Bonds at War: The Untouched is Mine novel Chapter 396

Attachment 396 Summary

Abel finds himself quietly observing his sleeping family—Luna and their daughter Snow—with deep affection and tenderness. He is overwhelmed by the love he feels, gently kissing both of them and marveling at their peaceful innocence. His moment of serenity is interrupted by Jaxon, who appears unexpectedly and reminds Abel that it is his house, easing the tension between them.

The two men step outside to talk, and Abel questions Jaxon about why he helped them instead of taking everything for himself. Jaxon reveals that Luna’s stubbornness and refusal to let him override a mark played a role, along with a half-Lycan doctor’s discovery that Luna’s bloodline was not pure. Jaxon admits he didn’t expect to care but was changed by Luna’s resilience and tears.

Jaxon opens up about his time in prison, where he found a strange equality and even some happiness among broken people, but after his release, he sought to reclaim his lost status and power. However, seeing Arden—Abel’s mate—made him realize that fighting for someone, not just for power or titles, was what truly mattered. This realization led him to change his mind about his actions toward Abel and his family.

Their conversation ends with Abel quietly thanking Jaxon, who downplays the gratitude but acknowledges the impact of Arden’s influence. As Abel leaves, he asks Jaxon about his future plans, to which Jaxon responds with a surprising admission that he has none and intends, for once, not to plan anything. The chapter closes with a sense of quiet reflection and unresolved tension between the two men.

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Chapter 396 No Plans

ABEL

I looked at them–my whole world contained in that single frame. Luna was asleep, her chest rising and falling softly. Her hand rested near Snow’s crib; her instinct was to protect our daughter even in her sleep.

I didn’t realize I was smiling until my cheeks hurt.

Carefully, I leaned down and brushed a kiss against her forehead. She stirred slightly, the corners of her lips twitching faintly. My heart twisted with a tenderness I couldn’t contain.

Then, I turned to Snow.

She was lying on her side, tiny fists curled under her chin, her lips slightly parted in her sleep. Her lashes were impossibly long, her breaths feather–light. For a moment, I just stood there, staring, memorizing every detail.

“She looks so angelic,” I murmured.

Like her mother.

I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead, and then kissed her there, too. I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much.

I could have stayed there forever, just watching them. All of the pain and longing felt worth it when I looked at them.

“You look like an idiot,” someone said behind me.

The voice snapped me out of my trance, and I immediately turned, my instinct pulling me in front of the crib. My muscles tensed automatically.

Jaxon.

He stood at the doorway, a crooked grin on his face, appearing amused by my reaction.

“It’s my house,” he said, clicking his tongue. “You don’t have to act like I’m about to throw your kid out the window.”

I said nothing for a few seconds, still guarded. My hand remained close to the crib until I was certain he wasn’t planning anything.

He looked around the room, hands in his pockets, eyes resting briefly on Luna before looking back at me.

“Stop looking at me like I’ve intruded,” he chuckled.

“It’s my house, after all.”

The silence stretched for a few seconds before I finally exhaled. My guard didn’t drop entirely, but I took a step back.

“Let’s speak outside,” I said.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. “As you wish, Alpha,” he said mockingly, before shoving his hands deeper into his pockets and turning toward the balcony doors.

The cold air hit us the moment we stepped outside. The moon was high, pale, and hauntingly beautiful.

Jaxon leaned against the railing, his fingers busy with a cigarette.

I stayed by the door, arms still crossed, watching him.

“Why did you do it?” I asked finally.

He let out a low chuckle, blowing smoke into the night sky. “You’re going to have to be more specific than that.”

“Why did you help us?” I asked again. “You could’ve taken everything for yourself. But you didn’t. Why?”

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.

“Would you believe me if I said I don’t know?”

I frowned.

“How did you even find out?” I asked. “About her bloodline?”

His eyes lifted to the moon as the wind rustled between us.

Then he turned to me.

“Your mate,” he started, a smirk tugging at his lips, “is so damn stubborn.”

“She wouldn’t let me override the mark even if it cost her life,” he continued. “She cried so

much every day. I tried to convince her. I told her it wouldn’t hurt, that she could be free of it. But she pushed me away. She didn’t love me. I knew that.”

He scoffed under his breath, shaking his head, a bitter smile cutting across his face. “I thought time would change things… but I had a feeling it wouldn’t.”

