Chapter 34 Chapter 34

Chapter 34 Chapter 34
Chapter 34: Haunted by Dreams

Noah’s

I was running again, small and utterly terrified, my tiny hand gripped tightly by a woman’s. “Nickolas, run!” she yelled, her voice sharp and desperate, as we tore through a dark, tangled forest.

Wolves howled loudly behind us, their growls sounding too close, their claws scraping against the ground. She pushed me quickly behind a large rock, her face wet with tears, her eyes wide with overwhelming fear. “Hide, Nickolas,” she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. “Don’t come out of here, no matter what you hear.”

I called her “Mom,” my voice shaking badly, and she shook her head firmly, tears streaming down her face. “Stay here,” she said, then ran off, the pack of wolves instantly chasing after her. Her scream cut through the air, sharp and awful, and I curled up tightly, crying, until the entire world faded away.

I woke up gasping, my body immediately drenched in cold sweat. My heart was pounding like it would explode from my chest. The door to my room flew open, and Enzo rushed in, his face tight with concern. He sat on the bed, pulling me close to him, his arms feeling strong and protective around me. “Noah, are you okay?” he asked, his voice low and urgent. “What happened? You’re shaking all over.”

I clung to him tightly, my hands gripping his shirt, my breath ragged and uneven. “I had a nightmare,” I said, my voice trembling violently. “The same one as before. It’s always exactly the same dream.”

He pulled back just slightly, his hands resting firmly on my shoulders, his eyes searching deeply into mine. “What nightmare is it?” he asked, his voice soft now but serious. “Tell me about it, Noah. What did you actually see in the dream?”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight and dry. The dream was still so vivid, it felt like it was real life, not just a dream. “There’s a lady running with me,” I said, my voice shaky and weak. “She keeps calling me Nickolas. We’re being chased by wolves in the forest. She hides me safely, tells me to stay put, and then… she suddenly screams. It feels so real, Enzo, like I’ve lived that exact moment before.”

Enzo’s face flickered for a second, a quick change of expression—maybe recognition or surprise?—before he pulled me close to him again, his hand rubbing comforting circles on my back. “It’s okay now,” he said, his voice firm and reassuring. “It’s truly just a dream, Noah. You don’t need to be scared anymore. I’m right here with you.”

“Why do I keep seeing it happen?” I asked, my voice cracking with emotion. “Why does it feel so much like a memory I’ve forgotten? Who is Nickolas? Do you know something about him that you’re not telling me the truth about?”

He shook his head slowly, his eyes meeting mine steadily. “I told you before, I don’t know anyone named Nickolas,” he said firmly. “It’s just a dream, alright? You’ve been through a tremendous amount of stress lately—Eric, your dad, all of it combined. Your mind is just messing with you because you’re scared.”

I nodded, closing my eyes, trying desperately to believe his words, but the dream clung to me stubbornly, feeling heavy and profoundly real. “It doesn’t feel like just a dream though,” I said, my voice quiet and defeated. “It’s like… I was truly there. Like she was my mom somehow, even though she shook her head when I called her that.”

Enzo’s arms tightened instantly around me. “You are safe now, and I promise you won’t be hurt,” he said. “No wolves are here, no more running or chasing. It’s just you and me right here. Try your best to let that fear go, okay?”

“Okay,” I whispered, my heart finally slowing down, but I wasn’t completely sure I believed it yet. I pulled back slightly, wiping my eyes, trying to force myself to act normal. “I need to clean up and shower,” I said, standing up slowly. “I’m all sweaty and gross now.”

He nodded, following me immediately to the bathroom, his eyes never once leaving me as I walked.

In the bathtub, the warm water hit my skin, and I sat there. Enzo was across from me, his gaze intense and focused, as if he was genuinely trying to figure me out like a complex puzzle. It made my skin prickle with awareness, not from fear, but from something else entirely. “Are you okay?” I asked him, my voice soft. “You’re staring at me like I’m some kind of mystery to solve.”

He chuckled softly, leaning back against the wall, his smile easy and relaxed. “I’m perfectly fine,” he said. “I just like looking at your pretty face. Is that a crime I can be arrested for?”

I laughed, my cheeks burning with warmth, but I didn’t answer his question. A comfortable silence settled between us, heavy but surprisingly not awkward. After a while, I spoke again, my voice hesitant and probing. “You were gone for a really long time today,” I said. “Where did you go? Did something important happen while you were out?”

Enzo’s smile faded, his eyes darkening slightly. “Just business that needed attention,” he said, his voice low and noncommittal. “I had to sort some pressing things out for the pack. You know I’m the boss in every game I play, right?”

I chuckled, shaking my head slightly. “Yeah, you’ve mentioned that fact a few times now,” I said. “What kind of business was it? Did it have something to do with Eric? Or… Dean, maybe?”

He stiffened visibly, his jaw tightening. “Don’t worry your head about it,” he said firmly. “Just pack business I had to attend to. Nothing you need to stress over or understand.”

I frowned, leaning forward slightly toward him. “Enzo, please, come on,” I said sincerely. “You’re constantly telling me to trust you, but you refuse to tell me anything concrete. What is honestly going on? Is it definitely about what happened with Eric earlier?”

He sighed heavily, then moved closer to me, his breath warm and moist on my face. “Noah,” he said, his voice soft but serious. “I am handling it all. You don’t need to know every single detail right now. Just know deeply that I am keeping you safe from every threat.”

“What have you done to me, Noah?” he added suddenly, his voice dropping to a low, intense whisper, his eyes locked on mine with a startling seriousness. “I can’t seem to let go of you at all anymore. You’ve got me completely messed up inside.”

I smiled slightly, my heart racing fast, my face hot with blush. “I didn’t do anything to you,” I said, my voice quiet and small. “I’m just… me, a regular human.”

He grinned, his hand gently brushing my cheek. “Yeah, and that’s more than enough for me,” he said. “More than enough, forever.”

I laughed softly, then pulled back from him. “I still haven’t eaten lunch from earlier,” I said, trying to completely change the intense subject. “I need to get dressed and find some food now.”

As I stood up to step out of the tub, Enzo grabbed my arm gently, pulling me back down. My body landed softly against his chest. His hands slid up to my chest, his touch warm and familiar. “Stay here with me,” he said, his voice soft and deeply pleading. “Just for one more minute, Noah. Let’s just… be right here together, alone.”

I froze, my heart pounding heavily, but I didn’t speak or pull away. His lips brushed mine softly and warmly, and I closed my eyes, leaning closer into his kiss. His hands moved gently over my back, pulling me closer still. But when his fingers slid lower on my spine, a little too low for me, I grabbed his hand immediately, stopping him firmly. “Enzo,” I said, my voice firm, my face burning with a different kind of heat now. “I’m not ready for that yet. Not now.”

He nodded instantly, his eyes soft and understanding, and pulled back his hands. “Okay,” he said gently. “I won’t push you to do anything. I promise you that, Noah.”

I stood up quickly, grabbing my towel, my heart still racing hard, and walked out of the bathroom, leaving him behind. My mind was a complete mess of fear, growing trust, and a confusing, strong emotion I couldn’t quite name yet.