Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 28

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 28**

**Maya**

As dusk settled over the town, the oppressive atmosphere of the house became too much for me to bear. The silence that enveloped us felt like a heavy blanket, suffocating and filled with unspoken words. I could almost hear the tension crackling in the air, a silent scream begging to be released.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from Elise: “You looked and sounded awful today. You need a night out. There’s a club in town. Be ready in ten.” Without a moment’s hesitation, I responded with a resounding yes. It was a spontaneous decision, one that felt liberating and, for once, unfiltered by doubt.

I met Elise outside the Academy gates, bundled up in a snug jacket and a pair of borrowed boots that were slightly too big for me. As we drove downtown, the car was filled with music and laughter, a joyful melody that had been absent from my life for far too long. I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, the kind of lightness I had almost forgotten existed.

This was the first time since my arrival that I truly saw the town in its nighttime glory. The streets glowed with vibrant lights, casting a magical hue over everything.

The club we arrived at was not particularly large, but it pulsated with life. Neon lights danced on the walls, and the bass reverberated through my chest, awakening a part of me that had been dormant for days. In that moment, I wasn’t just “the girl living in the mansion with three hot men”; I was simply Maya, unburdened and free.

We ordered drinks and lost ourselves on the dance floor, swaying to the rhythm of the music. Laughter bubbled up from my lips, a sound I hadn’t heard in what felt like ages. For a few fleeting songs, I even managed to push thoughts of Caden to the back of my mind—an accomplishment I considered significant.

“This,” Elise shouted over the pounding beats, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “is exactly what you needed!”

I couldn’t help but smile back at her. “You’re absolutely right.”

As I sipped my second drink, the warmth of the alcohol began to seep into my bones, easing the tension that had clung to me. “Do you ever… see anything strange around the Academy? Like, I don’t know… wolves?”

Elise’s brow furrowed slightly, and for a split second, I thought I noticed a flicker of concern in her eyes. “Wolves?” she echoed, her voice laced with skepticism.

“Yeah, I heard them howling the other night. And I swear I’ve seen some big ones lurking around. Someone mentioned they come down from the forest.”

She tilted her head, curiosity mingling with caution. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen any. Why do you ask?”

I waved my hand dismissively, laughing to lighten the mood. “Forget I said anything. Tonight is all about forgetting… messy wolves and messier men.”

“That’s the spirit!” Elise cheered, raising her glass in a toast.

It was refreshing to see Elise let loose like this. I had always known her to be the epitome of organization, the quintessential planner. She was always impeccably put together, a stark contrast to the carefree college student she was tonight.

I reached for my drink again, feeling a delightful buzz begin to settle in, but before I could take another sip, Elise playfully snatched it away.

“Easy there, underage,” she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Hey!” I protested, catching her cheeky grin. “I turn twenty-one in three weeks! I’m practically legal!”

Elise let out a laugh. “Tell that to the bartender.”

Rolling my eyes, I leaned over and stole a sip from her drink, since she had just ensured that the bartender wouldn’t serve me again.

“Well, well,” came a familiar voice from behind me, dripping with condescension. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Jamille. “If it isn’t Miss Perfect herself.”

Oh, fantastic.

I turned to face her, flanked by two other girls from the office, a martini in hand, and that same smug expression plastered across her face.

“Didn’t think you were the club type,” she remarked, her gaze appraising my outfit with disdain. “Guess even charity cases need a break.”

My jaw clenched in irritation. “Excuse me?”

“You know,” she continued, her voice dripping with venom, “internship pity hires, living with rich boys, playing the role of a slut with the alpha heirs… whatever pays the bills, right?”

Elise stepped forward, her protective instincts kicking in. “Back off, Jamille.”

“Oh, relax,” Jamille laughed, unfazed. “We’re all friends here. I was just curious how long it’ll take for her to get bored of pretending she belongs with them.”

“Say that again,” I said, my voice low and steady.

Jamille smirked, the corners of her mouth curling up in delight. “Did I stutter?”

Rage surged through me like a tidal wave, fueled by the alcohol and the mounting frustration that had been building for days. My hand moved before my brain could intervene, and suddenly, the drink in my hand splashed across her pristine white blouse.

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