Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 57

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 57**

**Leo**

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As we huddled inside the shed, a mere ten minutes had slipped by, yet the rain had intensified, hammering against the tin roof with such ferocity that it obliterated all other sounds. Each drop seemed to carry its own weight, creating a symphony of chaos that mirrored the turmoil within me.

Flashes of lightning pierced through the narrow gaps in the wooden walls, illuminating the space for a fleeting moment, only to be followed by the deep, rolling rumble of thunder that reverberated through the very floor beneath us.

Maya flinched at each crack of thunder, her body instinctively tensing as if the sound itself posed a threat.

She attempted to mask her fear, straightening her posture and tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear, but I could see the subtle tremors in her hands and the way her lips pressed together tightly, betraying the chill that enveloped her.

For someone like me, who had spent a lifetime mastering the art of emotional control, Maya was a whirlwind of chaos that I couldn’t seem to tame. I had been falling for her long before she ever realized the depth of my feelings—perhaps even before Caden had a clue.

I recalled the moment she first entered the room, radiating a light that wasn’t blinding but rather a gentle glow that seeped into the souls of those who had long since abandoned hope of feeling warmth again.

I had convinced myself that this light wasn’t meant for me. I was the fixer, the calm in the storm, the one who never sought anything for myself.

But oh, how I wanted her.

I swallowed hard, diverting my gaze to the floor, guilt gnawing at me like a relentless predator. Caden’s name loomed between us like a ghost, a constant reminder of the boundaries I wasn’t supposed to cross, of the desires that were forbidden.

Yet, fate had a way of disregarding rules, and Maya was an enigma that defied all definitions.

So, I remained silent, my eyes glued to the tempest outside, while a storm brewed within me.

She shivered again, and an unsettling tightness gripped my chest.

“Take off the hoodie,” I suggested softly.

Her head snapped around, surprise etched on her face. “What?”

“You’re drenched,” I pointed out, nodding toward the fabric clinging to her form. “It’s not helping you.”

“I’m fine,” she retorted, though the tremor in her voice told a different story.

“You’re shaking,” I pressed, concern lacing my tone.

“I said I’m fine,” she insisted, yet her voice wavered, revealing her vulnerability.

I exhaled sharply through my nose, watching her stubbornly wrap her arms around herself. “You’ll get sick if you don’t take it off. I’m serious, Maya.”

She hesitated, her resolve faltering as she sighed, muttering something under her breath. With a reluctant tug, she pulled the soaked hoodie over her head, her hair cascading down her shoulders, plastered against her skin. The fabric fell to the ground with a wet thud, and in that moment, everything changed.

We both froze, caught in an unexpected realization.

Her tank top clung to her, nearly transparent in the dim light filtering through the window. I hadn’t meant to look, but the sight was undeniable—her form was laid bare before me, her nipples hardening in the cool air, and I felt an involuntary response within me.

Water dripped from the ends of her hair, tracing a path down the elegant curve of her neck and along her collarbone, and I turned my head sharply, desperate to give her some semblance of privacy. Yet, the heat in my chest surged, my wolf awakening restlessly within me.

She noticed my reaction, instinctively folding her arms over herself, a gesture that only intensified the tension between us.

“Sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

I shook my head quickly, dismissing her apology. “Don’t apologize. It’s just—” I swallowed hard, the weight of the moment heavy in the air. “Here. Put this on.” I tugged my shirt over my head and offered it to her.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Leo, I can’t—”

“Please,” I urged, my voice softer this time. “You’re freezing.”

With a hesitant hand, she accepted the shirt. I turned my gaze to the rain outside, letting the sound wash over me as she pulled it over her head. The atmosphere shifted, the air growing warmer somehow. When I glanced back, she was enveloped in the fabric, the sleeves hanging past her wrists, the hem brushing against her thighs.

“Better?” I asked, my heart racing.

She nodded slightly, her voice a mere whisper. “Yeah. You didn’t have to…” Her gaze flickered over me before she quickly looked away. “Now you’ll freeze.”

“Wolves can regulate body temperature,” I replied with a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You’re the one who’s half human.”

“I’m not half anything,” she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

Another bolt of lightning struck, closer this time, and she jumped again. Without thinking, I stepped closer, lowering my voice to a soothing tone. “Come here.”

Her eyes met mine, a mixture of wariness and uncertainty. “I’m fine.”

“Maya,” I said gently. “Please. You need to warm up.”

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