Chapter 138

KNOX

Sitting in the living room of the pack house with Luca nestled in my arms, I couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through me. The little guy had fallen asleep, his tiny fingers gripping the edge of my shirt as he dozed peacefully. It was crazy how much love I had for him already. Becoming a dad wasn’t something I thought would affect me this much, but holding him made everything feel right in a way I hadn’t expected.

Maggie sat across from me, watching the scene unfold with a soft smile. She was always the glue that kept us together, and I could tell she was enjoying this rare calm moment.

"You're a natural," she said, her voice full of pride.

I grinned, shifting Luca in my arms as I leaned back. "I guess it helps when the kid is this perfect."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "It's not just about him. You’ve always had a way with people, Knox. You've got a good heart. I'm proud of you, more than you know."

Her words hit me harder than I expected. I hadn’t heard her say that in a long time, and hearing it now, after everything we’d been through—after my captivity and the poison that had almost killed me—it meant more than I could put into words. I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat and gave her a sideways smile.

"Thanks, Ma," I said quietly. "That means a lot."

We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the crackle of the fireplace and Luca’s soft breaths the only sounds. But something was off. I couldn’t shake this growing sense of unease. It had been a while since Spencer and Isabella left to gather their things from the penthouse, and they still hadn’t come back. My foot tapped restlessly against the floor, my mind running through a hundred different worst-case scenarios.

"I thought they’d be back by now," I muttered, trying to keep my voice light but knowing Maggie could hear the tension.

Maggie glanced at the clock, her brow furrowing slightly. "I’m sure everything’s fine. Maybe they ran into traffic or got held up." She didn’t sound as convinced as she was trying to be, though.

I looked down at Luca, still peacefully asleep in my arms, and felt a pang of worry stab through me. Spencer would never leave us hanging this long without checking in. Isabella, either. Something wasn’t right.

"Let me just check in," I said, carefully handing Luca over to Maggie. She cradled him with ease, her motherly instincts kicking in instantly, but I could see the concern starting to creep into her eyes as well.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed Spencer first. The call went straight to voicemail. "Spence, call me back when you get this. Let me know you guys are okay."

Next, I dialed Isabella, but the same thing happened. Straight to voicemail.

"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, pacing the length of the room now. This wasn’t good. This wasn’t like either of them.

Maggie stood up, bouncing Luca gently in her arms. "What is it?"

"I can’t reach either of them," I said, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "Something’s wrong."

Her face paled slightly, but she stayed composed. "They’re probably fine, Knox. Don’t jump to conclusions. But maybe it’s time to let your brothers know."

I nodded. My gut told me something was definitely off, and I wasn’t going to sit around waiting for things to get worse. I pulled out my phone again, dialing Jax first, then Asher, explaining the situation as calmly as I could while leaving out the part about how I was freaking out inside. Both of them shared my worry but promised to be at the pack house as soon as they could.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the weight of the unknown pressing down on me harder with each passing second. Maggie kept trying to reassure me, but I could see her own anxiety growing. She was just as worried as I was.

Suddenly, a sound came from outside—footsteps, and not just any footsteps. Heavy, uneven ones. My heart leapt into my throat as I rushed to the window.

And then I saw them.

Isabella was walking up the path, practically dragging Spencer along with her. His arm was slung over her shoulders, and it was clear he was in bad shape. She was stumbling under his weight but determined, her face set with a mix of exhaustion and resolve. Relief and panic hit me at the same time, and I rushed to the door, flinging it open.

"Isa!" I shouted, running toward them. "What the hell happened?"

She glanced up at me, her face pale and drawn. "Long story," she panted. "We need to get Spencer inside."

I grabbed Spencer’s other arm, helping her carry him the rest of the way to the house. Maggie met us at the door, her eyes wide with concern as she quickly took charge, helping us guide Spencer to the couch.

"What happened?" Maggie asked, already grabbing blankets and water, her voice rising in alarm as she fussed over Spencer.

Isabella wiped the sweat from her forehead, clearly drained. "I’ll explain everything. But first, we need to make sure he’s okay."

I nodded, but the gnawing feeling in my gut hadn’t gone away. Something bigger was at play here, and I wasn’t sure we were ready for whatever was coming next.