Attachment 418

In “Attachment 418,” Mina is determined to remain hidden from a man named Elias, who unknowingly witnessed her embarrassing moment at the hot spring the previous night. Despite her efforts to stay concealed beneath her cloak, circumstances force her into close proximity with him again. As chaos ensues with her friend Calista losing her belongings, Mina finds herself reluctantly drawn into the situation. Calista quickly becomes enamored with Elias, who is revealed to be an Alpha werewolf, further complicating Mina’s feelings of humiliation and annoyance.

As Calista flirts with Elias, Mina tries to maintain her distance, but their paths cross when Elias helps her pick up the scattered items. The accidental touch between them ignites a flurry of emotions within Mina, who is both intrigued and irritated by Elias’s attention. Calista, eager to impress the Alpha, introduces Mina as their maid, which adds another layer of tension to the scenario. Elias’s calm demeanor contrasts with Calista’s overzealousness, leaving Mina feeling overshadowed and confused about the situation.

When Elias expresses his desire to visit Mina and Calista’s home for a drink, Calista’s excitement is palpable, while Mina struggles with her mixed feelings. The journey home becomes a test of endurance for Mina, who carries heavy shopping bags while Elias offers to help. Mina’s initial annoyance at Elias’s kindness shifts to a reluctant appreciation, as she grapples with the realization that he might be interested in her friend rather than her. Calista’s dismissive remarks about Mina’s silence only deepen her sense of isolation.

Upon arriving home, Calista quickly takes charge, offering Elias water and instructing Mina to fetch firewood. As Mina gathers the wood, she internally questions Elias’s motives for coming to their home. Just when she thinks she can escape the tension, Elias confronts her, revealing that he knows she was the one he encountered the night before. This revelation sends Mina’s heart racing, leaving her caught between embarrassment and a burgeoning connection with Elias, setting the stage for potential conflict and romance in their unfolding story.

**TITLE: Attachment 418**

**CONTENT:** 418 Thirsty, Huh?

**MINA**

I had no intention of allowing him a glimpse of my face. I was convinced that, for the moment, he remained oblivious to my presence.

The heavy cloak I wore shrouded my features, casting shadows that concealed everything save for perhaps the very tip of my nose. There was no way he could connect me to the utterly humiliating incident from the previous night at the hot spring.

With a swift motion, I rose to my feet and stepped back, putting as much distance between us as possible. Just then, the man let out a weary groan, a sound that coincided perfectly with Calista’s sudden shriek.

“My shoes! My dress! My mirror!”

Her belongings lay strewn across the ground, creating an embarrassing spectacle that drew the eyes of passersby. I crouched down immediately, compelled to gather the scattered items around me, hoping to quell her incessant whining. But her cries only intensified.

And then, as if a switch had been flipped, she fell silent.

I didn’t need to lift my gaze to understand the reason for her abrupt change.

It was painfully clear.

She had caught sight of him.

And she was captivated by what she saw.

He stood tall, broad-shouldered, his hair tousled from running, with strikingly defined features that seemed even more chiseled in the daylight. Even in his fatigued state, he resembled a statue, crafted for admiration.

What on earth was he doing here if he was indeed a werewolf?

I resumed gathering the fallen items, my scowl deepening beneath the hood of my cloak, when I heard Calista’s voice soften.

“Alpha Elias.”

My hand froze over a ribboned box, the name echoing in my mind.

“Alpha… Elias?”

The words slipped from my lips before I could catch them.

He turned his gaze towards me, and a smile broke across his face. My frown deepened further.

How on earth did he hear that? Then it dawned on me. Right, werewolves had exceptional hearing.

Calista, however, seemed to glow with excitement. She stepped closer, batting her lashes in a way that made me want to roll my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone apologetic. “I was in a hurry because people wouldn’t stop chasing me.”

“It’s alright,” she replied, her voice dripping with sweetness. “These dresses are nothing. I can always buy new ones.”

As he bent down to retrieve a box I had been reaching for at the same time, our fingers brushed ever so slightly. I recoiled as if I had touched a searing flame.

He didn’t comment on the accidental touch, but his gaze flicked back to me once more.

Calista, not one to be deterred, continued to chatter, feigning distress over her possessions, clearly attempting to redirect his attention. He nodded politely, but I could sense his eyes returning to me, like a moth drawn to a flame.

I kept my focus fixed on the ground, diligently continuing my task.

Then, to my surprise, he knelt directly in front of me and began helping me gather the remaining scattered items.

Calista gasped, her expression akin to a fish out of water.

“That’s okay!” she snapped, her sugary tone losing its luster. “She can handle it.”

Yet, he ignored her dismissal and persisted, casually picking up a few dresses and brushing off the dirt. Calista, seizing the moment, snatched the bags from his hands, her fingers lingering on his chest longer than necessary, before shoving them into my arms.

Elias raised an eyebrow in mild surprise, then asked, “What are your names?”

“I’m Calista, Alpha,” she said, her shyness a facade that barely masked her eagerness. “This is Mina.”

“Mina,” he repeated, and I turned my head away, still puzzled by the frequency of his glances in my direction.

“Is she your sister?” he inquired, directing his attention to Calista while subtly gesturing towards me.

“No,” Calista replied sharply, her tone hinting at offense. She forced a bright smile. “She’s our maid.”

He paused, his gaze shifting between us, as if trying to piece together a puzzle. “Do you live in the same house?”

