Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 65

**Change Begins With You — Jayden Collins**
**Chapter 65**

**Maya**

The bathroom was enveloped in a veil of warm steam, a gentle haze that swirled lazily in the air, mingling with the soothing sound of water cascading against the tiled floor. Perched on the lid of the toilet, I drew my knees close to my chest, my gaze fixed on the fogged glass of the shower. My thoughts churned wildly, tangling into a chaotic mess that I struggled to unravel.

Caden was quiet. Too quiet, in fact. It was the kind of silence that felt heavy, laden with unspoken words and emotions.

Through the ethereal mist, I caught glimpses of his silhouette—his broad shoulders, the strength of his back, and the gentle rise and fall of his breath. I knew I shouldn’t be staring, but there was something about watching him that anchored me amidst the turmoil swirling within my heart.

As soon as he stepped into the shower, the realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. He hadn’t raised his voice at Tylon for vanishing. There had been no flash of anger in his eyes; instead, he had looked wounded, as if the absence of Tylon had carved a deep ache within him that resonated through our bond.

He wasn’t angry with Tylon for leaving; he was hurt that Tylon had chosen to go without a word.

A wave of guilt crept up my spine, cold and unwelcome. I knew, with an unsettling certainty, that Tylon’s departure was a direct consequence of my almost-kiss with him. It was no mere coincidence; it was a painful truth I had to confront.

“Caden,” I breathed, my voice barely rising above the sound of rushing water, a whisper that seemed to dissolve into the steam.

He didn’t seem to hear me, lost in his own world of warm water and solitude.

I clenched my hands together until my fingers ached, the words I wanted to say bubbling up in my throat, desperate to escape.

“I need to tell you something. I need to tell you the truth about—”

But before I could finish, the water shut off with a finality that sent a shiver down my spine.

He stepped out of the shower, steam billowing around him like a ghostly shroud. Water droplets clung to his hair, tracing a path down his temples and neck.

The bathroom light glinted off his skin, illuminating the defined muscles of his chest, each breath he took slow and deliberate.

I couldn’t help but bite my lip, my eyes drinking in the sight of him. He was undeniably a perfect specimen of manhood, and the sight of him sent a rush of heat through me.

He held a towel loosely at his hips, and a primal urge surged within me, wishing for him to let it fall.

When he locked eyes with me, it felt as though he had already made a decision, one that hung in the air between us like a promise.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice low and steady, each word deliberate. “We need to complete the bond.”

Stunned, I blinked at him, my mind racing. “What changed your mind?”

He closed the distance between us, water still beading on his chest, glistening in the light as it traced the contours of his muscles and the sharp lines of his abdomen. The scent of cedar and warmth enveloped me, sending my pulse racing.

“The Council is after you,” he said softly, urgency lacing his tone. “And now the rogues too. I can’t risk it. I need to be fully connected to you at all times to keep you safe.”

Disappointment pierced through me, sharp and unexpected.

“Oh,” I murmured, the weight of his words settling heavily in my chest. “So that’s why.”

Immediately, he sensed the hurt in my voice. His brows knitted together, and he crouched down slightly so that his gaze met mine, an earnest look in his eyes.

“Maya,” he murmured, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I wanted to do this from the very night I accepted you as mine. I wanted to from the moment I realized what you truly meant to me. That feeling never wavered.”

“Then why didn’t you?” I pressed, my heart aching for clarity.

“Because I was terrified of losing you,” he confessed, the vulnerability in his voice raw and honest. “I didn’t know if your body could handle me.”

“And now you think it can all of a sudden?” I challenged, skepticism creeping into my tone.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “I think I’ve known since the day the Council subjected you to those horrific tests. But I still hesitated, especially since you seemed to be undergoing some changes.”

I almost repeated my questions about the risks, almost pressed him to lay them out again. But the flicker of fear in his eyes told me he hadn’t forgotten a single detail; he was simply choosing to embrace hope instead of fear.

Before I could gather my thoughts, the memory of the voice returned, brushing softly yet chillingly against the back of my mind.

I swallowed hard, the weight of my revelation pressing down on me.

“A voice spoke to me when you were gone,” I whispered, the confession slipping from my lips. “Tylon thinks it might be my wolf.”

Caden’s entire demeanor shifted, his body going still as he processed my words.

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