Chapter 122

ISABELLA

Alex arrived just after lunch, and I was more than happy to have him by my side. I’d been walking the halls all morning with the boys, but having a new walking partner made things a bit more fun. He offered me his arm as we strolled slowly down the corridor, chatting about nothing and everything.

“You know,” Alex began, his tone light but thoughtful, “I still can’t believe you're having a baby. You know, little Isa, all grown up.”

I laughed, leaning into him slightly for support. “Yeah, well, I can’t believe it either sometimes. But here we are.”

As we made our way back to the room, the conversation turned to baby names. The Black brothers were waiting for us, lounging around the room with relaxed expressions. Alex plopped down in a chair by the window as I sat on the bed, and we all tossed around name ideas like we were brainstorming for a group project.

“How about something classic?” Knox suggested. “Like Alexander. It’s a strong name.”

Alex grinned, clearly pleased with the suggestion. “Flattering, but I don’t know if the world is ready for two Alexanders in such close proximity.”

Jax raised an eyebrow. “What about something more modern? Like Finn, or Liam.”

I considered the names for a moment, but before I could weigh in, Asher, who’d been mostly quiet until now, offered up his suggestion.

“I was thinking Jacob,” he said confidently.

There was a pause. I glanced at Knox and Jax, both of whom were suppressing smiles, while Alex just stared at Asher, eyes wide in disbelief.

“Jacob?” I repeated, trying to hold back a giggle. “As in, Twilight Jacob?”

Asher blinked, clearly confused. “Twilight what?”

At that, everyone burst into laughter. Poor Asher looked completely lost, glancing between us with a frown on his face. “What? What’s wrong with Jacob?”

“You’ve never seen Twilight, have you?” Jax asked, still chuckling.

“No,” Asher said slowly, his frown deepening. “Why? What’s so funny?”

I patted his arm, my laughter softening into a grin. “Let’s just say Jacob is a name that might come with some... associations. But it’s a good suggestion. Just... maybe not for our baby.”

Asher still looked puzzled, but he shrugged it off. “Fine. You can all laugh at me, but I still think it’s a strong name.”

After Alex left, the conversation became more focused, and we seriously started narrowing down our options. We all threw out ideas, debating the merits of each name, until finally, we settled on one. It just clicked.

Looking around the room at my three mates, I felt a warmth in my chest. Our baby would have a name that carried meaning for all of us. It was a name that felt right, a name that represented the start of our new family.

I smiled as the decision was made, and the boys, for once, didn’t argue or tease. We were in agreement. And it felt perfect.

The first contraction hit me like a wave, a tightening in my abdomen that started slow and then intensified in seconds. I gripped the edge of the hospital bed, my breath hitching in surprise.

"It’s happening," I whispered, eyes wide as I turned toward the boys.

Jax, who was closest, immediately stood up from his chair. Asher dropped the book he’d been skimming, and Knox—who had been looking at his phone—was suddenly on his feet, wide-eyed.

"It’s happening," I repeated, this time louder.

The nurse came in just as another contraction rippled through me, and I doubled over, clutching my belly.

"Contractions are regular now?" she asked, glancing at the monitor with a nod.

"Y-yeah," I managed to get out through gritted teeth. The pain was more intense than I had imagined, but there was also an odd sense of exhilaration beneath it. The moment we'd all been waiting for was finally here. The baby was coming.

I could feel the tension radiating from the boys as the nurse helped me get comfortable, adjusting the bed so I could sit up more easily. Asher stayed by my side, gripping my hand with a quiet strength. Jax stood near my feet, looking ready to catch the baby himself, while Knox hovered near the door, visibly restless but trying to stay calm.

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through another wave. This wasn’t like any pain I’d ever experienced—it was raw, primal. And yet, I welcomed it because I knew it meant my baby was almost here.

"You're doing great, Bella," Knox murmured, his voice low and soothing as he came to my other side.

The contractions came faster, closer together, and each one was a battle. Time blurred; I couldn't tell how long I'd been in labor, but at some point, a doctor came in and checked my progress.

"It’s time to push," she said.

Panic and excitement collided inside me. My heart raced. This was it.

The room filled with more nurses, and the lights seemed to get brighter. Jax moved closer, his expression unreadable as he bent down to kiss my forehead. "You’ve got this," he whispered, and despite everything, I managed to nod.

"Deep breath, Isa. When the next contraction hits, push as hard as you can," the doctor instructed.

Asher squeezed my hand, anchoring me, while Knox brushed my hair away from my sweaty face. They were all here, supporting me, and that filled me with a strength I didn’t know I had.

The next contraction hit hard, and I pushed with everything I had, screaming as the pressure became overwhelming. But with every push, the thought of holding my baby grew more vivid, giving me the energy to keep going.

I had no sense of time anymore, just the rhythm of pain and effort. It was exhausting, like I was climbing a mountain that never seemed to end. My muscles burned, and I felt like I was being ripped apart, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

"One more push, Isabella," the doctor urged.

"I can’t," I gasped, feeling drained, but Knox leaned in close, his eyes fierce.

"Yes, you can," he said, his voice commanding. "You’re the strongest person I know. One more push, Bella. For the baby."

I nodded, too breathless to speak, and when the next contraction hit, I pushed with everything I had left, feeling a sudden release of pressure.

And then... a cry.

My baby’s cry.

"Oh my God," I whispered, tears streaming down my face as the doctor lifted a tiny, squirming, perfect baby into the world.

"You did it," Jax said, his voice thick with emotion as the nurses cleaned the baby and brought it to me.

They placed the baby on my chest, still slick and wrinkled, and I felt like the entire universe had shifted. This tiny life, this beautiful baby, was ours. I looked down and saw those tiny fingers curling, the eyes squinting shut.

"Hi, little one," I whispered, my voice breaking as I kissed the soft forehead.

The boys surrounded us, each one looking in awe at our baby. Asher was quiet, his hand resting gently on the baby’s head, while Knox was openly emotional, blinking away tears. Jax reached over, touching the baby’s tiny hand.

"What’s his name?" one of the nurses asked softly.

I looked at the boys, knowing we had already chosen.

"His name is Luca," I said softly, my heart swelling as the name left my lips. "Luca Moretti-Black."

The name felt right, perfect even. Luca was here, and nothing would ever be the same again. I looked around at my mates, knowing this was just the beginning of our family, of everything we were building together.

Luca was the start of it all.