Housebound with the Blackridge Heirs novel Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Maya

For a moment, I couldn’t move.

I just stared at him as his eyes blinked open, really open, not fluttering or twitching or rolling the way they had when he was unconscious. He was awake. He was breathing.

He was looking at me. And something inside my chest cracked open so fast I made a sound I didn’t even recognize.

I threw my arms around him before I could think. My body moved first, my heart second, and my mind tried to catch up somewhere in the middle.

His arms were slow to rise, stiff from weeks without movement, but they found me, shaky and warm, holding me just tight enough to let me know he knew I was real.

“Leo,” I whispered into his neck, my voice breaking. “You’re awake. You’re actually awake.”

His breath hitched, and he turned his head slightly. His cheek brushed mine, warm and alive, and I

didn’t even hesitate before pressing a soft kiss there.____ I felt him exhale like the simple touch soothed

something deep and hidden.

1/7

Across from us, Caden stiffened.

But he didn’t say anything, didn’t snap or growl or ask me to move the way I braced for, but the shift in the air was sharp. It cut through me for a second before settling again. When I glanced at him, his eyes were fixed on Leo with something caught between relief and jealousy, but he stayed silent.

Tylon moved before Caden did.

He stepped closer to the bed, careful and steady, hands gentle as he adjusted Leo so he wasn’t slumped forward. The neck brace creaked slightly, and Leo winced.

“Easy,” Tylon murmured, guiding him upright. “Let me help.”

Leo gave him a weak, grateful nod.

I grabbed the glass of water from the nightstand, my hands trembling a little as I brought it to his lips. “Slow, okay? Just sip.”

He drank like someone who hadn’t had real water in years, even though I knew Caden and Tylon had been giving him fluids. Something about him drinking from my hands felt different, though. It felt personal.

Caden shifted beside the bed.

2/7

“I’ll get food,” he said, sounding like he needed to do something, anything. “Something light. Maybe broth or-”

“I’m not hungry,” Leo croaked.

His voice was rough, scraped raw from disuse, but it was undeniably him. Calm and quiet. Trying not to take up space.

Caden hesitated, jaw flexing once, but he dropped the idea and stepped back.

Leo looked at me again, and the relief that had flooded me when he opened his eyes slowly melted into worry. Because something wasn’t right. His eyes held a distant glaze, like he was still halfway inside something terrible. His hands trembled faintly. His shoulders were too tight, like he was bracing for another impact.

“You’re not okay,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair off his forehead.

“I’m fine,” he murmured, but the lie was thin and fragile, cracking at the edges.

“Leo,” I said quietly, leaning closer so he couldn’t look away. “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend you’re fine when you were barely breathing.”

He swallowed hard but didn’t answer.

3/7

Chapter 88

God, he looked exhausted. Even after being unconscious for nearly four weeks, he looked tired in a way that didn’t belong to sleep or injury. It seemed like him being awake triggered his wolf was healing him, but whatever he’d been trapped in… it wasn’t letting go easily.

I shifted onto the bed slowly and curled against his side. His body relaxed almost instantly, like some instinct in him recognized me before his mind caught up. One of his arms wrapped around me with careful hesitance, then pulled me in fully.

Tylon cleared his throat softly and moved aside, giving us space.

Caden didn’t move.

But he didn’t leave yet.

Leo rested his forehead against my temple, and I felt his breath warm against my hair. Then, in the softest voice, barely audible, he whispered, “Thank

you.”

My chest tightened. “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

“Yes,” he murmured, voicę breaking just a little. “I do.”

He said it again. And again. Each one quieter Each one more raw. Like gratitude was the only thing

4/7

keeping him tethered to the surface of the world and he was afraid if he stopped saying it, he might sink back under.

I wrapped both arms around him, holding him steady, holding him together even though I wasn’t sure I could hold myself.

“It’s okay,” I whispered. “You’re here. You’re safe. Just rest.”

His breathing slowed bit by bit until his eyelids fluttered shut again. But this time, he didn’t fall into unconsciousness. He drifted into sleep, soft and warm, his grip on me still present enough to tell me he knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

Caden watched from the doorway. I didn’t even know when he moved.

I sent my love and sorry down the bond, emphasizing that Leo needed this. There was a hint of sorrow, but also reluctance understanding.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify