Chapter 46 Chapter 46

Chapter 46 Chapter 46
Chapter 46: ♥ Bound by Shadows

Enzo’s

A week had passed, and I was slowly losing my mind completely. Dean was still out there, actively scheming, his dangerous threat to kill Noah constantly burning painfully in my head.

Moses growled low and impatiently, his anger a constant, low hum of frustration in my chest. I couldn’t stay away from Noah anymore than I already had. I desperately needed to see him, to firmly hold him, and to simply know that he was completely safe.

Ren kept me constantly updated—Noah was still okay, safely hiding at James’s place—but that information wasn’t nearly enough to calm me. My mate was out there, alone, and I wasn’t right there with him. It felt exactly like a sharp knife twisting endlessly in my gut.

I stood up abruptly, my heavy boots thudding hard on the floor, and walked out of the pack house, Ren immediately trailing right behind me. “Take me to Noah now,” I said, my voice rough and demanding, my eyes hard. “Do it immediately.”

Ren nodded once, his face blank but his eyes sharp with concern. “I have the order, Alpha,” he said, heading straight to the car. “He’s still safe at his friend’s place. Are you absolutely sure you want to risk going there?”

“Just drive the car,” I growled back, climbing quickly into the passenger seat, my hands clenched tight. Moses was restless and agitated, urgently urging me to move even faster than we were going. Noah was my mate, my very heart, and I had left him completely alone for far too long.

We pulled up slowly to James’s small house, a simple place with peeling paint on the siding. I got out of the car immediately, my heart pounding hard, and knocked forcefully on the door.

James opened it, his glasses slipping down his nose, his eyes instantly wide with fear when he saw me standing there. Noah stood right behind him in the doorway, his face pale and drawn, his eyes looking tired but immediately softening when they met mine. “Enzo?” he said, his voice quiet and surprised. “You actually came here?”

I nodded once, stepping quickly inside the house, my voice low and strained. “I missed you so much, Noah,” I said, my throat tight with emotion. “I truly can’t stay away from you now. Not anymore than I already have.”

Before I could even finish speaking, he rushed forward quickly, wrapping his arms tightly around me, his warm body pressing against mine. “I missed you too, so much,” he whispered, his voice shaking with relief, his face buried deep in my chest. “I truly didn’t know if you would ever come here.”

I held him tightly, my hands firm on his back, my heart racing wildly. “I’m here now,” I said, my voice soft but fierce with promise. “I will always come for you, Noah, no matter where you hide.”

James cleared his throat awkwardly, his voice nervous and hesitant. “Uh, are you guys okay now?” he said, shifting awkwardly on his feet. “Noah, do you want me to stay right here or…?”

Noah pulled back slightly, his eyes still firmly locked on mine. “It’s fine now, James,” he said, his voice calm and steady. “Can you please give us just a minute or two alone?”

James nodded quickly, backing away toward the kitchen. “Yeah, sure thing,” he said. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything at all. Just… yell loudly if you need me to rush out.”

We sat down on the small couch, the air feeling suddenly heavy and loaded between us. I looked at Noah, his hands nervously fidgeting, his eyes searching deeply into mine for answers. “Are you okay now?” I asked, my voice low and concerned, my hand gently brushing his. “Are you really, truly okay with everything?”

He nodded, a small, genuine smile breaking through his worried expression. “I’m okay now,” he said, his voice quiet and grateful. “James has been really great to me. He’s a genuinely good friend, you know?”

I smiled back, my heart feeling warm but still heavy with the impending danger. “That’s good news,” I said. “If you desperately need anything at all, Noah, anything big or small, just tell me what it is. I’ll immediately get it for you. Whatever you want from me.”

He smiled again, but the smile quickly faded, his eyes dropping to his lap. After a long, tense silence, he looked up, his voice hesitant and worried. “When am I coming back to the house?” he asked quietly. “Or… do you truly not want me anymore now that you know the truth?”

