Chapter 124

ISABELLA

I wake up to the sound of voices—soft at first, but growing louder, pulling me out of my peaceful sleep. I blink my eyes open, taking a second to orient myself, and that’s when I hear it clearly. Spencer is arguing with someone. Again.

"Ma'am, I just need to check on the baby," a woman’s voice says, frustration evident in her tone. "It’ll only take a minute."

"And I said no. She’s sleeping, and the baby is fine," Spencer snaps back, his voice low but firm, like a protective wall. He’s not budging an inch.

I sigh, rubbing my eyes as I push myself up in bed, already feeling the headache brewing from the tension in the room. I spot Spencer standing between the bed and the door, arms crossed, his usual composed face now tense with irritation. In front of him, a nurse stands with her hands on her hips, looking equally fed up but trying her best to stay professional.

"Spencer," I call out, my voice a little groggy from sleep. Both of them turn to look at me. "What’s going on?"

The nurse opens her mouth to explain, but Spencer beats her to it. "She was trying to check on you and Luca while you were sleeping," he says, as if that justifies the whole argument.

I raise an eyebrow at him, trying not to smile at how seriously he’s taking his role as my protector. "Spence, she’s just doing her job."

His expression softens slightly, but he’s still stubborn. "You need rest, Isa. They’re always in here poking and prodding. It’s too much."

I shake my head, suppressing a laugh. "I appreciate it, really. But it’s okay." I turn to the nurse, offering an apologetic smile. "I’m so sorry. You can check on Luca."

The nurse gives me a grateful look, stepping forward to approach Luca’s crib. "Thank you, Miss Moretti. I promise I’ll be quick."

I glance back at Spencer, who looks a little sheepish now that I’ve called him out. I motion for him to come sit beside me on the bed. "You don’t have to fight off every nurse that walks in here, you know," I tease gently as he sits down.

He huffs, running a hand through his hair. "I just don’t like how they keep waking you up. You need rest, and so does Luca."

"I know, but I also need them to make sure we’re both healthy." I nudge him lightly with my shoulder. "You’re going to have to let them do their job."

Spencer sighs, glancing over at the nurse as she finishes her quick check of Luca. "Fine," he mutters, but there’s still a hint of that protective instinct in his eyes. I can tell it’s not easy for him to stand down, but he’s trying—for me.

Once the nurse is done, she turns back to me with a smile. "Everything looks good. You’re both doing well. I’ll be back later for another check."

"Thanks," I say, watching as she leaves the room. As soon as the door closes, I look over at Spencer, who’s still sitting stiffly beside me.

"See?" I say, giving him a playful grin. "No harm done."

He rolls his eyes, but there’s a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, well. Don’t expect me to make a habit of letting them waltz in and wake you up."

I laugh softly, leaning my head against his shoulder for a moment. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

We sit there in comfortable silence for a moment, watching Luca sleep peacefully in his crib, and I feel a surge of warmth in my chest. I’m so lucky to have Spencer, overprotective tendencies and all.

ASHER

Luca is only a few weeks old, and life in the penthouse has been a whirlwind ever since. Everyone’s trying to adjust to the baby’s presence, which basically means surviving on broken sleep and coffee. I’ve been finalizing a few important files, staring at my laptop screen, but it’s hard to concentrate with the rhythmic sound of Jax and Knox snoring away on the couch. Luca is in Isabella’s arms, breastfeeding quietly. She looks serene, even though I know neither of us has had a full night’s sleep since our son was born.

I pause for a moment, just watching her. Isabella’s completely focused on Luca, her fingers lightly stroking his soft hair. There’s this sense of peace in the room, despite the chaos of everyday life now. Every now and then, we get a text or a message—congratulatory notes and gifts from people who heard about Luca’s birth. The whole pack has been buzzing with excitement, even if most of them keep their distance to give us space.

But lately, the messages about organizing the vote have started pouring in too. I’ve been ignoring them, putting them off for as long as possible, but they’re getting more insistent. There’s no escaping the fact that the vote needs to happen. With a sigh, I rub my eyes and close my laptop, the weight of that decision sitting heavily on my shoulders.

Isabella must notice the shift in my mood because she looks up at me, her green eyes filled with curiosity. "Everything okay?" she asks softly, adjusting Luca in her arms.

I nod, though the tension’s still there. "Yeah, just… we’re going to have to go through with the vote next week."

Her expression shifts, and I can tell she’s thinking through all the possibilities. "What happens if you don’t take the throne?" There’s a hint of concern in her voice. She’s always been more worried about the pack dynamics than I have. I can see it in the way she glances between Luca and me, wondering what kind of future we’re building for him.

I reach over, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, then resting my hand on her arm. "Is, the most important thing to me is you and Luca. The vote doesn’t change that. Throne or no throne, I’m going to make sure we build a great life for him. A home where he feels safe and loved." I smile softly, trying to ease the worry I know she carries. "We’ll give him everything we never had."

She looks at me, her expression softening, but there’s still that flicker of doubt. "You make it sound so simple," she murmurs.

"It is simple," I tell her, squeezing her arm gently. "Because no matter what happens with the vote, we’ve already won. I’ve got everything I need right here. You, Luca… Jax and Knox passed out in the background." I chuckle softly, and she smiles too.

For me, there’s nothing more important than my family. Sure, the vote has its implications, and there’s no denying that leading the pack as king comes with responsibility. But I’ve learned that power and titles don’t define happiness. Family does. Isabella and Luca—they’re my foundation, the reason I even care about making things better.

She leans into my touch, her gaze falling back to Luca, who’s just about finished nursing. "I just want to make sure he’s safe. That we’re all safe."

"We will be," I promise her. "And whatever happens, we’ll face it together. That’s all that matters."

The smile she gives me is small, but it reaches her eyes, and I know that in this moment, she believes me. That’s all I need.