamond ring caught the light as she pushed the plate toward me. “Here. But this is the last one.”

“Bless you,” I said dramatically, snatching it up.

Arden groaned. “That’s too much sugar! You’ve had three already.”

“We can’t get diabetes,” I mumbled through a mouthful of cake. The chocolate melted on my tongue, rich and decadent. “Our metabolism burns sugar off too fast.”

Emma snorted. “That’s not true,” she said. “As a doctor, you know that. Werewolves aren’t immune to everything. Diabetes is absolutely possible. It’s even more rampant these days.”

I stopped mid–bite. “That’s because of GMOs!” I argued, pointing at her with the fork. “Do you know how much crap they put in food now? No wonder our blood sugar spikes. But that doesn’t mean-” I waved my fork toward my plate-“that I can’t enjoy this.”

Arden laughed softly, but there was sympathy in her eyes. “Tess, the flowers are already ordered. The dress is ready for the final fitting. The musicians are rehearsed, the guest list is finalized, and Rowan himself approved the security. What else is left?”

I stabbed into the cake with unnecessary force. “Everything. Everything is left. The vows, the seating arrangements, the gift bags, the-”

Emma cut me off with a patient look. “Do you hear yourself?”

“Yes, and I sound perfectly rational,” I shot back.

“You sound like someone who hasn’t slept in three nights,” Arden corrected, bouncing Jared gently as he gurgled. “You’re stress–eating yourself into oblivion.”

“And?” I asked around for another bite.

“And you’re going to make yourself sick.”

I waved my fork dismissively. “If I do, I’ll heal. That’s the perk of being what we are.”

But even as I said it, I knew I was grasping. They were right, but admitting that meant admitting that I had lost control–and right now, control was the only thing keeping me from collapsing under the pressure of it all.

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Chapter 291 Stressed Out

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“This is supposed to be fun,” Luna Mila said at last. “Your wedding day isn’t a battle to win, Tessa. It’s a gift. Stop treating it like another war.”

Her words slipped past my defenses, digging under my skin. She was right, too. Rowan had given me everything–his love, his patience, his trust. And I wanted this day to be perfect, not just for me, but for him.

“What are you so stressed about?” Arden asked again, like she could read my mind. “The wedding is going to be perfect, Tessa. Emma is doing such a great job. All of your friends from Ylarc are going. It’s intimate but still grand. Everything’s lined up. It’s fine.”

I sat hunched over in my chair. My hands slid through my hair in frustration, tugging lightly at the strands. “I know, I know,” I muttered. “But it’s just that-”

I hesitated.

“Just what?” Arden prompted, narrowing her eyes.

“Calla said something.”

That got their attention.

All three of them stilled at once and exchanged a look.

My daughter’s prophecies had definitely slowed down. These days, she didn’t have them much anymore because she was busy with daycare now. Werewolf daycare. So cute, right?

But the thing about Calla’s visions was that when she did have them, they were accurate. Scarily accurate.

“Did she see something?” Luna Mila asked carefully.

I nodded once.

“What did she say?” Emma leaned closer, her eyes wide. Arden followed suit, her brows pinched. Even Jared went strangely quiet, like he knew the mood had changed.

“She told me…” I swallowed, my throat dry. “She told me she saw me crying on my wedding day.”

Their faces all went pale for a split second.

“And?” Arden asked gently. “It might be tears of happiness.”

I bit my lip as I shook my head. “She said it was because… my dress didn’t fit.”

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Chapter 291 Stressed Out

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The three of them blinked at me in unison. Then, like someone had flipped a switch, they all burst into soft chuckles.

“Well,” Emma said, smirking, “with how you’re cating cake, it might be true.”

Arden immediately turned her glare onto Emma, eyes sharp as daggers.

“What?” Emma raised her hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way!”

“I know,” I said quickly. However, the tears came anyway. They rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

“I’m sorry,” Emma exclaimed, scrambling for a napkin to wipe my face. “Tessa, seriously, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Honestly, you’re still pretty regardless, and Rowan would love you even if you’re a frog.”

I hiccupped. “I look like a frog?”

“No!” Emma said firmly, dabbing at my cheeks while shooting a desperate look at Arden.

Arden pressed her lips together, while Luna Mila reached over and gave my arm a soothing

squeeze.

Then Arden gasped softly.

Her eyes

widened as she stared at me, and she reached across the table to grab my hand.

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