I laughed softly, the sound tinged with pain, leaning closer to him, my hand resting gently on his cheek. “Not want you anymore?” I said, my voice rough and incredulous. “Noah, I want you right beside me every damn day. I desperately need you in my life. But right now, with Dean lurking out there, with the pack violently turning against me, it’s simply not safe for you to return. He openly wants to kill you, Noah. I absolutely can’t lose you to him.”

He stood up from the couch, moving closer to me, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. “What about Stan?” he asked, his voice shaking with guilt. “Is he truly okay? Did he… wake up from the coma yet?”

I gave him a sad, regretful look, forcing a small smile onto my face, my hand gently ruffling his hair. “Don’t worry about Stan’s condition,” I said, my voice gentle but firm. “He’s physically fine, just sleeping very deeply now. He’s definitely not waking up anytime soon to hurt you.”

Noah’s eyes darkened immediately, his voice trembling with deep guilt. “Will he ever wake up at all?” he asked, his hands clenching tight. “I did something terrible to him, Enzo. I felt the power leaving him. What if he truly never wakes up from his state?”

I sighed, my heart aching for his pain, and slowly nodded. “He’ll wake up eventually,” I said, my voice steady and assuring. “But his wolf power is gone for good, Noah. You unknowingly took it from him. He’s completely powerless now, exactly like a wolf without any inner spark left.”

Noah’s face fell completely, his eyes wide and devastated with guilt. “I truly didn’t mean to hurt him,” he said, his voice breaking with genuine remorse. “I was just desperately trying to physically stop him from killing me. Am I truly a monster, Enzo? What if I take your power one day soon? What if I end up hurting you too?”

I grabbed his face gently, instantly stopping him from talking, my eyes fierce with conviction. “You are not a monster,” I said, my voice low and intense. “Don’t ever dare say that word about yourself again. The pack is actively against me right now, Noah. They desperately want me out as Alpha solely because of you, because you’re a Vengas. Dean is actively out for your blood and your life. That’s exactly why I urgently need you to stay hidden right here, where it’s safe for now. Ren is going to faithfully watch over you the entire time.”

He looked deeply at me, his eyes searching my soul, his voice quiet with acceptance. “Are you absolutely sure I’m a Vengas?” he said softly. “Do you really think I’m… truly dangerous to you?”

I nodded once again, my hand still resting gently on his face, my thumb softly brushing his cheek. “You’re definitely a Vengas,” I said, my voice soft but completely firm. “But you’re my Vengas, Noah. I honestly don’t care what the pack thinks about you. I love you deeply.”

He nodded, his eyes wet with tears, and stood up, hugging me tight, his voice muffled sadly against my chest. “I desperately wish you could stay here too,” he said, his voice shaking with longing. “I really don’t want you to leave me alone, Enzo.”

I smiled slightly, my heart breaking at his request, and kissed his cheek tenderly, my lips lingering for a moment. “I’ll bring you back home as soon as it’s safe for you,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. “I promise you that, Noah. Just be incredibly careful here. Stay close to James. Ren has you perfectly covered.”

He pulled back, his small smile now genuine and real. “Okay,” he said, his voice soft. “I trust you completely.”

I walked out of the house, my chest feeling tight, Moses whimpering softly in my head. Ren stood waiting by the car, his eyes sharp and focused. “You good now, Alpha?” he said, his voice low and concerned. “Noah’s safe here, but what about you? Do you urgently need me back at the pack house for the trouble brewing?”

I shook my head immediately, my voice hard and determined. “Stay right here,” I said. “Watch Noah closely. Don’t come back to the mansion. He is your only priority now and always.”

Ren frowned slightly, stepping closer to me. “What if you urgently need help, Alpha?” he said. “Dean’s still out there, and the pack is completely turning against you. You truly can’t handle all of this alone.”

I laughed loudly, my eyes instantly flashing bright red, Moses growling in agreement. “I’m the Alpha,” I said, my voice steady and confident. “I can handle myself easily.”