Chapter 14: Fear and Whispers  

**Noah’s POV**

A glass cup hit the floor, shattering with a crash that made me jump. My heart pounded as I looked up at Enzo’s face, his eyes dark and terrifying, glaring at me and Ren like we’d done something unforgivable. I stood frozen in the doorway, my bag slipping in my sweaty hands, Dean’s creepy smile still burned into my mind. Ren stood beside me, his face blank, like he was used to Enzo’s anger, like he was waiting for a punishment.

Enzo moved toward Ren, his boots heavy on the floor. “How the hell was Dean there?” he asked, his voice low and sharp, like a knife. “You were supposed to be watching him!”

Ren didn’t flinch, his scarred face steady. “I didn’t know, Alpha,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I was as surprised as you. I saw him in the classroom and stepped in.”

Enzo’s eyes narrowed, and he turned to me, stepping so close I could feel the heat off his body. His hand shot out, grabbing my neck—not hard, but enough to make me gasp. My heart raced, and I froze, my eyes wide with fear. “What did Dean say to you?” Enzo demanded, his voice loud, almost a growl. “Tell me, Noah. What did he do?”

I tried to speak, but my throat was tight, my words stuck. “I—I don’t—” I stammered, my voice shaking. His grip tightened, just a little, and I panicked. “Please, let me go!” I begged, my hands grabbing at his wrist. “He didn’t do anything, I swear! He just… talked to me, said weird stuff. Please, you’re hurting me!”

Enzo’s eyes softened for a second, but his voice was still hard. “You’re mine, Noah,” he said, his face inches from mine. “Only mine. No one else has the right to touch you, to talk to you, to even look at you. Do you understand?”

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. “Yes,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I understand.”

He let go, pushing me back, and I stumbled, falling to the floor. My knees hit the ground hard, and I sat there, tears streaming down my face. I couldn’t stop shaking, couldn’t stop crying. Enzo turned away, his back to me, and said, “Get out.”

I didn’t move, too scared, too overwhelmed. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t breathe. Enzo’s voice came again, sharper this time. “I said get out!”

Ren stepped forward, his face still blank, and grabbed my arm, pulling me up. “Come on,” he said, his voice low. “You need to clean up. And eat.”

I looked at Enzo one last time, his back still turned, his shoulders tense. I wanted to say something, to ask why he cared so much, but I couldn’t. Ren tugged me out of the room, and I followed, my legs shaky, my eyes still wet.

---

In my room, I sat on the bed, my hair dripping from the shower. The hot water hadn’t helped—my hands were still shaking, my mind still stuck on Enzo’s grip, his words. *You’re mine.* What did that even mean? I wasn’t a person to him, just a thing, a slave. The thought made my stomach twist, and I hugged my knees, trying to push it away.

Ren walked in, carrying a tray of food—soup, bread, and some fruit. He set it on the small table by the bed. “Eat,” he said, his voice flat. “When you’re done, clean the house. Enzo wants it spotless. And don’t fall asleep until he’s back.”

I looked up, my voice barely a whisper. “Where is he?” I asked. “Where’s Enzo?”

Ren’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to ask that,” he said, turning to leave. “Just do what you’re told.”

“Wait,” I said, my voice louder now. “Please, just tell me why I’m here. What does he want with me? I don’t understand any of this!”

Ren stopped, his hand on the door, but he didn’t turn around. “You don’t need to understand,” he said. “You just need to follow the rules.” Then he was gone, the door clicking shut.

I stared at the food, my stomach growling but my appetite gone. I forced myself to eat, spooning soup into my mouth, the bread dry and tasteless. When I finished, I started cleaning, moving through the house like a robot. I swept the floors, dusted the shelves, wiped down tables, the whole time wondering why I was here, why Enzo kept me. Was it just the debt? Or something else? That weird pull in my chest, the one I felt when he was close, was back, and I hated it. It made no sense.

Hours later, I sat on the stairs, my arms heavy, my body tired. I’d cleaned every room Enzo told me to, and the house was quiet, too quiet. I leaned my head against the railing, my eyes heavy. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the exhaustion was too much, pulling me under like a wave.

I felt my body lift, my eyes fluttering open. Enzo was carrying me, his arms strong and warm. I whispered his name, “Enzo,” my voice soft, barely there. He looked down at me, his eyes softer than I’d ever seen. “Go back to sleep,” he said, his voice low, almost gentle.

He laid me on the bed, the mattress soft under me. His hand brushed my hair, his fingers lingering. “Why?” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Why does it have to be a human? Why can’t I just hate you?”

I stared at him, my heart racing. He was talking to himself, his face twisted with anger and something else—pain. “Humans are weak,” he said, his voice louder now, like he was arguing with someone I couldn’t see. “But I can’t let go of this one.”

He leaned down, his lips brushing my forehead, soft and warm. “Sleep,” he whispered, his voice so quiet I almost didn’t hear it. My eyes felt heavy, and I watched him, his face close, his eyes full of something I didn’t understand. Then my eyes closed, and I slipped into sleep.