“She collapsed one day,” Jaxon said, exhaling a line of smoke toward the moon. “And someone I knew from prison, a half–Lycan doctor, came and checked on her. He said he could feel it right away.”

Jaxon turned his head slightly. “That she wasn’t pure.”

“You’re really stupid,” he added quietly. “You didn’t even know, huh?”

Jaxon tilted his head back, staring up at the sky again. “Goodness, Abel,” he muttered with mock pity. “What would you have done if I weren’t here?”

I pursed my lips; the words caught somewhere between gratitude and resentment. I didn’t know if I wanted to thank him or hit him. I could feel both emotions in my veins.

“Why?” I asked again.

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. His smirk faded.

“Why did you change your mind?”

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then he spoke.

“In prison,” he said slowly, “I was… quite happy, you know?”

That caught me off guard. I turned toward him, but his expression didn’t change.

“People treated you equally there,” he went on. “No ranks. No titles. Just you and the rest of the broken pieces pretending to be whole. I got some special treatment, sure. But even then, I made some friends.”

He gave a short laugh. “When I got out, though, something in me snapped. I couldn’t stand the thought that I’d lost everything. I told myself I’d take it all back–your title, Cade’s position, everyone’s respect. All of it. I thought, if I could just get it back, I’d feel alive.”

He paused, his gaze softening as he looked toward the moon. “But then I saw her.”

My breath stilled.

“Arden,” he said simply. “I saw her, and I realized that even if I had those things, I’d still feel empty. Because she looked at me like I was nothing, and for once, I believed her.”

He turned to me then, meeting my eyes. “Your mate too,” he added. “She reminded me of what it meant to fight for someone instead of something. So you have her to thank, Abel. She changed my mind.”

The night swallowed his words, leaving only silence between us. I stared at him for a long while, unable to find the right thing to say.

At that moment, he didn’t look like the monster that haunted our past. He looked like the boy from years ago–the one who gave me food during his fourth birthday because he thought I looked hungry.

“Thanks,” I said quietly.

He was visibly surprised by the word, though he masked it quickly with another scoff. “Don’t thank me. You’re making it sound like I did something noble.”

“You did,” I replied simply.

He shook his head and looked away. “Leave now, before I change my mind.”

I hesitated, then nodded slowly. There was nothing left to say.

I took one last look at him as I started to walk away, his figure framed against the glow of the moon. For a moment, the man who’d caused so much ruin just looked lonely.

Before stepping back inside, I turned and asked, “What are your plans now?”

His head tilted slightly, eyes still on the stars.

‘Plans?” he repeated, testing the word on his tongue.

Then he laughed softly, shaking his head. “Nothing,” he said finally. “For once, I won’t plan anything.”

Conclusion

The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing the fragile peace Abel finds in the presence of his family and the complex dynamics with Jaxon. Abel’s tender moments with Luna and Snow reveal the depth of his love and the healing power of connection, while his guarded interaction with Jaxon underscores the lingering tension and unresolved history between them. Yet, beneath the surface, there is a shared understanding born from past pain and unexpected compassion, hinting at the possibility of redemption and change.

Jaxon’s confession strips away his hardened exterior, showing a man grappling with loss, regret, and the influence of love that transcends rivalry. His admission of having no plans for the future contrasts sharply with his previous ambitions, suggesting a moment of surrender and reflection. Together, their exchange highlights the themes of forgiveness, the complexity of human emotions, and the quiet strength found in accepting vulnerability. The chapter leaves us with a sense of tentative hope, where even fractured bonds hold the potential for healing.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex dynamics between Abel and Jaxon, exploring the uneasy truce that now exists between them. With Jaxon’s unexpected change of heart and his cryptic declaration of having no plans, readers are left wondering what this newfound ambiguity will mean for the fragile peace they share. Will Jaxon’s past truly be behind him, or is there a storm brewing beneath his calm facade that could threaten the family Abel cherishes?

Meanwhile, the emotional undercurrents running through Abel’s reflections on Luna and Snow hint at challenges yet to come. The bond between them is palpable, but the shadows of their past and the secrets surrounding Snow’s bloodline suggest that their happiness may be tested in unforeseen ways. As tensions simmer and loyalties are questioned, the next chapter is poised to unravel more of the characters’ inner struggles and the choices they must face, keeping readers on edge and eager for what’s to come.