Chapter 135

KNOX

As I slowly regained my strength, I could feel the poison leaving my system, little by little. It was like shaking off a weight that had been pressing down on me for days, though the heaviness still lingered in my bones. The healer said it would take time, but I didn’t care. I was home. That was enough for now.

Isabella hadn’t left my side since I returned. She hovered close, her presence like a lifeline, steady and constant. Luca was always nearby too, either cradled in her arms or nestled in his crib beside us. Watching her with him, seeing her move with that effortless grace she had, even while juggling the demands of being a new mother, stirred something deep in my chest.

I always thought I was a joker, the kind of guy who breezed through life without getting too attached. But now? Now, seeing them, being here with my family—my real family—it hit me in a way I never expected. This was everything I didn’t know I needed.

One afternoon, as the poison’s grip loosened a bit more and I felt strong enough to get out of bed, Isa was sitting by the window, holding Luca as sunlight filtered through. The sight of them—her, so calm and beautiful, with our son cradled in her arms—made my chest ache. In a good way. I’d never seen anything so perfect. It was like watching a dream, one I hadn’t realized was mine until it came true.

I stood there for a moment, just watching them, my hands resting on the back of the chair for balance. Isa caught me looking, her green eyes meeting mine with that soft, knowing smile she always had for me.

“Feeling better?” she asked, her voice light but filled with concern.

I nodded, walking over and settling beside them, my hand resting on her knee. “Yeah, I’m getting there. But seeing you two like this... it’s healing me faster than anything else.”

She smiled again, but it didn’t reach her eyes this time. I knew she was still worried about everything—the hunters, her mother—but for now, we both let those worries fade into the background.

Luca shifted in her arms, making that little noise he always did when he was about to fall asleep, and I couldn’t help but grin. “He’s perfect,” I whispered, leaning in closer. “I didn’t think... I didn’t think I’d ever get something like this.”

Isa turned her gaze back to Luca, her fingers brushing through his soft hair. “Neither did I.”

We sat in silence for a while, the only sounds were the faint coos from Luca and the rustle of the wind outside. My thoughts drifted back to the chaos, the battles we’d fought, and everything that had led to this moment. All of it—the blood, the pain, the near misses—none of it mattered anymore. Not with them by my side.

“I always thought I’d be some lone wolf,” I said, my voice low, more to myself than to her. “Just going through the motions, messing around, making people laugh but never getting too close. But this... this is what I was always looking for. You, Isa. And him.” I nodded toward Luca. “This is what I’ve always wanted.”

She looked at me then, her eyes softening in a way that made my heart twist. “I think we both found something we didn’t expect, Knox.”

I leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and then one to Luca’s tiny hand. “You gave me more than I ever thought I deserved.”

Isa held my gaze, her hand resting on mine. “You deserve this, Knox. You deserve everything.”

I didn’t say anything after that, just let her words sink in, feeling them wrap around me like a promise. For the first time in my life, I felt whole. Not just because of the pack or the brothers I’d always fought alongside, but because of this—because of the family we’d built.

The poison may have weakened my body, but this—being with Isa and Luca—strengthened my heart in a way I’d never felt before. I wasn’t just Knox, the joker, the warrior. I was a father, a mate, and someone who had something worth fighting for.

And I’d fight for them with everything I had.

I walked into Asher's office, still feeling the lingering effects of the poison from my captivity, but I was stronger now. The adrenaline of being back home had helped, and seeing Isabella and Luca had renewed my spirit. Jax and Asher were already there, both of them seated at Asher’s large oak desk, their faces tense. Something had happened while I was gone—I could feel it.

"Asher, Jax," I greeted, closing the door behind me. "What’s going on?"

Asher looked up from the papers on his desk, his expression serious, while Jax leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed, as if waiting for the right moment to jump in. I could feel the weight of something big coming.

"Knox, we need to bring you up to speed," Asher began, his voice steady but heavy with responsibility. "A lot’s changed since the explosion."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing between my brothers. "Yeah, I figured things went sideways, but what exactly?"

Asher straightened up in his chair, his gaze meeting mine. "Mark didn’t make it."

The weight of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew Mark. He had been part of the pack for years, one of the strongest alphas. The loss of him wasn’t just personal—it shifted the entire power dynamic.

“Mark’s dead?” I repeated, still processing. “In the explosion?”

Asher nodded, his eyes dark with grief, though his voice remained level. "With Mark gone, the council had to vote, and..." He took a breath, his shoulders stiffening. "I’ve been named alpha of the pack."

For a moment, I just stared at him. I knew the vote had been coming, but the bomb had thrown everything into chaos. To hear it had cost Mark his life and landed Asher on the throne made it all sink in. He was the king now. And alpha of a pack.

"Wow," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "That’s... a lot."

“It is,” Asher agreed, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked tired, more than tired—worn down. “But I don’t want to keep both roles.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?”

“I’m stepping down as alpha,” Asher said, his tone firm, though I could sense a relief behind the decision. “I need to focus on being king. That’s where I’m needed most, especially with everything happening right now. The pack needs someone else.”

I looked at Jax, who hadn’t said much yet, but his eyes told me he already knew where this was going. "You want Jax to take over?" I asked, piecing it together.

Jax leaned forward then, finally speaking. "We’ve talked it through, Knox. Asher’s right. He can’t split himself in two. I’m ready to take the alpha position for the pack."

I felt a swell of pride for my brother. Jax had always been strong, reliable, and a natural leader. But this? Taking on the alpha role was a huge responsibility, and I knew he would rise to the challenge.

“And you,” Asher continued, locking eyes with me. “I want you to be Jax’s beta. His second-in-command.”

The words caught me off guard. I’d been gone, taken captive, poisoned. And yet, here they were, trusting me with this role. Beta.

“Beta?” I repeated, my voice half-laughing at the absurdity of it. “You guys sure? After everything that’s happened?”

Jax grinned then, that familiar cocky smile. “Damn right, we’re sure. Who else would I want at my side?”

I chuckled, shaking my head. The weight of the moment didn’t escape me, but it was a rare lightness I hadn’t felt in a while. "Well, when you put it like that..."

Asher’s serious tone returned. “We’ll discuss the transition with the pack council, but it should be a formality. The pack knows you two. They trust you. We’ll handle it at the next meeting.”

I nodded, feeling the shift settle into place. Asher had been king and alpha, carrying both titles, both responsibilities, but now the future of the pack rested on all of us together. Jax as alpha. Me as beta. And Asher as king.

A tight knot of determination formed in my chest. "All right, I’m in. Whatever it takes to keep the pack strong."

Asher smiled, a rare thing these days. "Good. We’re going to need all the strength we can get."