Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 12

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**

**Chapter 12: Mava**

“Are you ready to kick off your training?” I asked, my voice filled with anticipation as I stepped into the gym that Caden had mentioned about three days ago. It had taken me a while to gather the courage to actually start training alongside him.

Caden glanced at me, his gaze flickering over my form in that familiar, scrutinizing manner that I had come to expect from the men in this house. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, a playful challenge in his expression. “So soon? Aren’t you still in recovery?”

“No,” I replied, my tone steady and cool. It had only been three days since the incident, but I felt remarkably well.

A flicker of doubt crossed my mind—had I really escaped the worst of it, or was my body experiencing a sudden surge of vitality?

Regardless, I chose not to dwell on those thoughts.

Thanks to Ms. Vale, I had the entire week off, which allowed me to attend my classes virtually, preventing me from falling too far behind. With nothing else to occupy my time, I decided to take charge of my day.

This morning, I had grown tired of lying around, so I rummaged through my suitcase and pulled out an old tank top and a pair of gym shorts that I had “borrowed” from my foster brother. With a sense of determination, I made my way to the basement where the gym was located.

As I descended the stairs, I was taken aback by the transformation of the space. It was as if I had stepped into a professional gym, a far cry from what I had imagined.

What truly caught my eye, however, was the impressive array of weapons mounted on the walls like pieces of art. They weren’t mere props; they were real weapons, each one telling a story of its own. I couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down my spine at the thought of what lay hidden in this place.

I tried to push those thoughts aside. Clearly, these people were not who I had initially believed them to be, and if I let my mind wander any further, I might just find myself running for my life.

“You can’t start looking like that,” Caden remarked, his tone unexpectedly sharp, reminiscent of Tylon rather than his usual self. “You need to change.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling a wave of self-consciousness wash over me. “Well, excuse me for not having anything else to wear.”

I had anticipated him flashing me his trademark grin, but instead, a serious expression settled on his face. It was then that I realized that in this environment, Caden was not the playful guy I knew.

He was my relentless instructor.

Perhaps that was exactly what I needed right now.

Without a word, he slipped through a side door and returned moments later, holding a neatly folded stack of black leather gear. The material looked sleek and fitted, much like the attire he wore, which seemed to mold perfectly to his body.

He tossed the clothes to me, and I instinctively caught them against my chest, muttering a quick “thanks” before retreating into a small changing area to put them on.

As I slipped into the outfit, I felt the fabric cling to me in all the right places, accentuating my figure without revealing too much. When I stepped back into the main area, the atmosphere shifted noticeably.

Caden’s eyes roamed over me again, his gaze lingering from my throat to my shoulders, sweeping down the contours of the top and the snug fit of the pants, before returning to my face.

His pupils widened as he swallowed hard, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, as if he had thought about saying something but chose silence instead.

I shifted under the intensity of his stare, feeling a rush of heat creep into my cheeks. “Is this okay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

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