Free Web NovelChapter 12: Chapter 12 Bond Marks Revealed
Silas stirred awake at the perfect moment, just like Dorian had. The instant he emerged from the treatment pod, he spotted a bond mark on his wrist—exactly matching the one he’d glimpsed on Dorian’s arm. He was ready to demand answers about whose power had malfunctioned when the mark disappeared.
Barrett’s voice cut through the silence again. "There. Does that settle it? Elara is my destined mate. As a former Army General, I swear on my life and honor—she’s not evil."
The silence that followed was even heavier than before.
Silas’s lips curved into a sly grin. So she’d blown her cover trying to rescue him? And now everyone was connecting the dots.
That plan had crashed and burned magnificently.
The devious lop-eared rabbit was still devious, even with his fangs tucked away.
Right. She belonged to him. Well, to him as well. And he belonged to her.
"General Barrett, has anyone mentioned you have an incredibly smooth voice?" Silas spoke up. The mischievous lop-eared rabbit never filtered his thoughts.
Without Barrett, he would’ve been clueless about how to pursue Elara.
That fierce little female who’d been drawn to his appearance—fearless, brazen, and drop-dead gorgeous. He’d fallen hard at first sight. But his stubborn pride had held him back. Not anymore. Now everything was legitimate.
Barrett found Silas’s remark... disturbing.
"Dr. Pendragon, I’m attracted to females."
Silas released a bright, melodic laugh. "Interesting. Me too."
Double entendre. Both meanings deliberate.
After Barrett’s revelation, the entire medical bay fell silent, everyone absorbed in their private calculations. No one uttered a word. Alistair was scheming. Damn Barrett. What were the chances both of them would be paired with Elara?
Those two were old military companions, and competitive rivalry was practically hardwired into them.
But... why did he suddenly feel... somewhat pleased?
Julian’s thoughts raced. "So both Barrett and I are hers."
He looked toward Kaelen. The young dragon had turned away, his shoulders trembling slightly. From this angle, it appeared he was weeping.
Julian was thrilled and secretly elated. Crying now? Far too late for that.
After all, he was Elara’s rightful, official beast husband. Well... Barrett was a special case...
——
Kaelen’s POV
I wasn’t weeping. I was so ecstatic I could barely keep it together. I was Elara’s fated mate! Staring at the mark on my wrist, my frame shook even more violently.
I couldn’t suppress it. Not even slightly.
My mate had come for me. Holy hell, holy hell, holy hell. I, Kaelen, was more euphoric than all of them combined. Well... Barrett was a special case. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
Dorian remained completely stunned. The reality hadn’t fully registered. That female was truly beautiful, though. He sneaked a peek at Barrett across the room. The wolf stood tall and confident, bearing perfect. Meeting Dorian’s gaze, Barrett said, "Your Highness, understand now? Can you finally accept she’s not evil?" freewebnσvel.cѳm
That single statement made Dorian’s ears burn crimson. He quickly averted his eyes, his voice shifting to something formal and grave. "Of course. That’s obvious."
A youthful voice attempting maturity. Barrett strode away, completely satisfied.
Scanning the now-quiet ward, Barrett smirked internally. Struck dumb with envy, weren’t they?
His female. No way she was evil.
Dorian angled his head slightly, stealing another glance at Barrett, and his brow furrowed. Barrett was older than him—probably much more skilled at charming a female. Would he even have a shot when the moment arrived?
Finnian hadn’t expected someone like himself to merit being matched with someone as flawless as Elara. He’d simply figured the system paired people randomly.
Everyone’s thoughts were spinning in different directions, but they all stayed quiet, privately celebrating to themselves.
Worried their joy might be too obvious and annoy the others. Well... Barrett was a special case.
Because of this revelation, they momentarily forgot about survival. Right now, their sole focus was on that entrance, anticipating Elara’s arrival...
——
Elara’s POV
I was in the kitchen, preparing grilled salmon with lemon butter sauce, fish tacos with lime crema, blackened catfish, and a rich seafood chowder.
I also made fish cakes and salmon patties, then stuck them in the freezer for tomorrow’s breakfast.
Realizing I had extra time, I toasted some seaweed snacks, crushed them up, and set them aside to blend into rice later.
I whipped up garlic butter rice, a basic three-ingredient soup with chicken, corn, and potatoes, plus a fruit salad. Then I made milkshakes—regular ice, light on the sugar.
I genuinely enjoyed cooking. Back in the post-apocalyptic world where food was precious, knowing how to cook was survival.
Having dishwashers here made it even more enjoyable.
Like most people, I loved preparing meals but despised the cleanup.
I was in high spirits today. My wood ability had reached level three. I could finally boost plant growth. My storage space was crammed with vegetable seeds. Looking back, it was almost absurd. When I was just a child, the apocalypse just... struck. For whatever reason, tons of people developed abilities, and I was among them.
But I had one extra compared to most—a spatial ability. True spatial power, not just a storage gadget. The moment I understood what I possessed, I went completely wild hoarding. I crammed everything I could locate inside, especially items others discarded, like seeds. Because once everything collapsed, the soil became too poisoned to cultivate anything.
