Chapter 139

ISABELLA

Sitting in the pack house living room, I took a deep breath, trying to settle my thoughts. The weight of what had just happened pressed heavily on my chest, but I was determined to keep my composure. Across from me, Asher, Jax, and Knox stood in tense silence, waiting for me to speak. I could feel their worry radiating off them, but I didn’t let it pull me in. Not yet. I needed to explain everything, and they deserved to hear it calmly. They didn’t need my panic.

Spencer was with the healer, finally resting after what had been an unexpectedly traumatic afternoon. He was strong—he’d pull through. And for now, that was enough to keep me grounded.

I sat up straighter, clasping my hands in my lap as I met Asher’s intense gaze first. “When I went down to the car after Spencer, I thought everything was fine. He had already gone ahead to load the last of the bags, and I assumed we’d head back here without a hitch. But when I reached the car…” I paused, my voice steady though I could see the tension ripple through Jax and Knox’s posture. “She was there.”

Knox furrowed his brows. “She?”

“My mother,” I said, the words sounding strange, almost foreign. “Emilia.”

Jax cursed under his breath, his fists tightening at his sides. Asher remained still, but the flicker of something cold and calculating crossed his face. His protective instincts were on full alert.

“She was behind the wheel. Spencer was unconscious in the back seat.”

Knox was already pacing, his hazel eyes flashing with barely-contained anger. “Did she hurt you? If she—”

“She didn’t touch me,” I interrupted softly, trying to reassure him. “But she wasn’t there to exchange pleasantries either. She was… cold. She told me that she wanted answers too. She said she’s been watching us for weeks, and that it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths.”

“And you didn’t try to call us?” Jax’s voice had an edge of frustration to it. “Isa, you were alone with her—”

“I wasn’t alone,” I said, cutting him off again, keeping my voice calm. “I had Spencer with me, and at that moment, he was unconscious. I couldn’t risk making a scene, Jax. I didn’t know what she was capable of or what she might do if I tried to fight back. I had no leverage.”

They all fell silent, the reality of the situation sinking in. I watched Asher, his expression hard and unreadable, but I could see the gears turning in his mind.

“She said she never wanted to kill my father,” I continued, needing to get it all out. “She left when I was young because she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t kill Salvatore.”

Knox stopped pacing, his gaze snapping to mine. “She told you that?”

I nodded. “She told me that Salvatore was half-werewolf. But she didn’t leave because of that. She left because the hunters had given her a choice—kill him or leave. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to kill him, so she left, abandoning both of us.”

Asher’s eyes narrowed. “She didn’t think to take you with her?”

“No,” I said quietly. “She said it was too dangerous for me. That leaving me behind would give me a better chance at a normal life. But… she’s been watching ever since. She knew about everything—about you, the pack, the coronation, Luca…” My voice trailed off as I let the implications sink in.

Jax crossed his arms, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “So she’s been watching you for years?”

“Yes,” I admitted, feeling the weight of it all in my chest. “And now that we’re together, now that Asher is king, she’s watching even closer. She’s afraid of what we’re becoming. Of what I am.”

Knox let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “And did she say what she wants now?”

“She wants control,” I said, meeting each of their gazes. “She wants to make sure that we don’t tip the scales too far, that we don’t become too powerful.”

Asher finally spoke, his voice low and dangerous. “And how does she plan to do that?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said, keeping my voice even. “But she made it clear that she doesn’t want war. She doesn’t want a full-out conflict with us or the pack. She wants to keep us in line, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that.”

Jax stepped forward, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “You trust her?”

“I trust myself,” I said firmly, feeling the resolve settle in my chest. “I don’t trust her. But I trust that we can outmaneuver her. I didn’t get the sense that she’s here to kill any of us—yet. But she’s prepared to use whatever power she has to keep us in check. That’s why we need to be smarter.”

Knox looked like he wanted to break something, his fists clenched tight. “So what do we do?”

“We stay vigilant,” I said, my voice steady but unwavering. “We keep our eyes open, and we don’t give her an inch. She’s not going to stop until she feels she has us under control. But she’s underestimating us, all of us.”

Asher nodded slowly, the weight of the situation clearly on his mind. “We need to prepare. Make sure the pack is on high alert.”

“And when she slips up,” Jax added, his eyes hard, “we take her down.”

I nodded, grateful for their fierce loyalty and support. “Yes. But we need to be patient. This isn’t going to be easy.”

Knox let out a long breath, his anger simmering down slightly. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t get anywhere near you again.”

I glanced at Luca, asleep in the cradle nearby, peaceful and unaware of the storm brewing around him. For his sake, for all of ours, we had to be smart.

“We’re going to be fine,” I said softly, more for myself than for them. “We have to be.”

Because no matter what Emilia’s plans were, I was done running. Done hiding. And I’d do whatever it took to protect my family.