Bonds at War: The Virgin is Mine Novel

Chapter 266 A Dream Chapter 266 A Dream TESSA : 466 66 +5 Free Coins We were in a car - one of Elias ' cars , to be exact . He told us we could take it as a token of gratitude for helping his pack . With his gesture , I realized that True Alphas were genuinely different . How could he give away a car just like that ? Still , even with that thought running inside my mind , I felt drained . I was tired from the detoxification , but most especially from the revelations Ingrid and Ben had thrown at me .

My forehead rested lightly against the glass , watching the blur of trees and lamps as the road stretched out into the night . I couldn't even pretend to keep up with the conversation in front , because there wasn't any . It was silent , except for the sound of the radio . Some rapper's voice filtered through , low and suggestive , talking about someone " riding someone . " Normally , I'd roll my eyes , maybe even laugh under my breath at how ridiculous some lyrics could get . Tonight , I didn't have it in me . I tuned it out . Or at least , I tried to .

The words slipped past my ears , muddied , but the beat kept hitting me like an annoying pulse . Then , without warning , Rowan reached forward and clicked the radio off . The silence that replaced it was louder . My head turned slowly to him , confused , but before I could ask anything , he was already pulling the car over to the shoulder of the road . " Are we here ? " I asked , straightening in my seat , peering out the window . Was I so absent- minded that I didn't realize we had arrived ? However , as I gazed outside , I knew we were nowhere near the pack . " We're not ...

" " " My words faded when Rowan unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned toward me . " What are you- " I started , but my voice shrilled higher when his arms suddenly slid beneath me , lifting me by my armpits and moving me toward his lap . My eyes widened , my hands instinctively grabbing onto his shoulders as he adjusted me . The car seat beneath me squeaked as he pushed it back , making more room . " What's happening ? " Rowan smirked . " Relax .

" 1/6 15:09 Wed , Sep 24 Chapter 266 A Dream : 66 +5 Free Coins " I am relaxed , " I lied , my heart racing like I'd just sprinted the whole length of Elite's field . Instead of answering , his hands rose , cupping my face , his thumbs pressing into my cheeks until they squished together . " What - Rowan ! " I mumbled through puffed - up lips , trying to glare but probably looking more like a pouting child . " Sorry , " he said with a straight face that cracked into amusement a second later . " I got distracted . Your cheeks are so cute . " I pushed him away .

" Seriously , why are you doing this ? " " I told you already . You're too cute to resist , " he admitted shamelessly , still holding me close enough that his breath brushed against my skin . My voice came out small . " Why aren't we moving ? " Rowan's eyes softened , the playful edge fading . He exhaled , his forehead leaning against mine . " Because I don't want to go back if your mood is weird ." I pressed my lips together , my gaze darting away . " I'm fine , " I muttered automatically , though we both knew it wasn't true .

His fingers slipped from my cheeks , sliding instead to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear . " I know you're not , " he said quietly . " It must be overwhelming . Everything . And you ... " His voice dropped . " You look guilty ." I sucked in a breath . " I can't help it , " I whispered . That was the truth . No matter how much I tried to rationalize what Ingrid said , no matter how much Rowan's presence tried to calm me , I couldn't shake off the guilt . I couldn't help but think that everything in this life was borrowed . Ellana's heart . Ellana's power .

Even this second chance , Was any of it mine ? Did I deserve it ? Rowan shook his head , his eyes never leaving mine . " It's not borrowed , " he said firmly . " I believe in fate . It's fate that you're still here . There's a reason , Tessa , and that reason is not futile ." Before I could argue , he kissed me . " Smile for me ," he murmured against my lips . 2/6 15:09 Wed , Sep 24 Chapter 266 A Dream ༧ ( 66 ) +5 Free Coins Somehow , I did . It wasn't because the heaviness had vanished , but because he made me feel so completely , undeniably loved .

" I don't know what to do , " I admitted when he pulled back . My voice cracked . " I don't know what to do with all this . With her heart , with this power ... with what it means ." My fingers curled into his shirt . " Am I really this important ? " Rowan's jaw flexed , his eyes burning with conviction . " Yes ." I swallowed hard . " After casting Zaria away , it feels like I've made another enemy . But this one's bigger . Stronger . I don't ... ' دو " You don't have to know what to do ," Rowan interrupted softly . " That's the point . You don't have to carry it alone . " He smiled .