“Yes,” Calista said dismissively. “But she just cleans and cooks.”

I expected him to take his leave at that moment, but instead, he spoke again, his voice calm and steady.

“Then, do you mind if I go there for a drink?” he asked. “I’m feeling quite thirsty.”

What?

Calista’s expression shifted from shock to a bright excitement that lit up her features.

“You want to visit our house?” she exclaimed. “Of course! Yes! Absolutely!”

He nodded, his demeanor relaxed.

I pursed my lips, tilting my head slightly in confusion.

He wanted to come to our house? I puffed air into my cheeks, feeling a mix of surprise and annoyance. He must already be interested in her.

***

“It’s a bit far,” Calista said sweetly, her voice taking on a saccharine tone. “The roads are impassable, so we can’t take a car.”

As if we even owned a car in the first place.

“It’s fine,” Elias replied, unfazed by her concern. “I enjoy walking.”

I trailed behind them, my arms laden with shopping bags that felt heavier with each step.

Montrose was a small town, bustling at the center but sparse at the edges. The palace and plaza thrived with activity, yet the outskirts were inconveniently distanced from where anyone civilized would choose to stroll.

I adjusted the strap digging into my shoulder, shifting my grip on the bags to prevent them from tumbling to the ground.

We hadn’t even made it halfway when, to my astonishment, the bags suddenly felt lighter. I tightened my grip instinctively and turned my head to the side.

“Let me help,” Elias offered, his hands already reaching for half of the bags. I opened my mouth to reject his assistance, but Calista swooped in, pushing me aside.

“You don’t have to, but thank you,” she smiled, her tone effusive.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I bit my lip, feeling a strange mix of emotions. That was… generous of him, I guess?

Perhaps he was trying to impress her. Regardless, the outcome left me with fewer bags to carry, so I couldn’t complain.

“You don’t say much, do you?” he remarked after a while, glancing my way.

Calista whipped her head towards him, as if to answer on my behalf. “Yeah, so don’t bother trying to talk to her.”

I nodded, keeping my gaze fixed ahead, distancing myself further from their conversation.

Elias merely nodded in understanding. “I see.”

The walk seemed to stretch on endlessly, and finally, after what felt like an eternity, we arrived at the house.

Calista wasted no time, immediately offering him a glass of water.

“Here,” she said, presenting the glass with both hands, her smile radiant.

Then she turned to me, her expression shifting to one of command.

“Get some firewood from the back and cook us something.”

Turning away, I made my way to the back of the house. The ground there was uneven and littered with debris, leaves scattered around piles of wood. I bent down, searching for the driest pieces I could find.

As I gathered the wood, I muttered under my breath, “Was there no water available in the plaza? Why would he even bother coming all the way here?”

I huffed in frustration. “It’s not like any of this is my concern anyway.”

I stacked the pieces in my arms until I felt I had enough, then turned toward the door.

Just as I reached for the handle, a voice broke the silence behind me.

“I know that it’s you.”

The firewood shifted precariously in my grip, one piece nearly slipping free, but I caught it just in time. I turned my head, my breath hitching in my throat.

He was standing right behind me.

“What are you talking about?” I managed to stammer, my heart racing.

Elias stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

“I know,” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s you I was with last night.”

In that moment, the world around me faded, leaving only the weight of his words hanging in the air between us. My heart raced, a cacophony of emotions swirling within me—embarrassment, confusion, and an undeniable thrill. How could he possibly know? The memory of our shared laughter and the warmth of our conversation at the hot spring flooded back, igniting a spark of something I had tried to suppress. I had spent the day cloaked in a shroud of anonymity, yet here he was, peeling back the layers I had so carefully constructed. Elias’s gaze held a mixture of recognition and curiosity, as if he were inviting me to step out of the shadows and into the light of this unexpected connection.

As I stood there, firewood clutched tightly in my arms, I felt the weight of my insecurities begin to lift. No longer was I just the maid, the overlooked companion to Calista’s vibrant charm; I was Mina, the girl who had shared a fleeting moment of joy with a man who now stood before me with an air of intrigue. The tension in the air crackled with possibility, and for the first time, I dared to envision a future where I could be more than just a bystander in my own life. Elias’s acknowledgment of our shared past ignited a flicker of hope within me, a promise of connection that could blossom if only I dared to embrace it.

In the next chapter, the tension between Mina and Alpha Elias is poised to escalate dramatically. As Elias reveals his knowledge of their previous encounter, the air will thrum with unspoken emotions and unresolved questions. Mina, caught off guard, will grapple with the implications of his words—what does he truly remember? How much does he know? The weight of her past actions will hang heavily between them, forcing her to confront the embarrassment and vulnerability she has tried so hard to hide. Will she succumb to her instincts and push him away, or will she find the courage to engage with the man who has so thoroughly unsettled her?

Meanwhile, Calista’s relentless pursuit of Elias’s attention will undoubtedly complicate matters further. With her eyes set on winning his favor, she may attempt to manipulate the situation to her advantage, leaving Mina feeling increasingly sidelined. The dynamic between the three of them will shift as Elias’s interest in Mina grows more pronounced, leading to a whirlwind of emotions and unexpected alliances. As secrets begin to unravel and motivations are laid bare, readers can expect a rollercoaster of intrigue, jealousy, and the promise of revelations that could change everything for Mina. The stakes are rising, and the question lingers: will Mina embrace her true self, or will she remain trapped in the shadows of her past?

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.