Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Echoes of Freedom

Noah’s

I sat in class, my pencil tapping repeatedly on the desk, trying hard to erase the image of Dean and Stan in the bathroom. Their faces, their voices, the casual way they had talked about me like I was simply a pawn in their game—it made my skin crawl with discomfort. I just wanted to feel safe again, but nowhere felt safe anymore. Not here at school, not at Enzo’s mansion, not even inside my own head.

My phone buzzed quietly in my pocket, and I glanced at the screen. A text was from Ren: Something came up. I’m leaving. Go straight to the mansion. Don’t tell Enzo I left you alone.

I read it again quickly, my heart racing with sudden excitement. Alone? I was free? I let out a quick, quiet burst of excitement, and a few kids turned to stare at me. “Sorry,” I muttered, my face hot with embarrassment, but inside I was buzzing with relief. No Ren, no Enzo watching my every move. I could breathe easily, just for a day.

Then my phone buzzed again, another text from Ren: Don’t go anywhere else. Enzo will lose it if you do.

I groaned softly, shutting my phone off and shoving it back into my pocket. “Of course,” I muttered to myself, my excitement fading instantly. “I can’t even have one single free day.”

Time dragged slowly, but when the final bell rang, I grabbed my backpack and headed toward the school gate, my heart feeling heavy again. I just wanted to go home—my real home, not the cold luxury of Enzo’s mansion.

A hand landed firmly on my shoulder, and I jumped in surprise, spinning around quickly. It was James, his easy smile calming my nerves slightly. “Yo, Noah,” he said, his backpack slung over one shoulder. “Why are you still standing here? Did your ride ditch you or something happen?”

I took a deep breath, wanting desperately to spill everything—the werewolves, Enzo, my dad selling me—but the words stuck tightly in my throat. What if he thought I was crazy? Or worse, what if he got dragged into this terrible mess with me? “Nah,” I said, forcing a fake smile. “I’m just heading home now. No big deal at all.”

James raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Home?” he said. “You mean that huge mansion with the scary rich guy? Are you sure you’re okay, man? You’ve been acting weird all day today.”

“I’m perfectly fine,” I said, my voice sharper than I had meant it to be. “Just… really tired. It was a long day.”

He crossed his arms, leaning closer to me. “You don’t look fine to me,” he said. “You were glaring daggers at Mr. Dean in class the whole time. And now you’re walking home all alone? Let me walk with you. I just don’t like this feeling.”

“No,” I said, shaking my head firmly. “I’m good, James. Really. I just need to clear my head completely.”

“Are you certain?” he pressed, his voice low and insistent. “I can easily walk with you, just to keep you company. It won’t be any trouble at all for me.”

“I told you I’m fine,” I snapped, then immediately softened my tone. “Sorry. I just… I truly need to be alone right now, okay? I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

James sighed, his shoulders slumping down in defeat. “Alright, man,” he said. “But you have to text me when you get home safely, yeah? Just so I know you’re not, like, kidnapped or something crazy.”

I laughed, but the sound came out shaky and weak. “Yeah, sure thing,” I said. “I’ll text you immediately.”

He nodded, giving me a small wave before walking off down the street. I took another deep breath, then turned toward the path that led to my old apartment, ignoring the one that went to the mansion. I knew I shouldn’t be doing this, but I needed to see it, just one last time, to clearly remember what my life was like before Enzo, before the werewolves, before everything changed.

The streets were quiet as I walked, my sneakers scuffing softly on the pavement. My mind kept replaying the night my dad sold me—his slurred voice, the way he refused to look at me as Enzo’s men dragged me away from him.

I stopped in front of the apartment building. The cracked steps and peeling paint hit me like a physical punch to the chest. My throat tightened, and tears stung my eyes sharply. This was home, or it used to be. I was about to turn and walk away when a voice stopped me instantly. “Noah?”

I froze immediately, my heart stopping completely. My dad stood there, his face pale and drawn, his eyes wide with genuine shock. “You’re alive,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion, tears streaming down his face. “Oh, God, Noah, you’re actually alive.”

I stepped back, my hands shaking, anger quickly boiling up in my chest. “What, did you think I was dead?” I snapped, my voice loud and full of hurt. “You sold me, Dad! You let them take me away just to clear your stupid gambling debts! And now you’re standing here crying about it?”

“Noah, please, listen,” he said, reaching for me with shaky hands. “I didn’t truly have a choice then. You don’t understand the severity of it. I was in too deep with them, and they were going to kill me if I didn’t pay—”

“Stop it right now!” I shouted, pushing his hand away forcefully. “You chose yourself over me! I came here to see this place one last time, and after today, we’re completely done. I never want to see your face again, do you understand?”

“Noah, wait!” he called out, his voice cracking with desperation as I turned and walked away from him. “I’m so sorry, son! Please, just talk to me first!”

I kept walking quickly, tears burning my eyes, my chest tight with a heavy, painful ache. His voice faded behind me, but the sharp pain did not. I headed toward the mansion now, my steps heavy, my heart feeling even heavier than before. When I reached the pack’s grounds, I sat down on a bench near the massive front gate, resting my head in my hands, wanting nothing more than to disappear completely. I just wanted my old life back, but I knew it was permanently gone.

A rustling sound snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up sharply, but no one was there in sight. “Hello?” I said, my voice shaky and nervous. Silence. Then I heard it again, the distinct sound of a twig snapping nearby, and I stood up, my heart racing hard. “Who’s there hiding?” I called out, turning in a complete circle, searching for the source. Still nothing moved.

I was about to sit back down when a man suddenly appeared right in front of me, startling me. His eyes were dark and focused, and his smile was cold and sharp, like a knife.

“Finally,” he said, his voice low and chilling to my core. “I found you, Noah.”