" Depend on me . Depend on me , and you'll be able to help . That's how we'll do it ." I leaned forward until my forehead rested against his shoulder , closing my eyes . His scent wrapped around me . " Thank you ," I whispered , my voice trembling . His lips brushed my temple . " Anything for you ." I was touched beyond words . However , something made me cautious . " Rowan ," I said carefully . " Hmm ? " " Something's ... poking me ." There was a pause . Then, a low chuckle . " Sorry , I can't help it ," he said , his voice teasing . " You're on top of me ." My face heated instantly .

I clicked my tongue sharply , rolling my eyes as I scrambled off him , retreating to my own seat . " Unbelievable , " I muttered . Rowan's grin was unrepentant , his hand casually sliding back to the steering wheel . " Let's go , " I said , still scowling but too flustered to hold it properly . " I'm tired . " 3/6 15:09 Wed , Sep 24 Chapter 266 A Dream He nodded , still smiling . : And despite everything that was happening , I felt lighter . *** A 66 +5 Free Coins At least , I thought I felt lighter . It was night , and I still couldn't sleep .

Even with Rowan lying beside me and little Calla cuddled against his side , I was wide awake . The rise and fall of their chests should've soothed me , but it only made the restlessness worse . I turned onto my side , then onto my back , then again , tugging the blanket up to my chin and then pushing it down . My body was heavy with exhaustion , but my mind refused to let go . " Come on , sleep ," I whispered to myself , my voice barely audible in the dark . Minutes stretched endlessly . Finally , my eyes grew heavier until I felt myself slipping .

I didn't know how much time had passed before I realized something was wrong . When my vision cleared , I was no longer in Rowan's room . I was outside - behind Rowan's house . I knew this place well , but it felt like everything was distorted . The sky was darker than it should've been , the stars too faint , like someone had painted them halfheartedly across the canvas of night . A sharp dizziness made me sway , and I spun slowly in place . The world moved , then steadied , then moved again , as though I were trapped in a carousel that never stopped turning . " This ...

isn't right , " I muttered , pinching my forearm hard . It felt like a dream . However , the sharp sting didn't wake me . Weird . Somehow , I felt another presence surrounding me . It was subtle at first - a faint prickling down my spine , the sensation of being watched . My 4/6 15:09 Wed , Sep 24 Chapter 266 A Dream heartbeat stumbled as I turned , searching . : I saw a figure of a woman moving closer and closer . ( 66 +5 Free Coins me , her She stood a short distance away , hazy around the edges , her figure bleeding into the shadows . Still , what I could make out was startling .

She was beautiful . Strikingly so . Older than features carried maturity , but her skin was still flawless . Her eyes caught mine , gleaming faintly in the dark . " Who are you ? " I asked . The dream - if that's what this was - blurred whenever she moved , her body rippling with the kind of haziness that made it hard to track her steps . She didn't answer my question . " Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in life ? " she said . Her voice carried a strange resonance , like it didn't come from just her mouth but from everywhere at once . I froze , my breath hitching .

" You were born for greater things , " she continued . Her words echoed unnaturally in the space , bouncing off the air , lodging themselves into me in ways I didn't want . I turned to follow her . " Who are you ? " I demanded again , louder this time . She didn't stop circling . " This isn't a dream , " I said suddenly , the truth spilling from my lips as certainty hardened in my gut . That was when she stopped . Her movement halted , and in a blink , she was in front of me . My confusion boiled with instinct , and deep down , I knew . Her smile sharpened . " Oh , what a smart one you are .

You caught onto that in record speed , didn't you ? " I narrowed my eyes , my fists clenching at my sides . " Well , " she said , " there's no use hiding now . " 5/6 15:09 Wed , Sep 24 Chapter 266 A Dream 465 66 +5 Free Coins Her gaze swept over me . " I came to check you for myself . And it seems Kyle wasn't lying this time . " My mouth dried instantly . She smirked , stepping closer . " I could practically see the power radiating off of you .