Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 40

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 40**

**Maya**

For two long nights, sleep eluded me like a ghost slipping through my fingers.

Each time I dared to close my eyes, the haunting image of the wolf, a creature I had never believed could exist, invaded my mind. It was the man I was falling for, standing between me and his father, teeth bared, blood staining his face like a macabre mask.

The sickening sound of bones snapping echoed in my thoughts, a grim soundtrack to the terror I felt when I saw the fear in his eyes—fear of me. This relentless loop played over and over, a never-ending nightmare that blurred the lines between reality and the dark recesses of my imagination. The sun would rise, casting its light over the world, yet I couldn’t tell where one nightmare ended and the next began.

By dawn, I felt utterly drained, yet an unsettling restlessness kept me from the comfort of my bed.

Since that fateful night, I had retreated into silence, not speaking to anyone—neither Elise, Leo, nor Caden. Especially not Caden.

Facing him felt impossible after witnessing the chaos unfold, after realizing that they had all been concealing their true natures from me. Wolves… heirs to the Alpha, while I was merely the human girl who had unwittingly wandered into the lion’s den.

Still, guilt gnawed at my insides like a relentless hunger. Elise had called me three times, her concern palpable, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer. What could I say that wouldn’t sound like an accusation? That wouldn’t imply that she too was part of this betrayal?

And the guys… I couldn’t shake the memory of them standing between me and death itself, their fierce loyalty a stark contrast to the fear that now gripped my heart.

–

Despite my feelings of betrayal, confusion, and fear, I couldn’t ignore the stark truth: I was alive because of them.

–

With a heavy heart, I forced myself to get dressed, each movement feeling like a monumental task. As I stepped outside, the world greeted me with a cacophony of sounds.

First, I heard it—the low, rhythmic thud of fists striking something solid, followed by the sharp clang of metal meeting metal.

When I rounded the corner of the training yard, the sight before me stopped me in my tracks, freezing me in place.

All three of them were there, their bodies glistening with sweat, half-naked and utterly captivating.

My gaze wandered where it shouldn’t have—over Leo’s sweat-slicked chest, across Tylon’s muscular arms, and down Caden’s sculpted back.

They were magnificent, each one of them in their own right. And though my heart was drawn to one, I couldn’t deny that Tylon and Leo were undeniably beautiful.

Tylon and Leo engaged in a fierce spar, their movements a brutal dance of precision and power, a blur of muscle and focus that left me breathless.

Caden stood apart, stripped to the waist, his body glistening with sweat, scars still fresh and healing.

The morning light caressed his skin, highlighting the bruises that marred his ribs, making them appear darker and more menacing.

For a fleeting moment, I stood there, caught in a whirlwind of frustration and an emotion I was reluctant to name.

Then, I found my voice, sharp and clear.

“Are you insane?”

Three pairs of eyes turned toward me in unison, surprise etched on their faces.

Caden blinked, his chest still rising and falling from exertion. “Good morning to you too.”

I marched closer, ignoring the way Tylon immediately straightened and Leo stepped aside, both seeming to recognize that I was not in the mood for any nonsense. “You’re not supposed to be doing this! You’re still injured, Caden!”

He wiped a hand over his jaw, a smirk teasing the corners of his mouth. “It’s not as bad as it looks.”

I crossed my arms, my irritation bubbling over. “You were unconscious for three days! You literally almost died!”

Leo attempted to stifle a grin, while Tylon didn’t bother to hide his amusement.

“Told you she’d say that,” Leo muttered, barely containing his laughter.

“And you two!” I snapped, pointing an accusing finger at them. “You’re supposed to stop him from being reckless, not encourage it!”

Tylon raised an eyebrow, his tone dry and slightly mocking. “You think anyone here can tell him what to do?”

“Apparently, someone needs to start!”

For a brief moment, silence enveloped us, and then Caden chuckled—a low, rough sound that rolled from his chest, igniting a warmth within me that I despised.

“So you care after all,” he said, that crooked smile lighting up his face.

I shot him a glare, feeling heat rush to my cheeks. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just don’t want to watch you bleed out again.”

His smile softened, the warmth in his gaze making it difficult to breathe. “I’ll take it.”

The way he looked at me—cautious yet hopeful—made the air around us thick with unspoken words. I tore my gaze away, clearing my throat to dispel the tension.

“I still need time to think,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “But I wanted to… thank you. All of you. For what you did at your father’s house.”

A faint smile crept onto Leo’s lips, while Tylon merely nodded, his expression inscrutable.

But Caden… he appeared lost, unsure of how to respond to my gratitude. His hands flexed at his sides, as if he longed to reach out but didn’t dare.

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