Chapter 6

Chapter 6: The Chains That Bind

Noah's POV

His eyes were colder than ice.

And they were locked right on mine.

I sat there frozen, completely still, breathing harder than I should've. My heart was thudding in my chest like it wanted to leap out. He stood in front of me, staring like he couldn’t decide if I was a threat or a puzzle he couldn’t solve. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t hold his gaze for long. I looked away. I tried to, at least.

Tears spilled from my eyes before I even realized it. My voice cracked as I whispered, "Please... just let me go. I don’t belong here. I didn’t do anything. Just let me go please."

I didn’t expect him to care. I just needed to say something. Anything.

He didn’t answer right away. But his silence felt louder than yelling. His eyes narrowed like my begging annoyed him. And then—just like that—his whole body tensed, his jaw clenched, and a growl rolled out of him, deep and sharp.

The sound made my body lock up.

I barely had time to react before he pushed me down onto the mattress. I struggled to scoot back, but the chains around my wrists dug into my skin and stopped me cold. He just stared down at me like I was some kind of property.

"Let you go?" His voice was low, rough. "You don’t get that option. You’re not here by accident. You’re repayment. Your father traded you. For his own life."

The way he said it—so calm, so casual—it felt like my stomach dropped out of my body.

"That’s not true..." I croaked, shaking my head, even though deep down, I was scared it was.

He didn’t argue with me. He just turned toward the door, walked a few steps, then stopped. For a second, he glanced back at me. His face was unreadable. He didn’t say a word before leaving the room and slamming the door shut behind him.

I sat there in the dark, tears soaking the side of my face as I lay back on the mattress. My whole body felt heavy, like every part of me was sinking. It was too cold, too quiet, too real.

I wanted to believe this was just another nightmare.

But nightmares didn’t last this long.

…

I don’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, the room was brighter. Morning. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust, but something felt off.

I turned my head slowly—and nearly jumped out of my skin.

He was sitting in the same chair across the room, watching me.

I backed up immediately, but I couldn’t go far. The bedframe stopped me. I was trapped. His stare didn’t shift.

He stood up, walking toward me without saying anything. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.

He reached down, and I flinched. But instead of hitting me or grabbing me, he undid the chains around my wrists and ankles. The metal clanked softly as it dropped to the floor.

"Get up," he muttered.

I hesitated. "Why...?"

He didn’t answer right away. His face was hard to read again. Not angry... but not gentle either.

"Take a bath," he said flatly.

What?

I stared at him, completely confused. After everything that just happened, he wanted me to—what? Freshen up?

"Why?" I asked quietly.

He rolled his eyes like I was wasting his time. "Because you stink. And you’re not dying in my house smelling like a wet dog. Get up. Now."

I still didn’t move. I didn’t trust him. Not after the way he looked at me last night. Like I was something he wanted to rip apart and devour at the same time.

"Fine," he muttered, grabbing my arm and pulling me up.

I stumbled to my feet, dizzy from how fast I’d gotten up. He didn’t let go until we reached the bathroom. He opened the door, pushed me inside, and shut it behind him—though he didn’t leave.

He stood near the wall, arms crossed, watching.

I looked at him in disbelief. "Can you turn around?"

"Why?"

"Because I’m not bathing with you standing there like that."

He raised an eyebrow and gave a short, dry laugh. "I’ve seen what’s under those boxers already. This isn’t new."

My face flushed with embarrassment. I hated how calm he sounded. How amused. Like none of this bothered him.

"Please," I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. "Just give me one second to have some privacy."

He stared at me for a long moment. Then, finally, he let out a sharp breath and turned around.

My fingers shook as I hooked them under the waistband of my boxers. I felt cold all over. I didn’t even care about the water anymore—I just wanted to hide. But before I could step toward the tub, I lost my balance. My leg gave out beneath me.

The floor rushed up fast—

—but I didn’t hit it.

Arms wrapped around me. Tight. Warm.

I opened my eyes and looked up. He was holding me, his hands gripping me like he didn’t mean to catch me but couldn’t stop himself.

And suddenly, our faces were too close. Too close.

He froze. I froze.

His dark eyes locked on mine, and my breath caught in my throat. My lips parted, and I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even think.

I didn’t understand what this was or why it was happening, but my heart was pounding harder than ever. And this time, it wasn’t just fear.

It was something else.

And I know he felt it too.