Chapter 134

ISABELLA

When they finally returned, my heart lurched at the sight of Knox, battered and pale, being helped inside by Jax and Asher. I stood frozen in place, my breath catching in my throat, as relief and fear collided in my chest. He was alive—that was the first thing I clung to—but he was barely standing, his body weak and slumped. There was no trace of his usual cocky grin or teasing eyes. Just exhaustion, deep and hollow.

"Knox..." I whispered, my voice trembling as I stepped forward. I reached out, but stopped myself, afraid I might hurt him more. I’d been preparing for this moment, telling myself over and over that we’d get him back, that he’d be okay—but seeing him like this shattered the fragile hope I’d been holding onto.

He looked at me, a faint, tired smile appearing on his face. "Hey, beautiful," he murmured, his voice weak but still somehow full of that signature charm that was so distinctly Knox. "Miss me?"

The lump in my throat nearly suffocated me. I swallowed hard, my hands trembling as I finally stepped closer, brushing his hair away from his face gently. "More than you know," I managed to say, my voice breaking as tears welled up. "God, I was so scared..."

Jax and Asher carefully lowered him onto the couch, where the healer was already waiting. Her movements were swift and deliberate, preparing her tools and supplies to treat him. I wanted to rush forward, to be there, to hold him and not let go, but I knew he needed the care more than anything. I stepped back, my heart pounding as I tried to stay calm, watching every movement the healer made.

"He’ll be fine," Asher reassured me quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder. But his voice was tight, and I could feel the weight of the last few days pressing down on all of us.

I nodded, though the tension in my chest didn’t ease. I wanted to believe him, but the sight of Knox like this—the strongest, most unshakable man I knew, reduced to this fragile state—was hard to reconcile.

The healer worked swiftly, her hands glowing faintly with the magic of our kind, a soft, healing energy pulsing through the room. I watched her as she cleaned Knox’s wounds, carefully applying ointments and setting bones back into place. Every time he winced or groaned in pain, it felt like a punch to my chest, and I had to hold back the urge to push the healer aside and take over, as if my touch alone could make him whole again.

But I stayed close. I didn’t leave his side for a second. My body was tense, my hands clenched in fists at my sides, but I stayed. I had to be here with him. I couldn’t bear the thought of him slipping away again.

Knox’s eyes fluttered open now and then, and every time he looked at me, I felt like I could breathe again, even if just for a moment. His hand weakly reached for mine, and I took it without hesitation, squeezing it gently as he gave me a weak, reassuring smile. "You’re stuck with me, Isa," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not going anywhere."

I choked out a laugh through the tears I hadn’t realized were falling. "Good," I whispered back, brushing my thumb over the back of his hand. "Because I’m not letting you out of my sight."

The healer finished her work, leaving him with strict instructions to rest and recover, but I didn’t need anyone to tell me that. I was already planning to stay close, hovering like a protective shadow. I would watch over him, over all of them, until I was sure they were safe. Until I knew this nightmare was over.

As the healer packed up, Knox’s eyelids drooped again, exhaustion overtaking him. I stayed beside him, gently stroking his hair as he drifted off, my own body finally relaxing now that he was here—alive and breathing.

But the weight of what Emilia had done hung heavy in the air, like a storm cloud that refused to pass. This was far from over. And as much as I wanted to focus on the fact that Knox was back, that we’d found him, I couldn’t shake the feeling of dread creeping in the corners of my mind.

I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to Knox’s forehead as he slept, my heart aching with a mix of love, fear, and anger. "We’ll fix this," I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself. "We’ll get through this."

But for now, all I could do was stay close, keep him safe, and hold onto the hope that we’d come out of this in one piece. That somehow, we’d make it through this storm—together.

As I stayed by Knox’s side, I felt Jax approach quietly. He stood beside me, arms crossed, his gaze flickering between Knox and me, the usual playfulness in his eyes replaced by something heavier. We hadn’t spoken much since they’d returned. There hadn’t been time, and frankly, I wasn’t sure what I’d say.

Jax shifted, breaking the silence. "We couldn’t find her, Isa. Your mom... she wasn’t there."

His words hit me harder than I expected, though I’d been preparing for it. My mother, Emilia—the woman responsible for all this chaos—had slipped through their grasp. It was like a weight I didn’t realize I was carrying settled even heavier on my chest.

"I figured," I murmured, still stroking Knox’s hair, though my thoughts were racing. My eyes stayed focused on him, but my mind was elsewhere. "She always seemed to know how to disappear."

Jax let out a frustrated sigh, leaning his hip against the wall. "We tried everything, Isa. Every lead, every tracker, but she was gone. No trace left. It’s like she didn’t even exist."

I nodded, swallowing the bitter taste of disappointment. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to find her, or if I was terrified of what I’d learn when we did. "Maybe... maybe it’s better this way," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The words felt strange in my mouth, but part of me meant them. After everything, I didn’t know if I was ready to face her. Not yet.

Jax raised an eyebrow, his hazel eyes narrowing with concern. "Better?" he echoed, disbelief threading through his tone. "She’s responsible for this—Knox, the bomb, all of it."

I felt the sting of his words but nodded. "I know. But... what if finding her means finding out things I’m not ready for? What if... she’s not the person I want her to be?" My voice cracked on the last word, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded.

Jax softened, his usual cocky demeanor giving way to something gentler, more understanding. He knelt down beside me, resting his hand on my arm. "Isa, you’re stronger than you think. Whatever you find out, whatever she’s done, you’ll face it. And we’ll be right there with you."

I blinked, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. "I’m not sure I want to face it," I admitted, finally looking up at him. "I thought I was ready, but now... everything’s so much more complicated."

He nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Yeah, it is complicated. But you don’t have to decide anything right now. We’ll deal with it when we’re ready. Together."

I gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Jax. For everything. For bringing Knox back."

He shrugged, his signature smirk reappearing, though it was softer now. "I’d do anything for you, Isa. You know that."

I squeezed his hand, the comfort of his presence grounding me, even in the midst of all the uncertainty. We still had a long road ahead—finding my mother, dealing with the hunters, and facing the fallout of everything that had happened. But for now, Knox was home, and that was all I could focus on. For now, that was enough.