Chapter 141

ASHER

The door clicks shut behind us as Jax, Knox, and I step into the apartment. Immediately, I notice the shift in atmosphere. The air feels warmer, softer, and there’s a subtle scent of vanilla lingering in the air. I take a deep breath, and something stirs in my chest.

Candles flicker on every surface, casting a gentle glow across the room. I exchange a glance with my brothers, both of them just as taken aback as I am. Isabella's attention to detail, her thoughtfulness—it never ceases to amaze me. She knows exactly how to turn a space into something magical, how to make us feel like we’re home, no matter what’s been happening outside these walls.

And then I see her.

She’s standing by the window, her silhouette framed by the soft light. She turns to face us, her eyes locking onto mine, and for a moment, everything else fades away. I can’t stop staring at her—at the way the silky fabric of her slip clings to her curves, highlighting every inch of her. She looks radiant. Like she was made to be adored.

My chest tightens as I approach her, my pulse quickening with every step. I see Jax and Knox moving closer too, both just as mesmerized as I am. There’s something about the way she’s standing there, waiting for us, that sends heat rushing through my body. She doesn’t have to say a word; everything about this moment feels intentional. She did this for us.

"Isabella," I murmur as I reach her, my fingers lightly brushing against her arm. Her skin is warm, soft, and I can see the glint of anticipation in her eyes.

"You did all of this?" Knox’s voice comes from behind me, his tone filled with a mixture of awe and admiration.

She nods, her lips curling into a shy smile. "I wanted to surprise you all. It’s been... a long few days, and I thought we deserved a night to ourselves."

My heart swells. God, I love this woman. After everything, she still manages to ground us, to remind us of what really matters. It’s not just the candles or the wine she’s laid out—it’s the fact that she always knows exactly what we need, even before we realize it ourselves.

"You’re incredible," Jax says softly, stepping beside me. "I don’t know how you do it."

Her smile deepens, but there’s something else in her eyes—something heated, daring. She’s not just here to make us feel comfortable; she’s here for something more.

I lean in, letting my lips graze her cheek as I breathe her in. Her scent—light, floral, with a hint of that vanilla in the air—it’s intoxicating. My hand rests on her waist, feeling the slight rise and fall of her breath.

"I can't wait to have another child with you," I whisper against her ear, the thought slipping out without hesitation. The idea has been creeping into my mind more and more lately. Luca is everything to us, but the bond we share with Isabella, the way she brings us all together, it makes me want more. More of this. More family. More of her.

She tilts her head slightly, her lips parting as she lets out a soft breath. "Another one?" she teases, but there’s a twinkle in her eye that tells me she’s not entirely opposed to the idea.

"Why not?" Knox grins, sliding in closer on her other side. "We make pretty damn good babies."

Jax chuckles softly, but there’s heat in his gaze as he looks at her, admiration and desire mingling together. "We’d be lucky to have more of you, Isa."

The atmosphere in the room shifts again, becoming something heavier, more intimate. The four of us stand there, wrapped in this quiet moment that feels charged with emotion and something deeper.

My hand slips lower, resting on her hip, and I feel her lean into me, her body warm and inviting. I glance at my brothers, who are just as taken by her as I am. We’ve always shared this bond—this unspoken understanding that what we have with Isabella is rare, something special that binds us together more than anything else in this world.

"I love you," she says softly, looking between the three of us.

I cup her face gently, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "We love you too, Isabella. More than you know."

And then, as if the tension finally snaps, the three of us move at once. Knox is behind her, his lips grazing the back of her neck. Jax pulls her closer from the side, his hands sliding around her waist. I claim her lips, feeling the warmth and softness of her mouth as everything else fades away. It’s just the four of us in this perfect moment.

The candles flicker around us, the scent of vanilla mingling with the heat in the air. Everything feels right, like this is exactly where we’re meant to be.

Isabella is ours, and tonight, we’re going to show her just how much she means to us.

The night passed in a blur of warmth, touch, and whispered words. I don’t know when any of us finally drifted off, but now, as the soft light of morning spills into the room, I wake up to the comforting weight of the people I love most surrounding me.

Isabella is nestled between Jax and Knox, her body tucked against theirs, while my arm rests lightly across her waist. The soft rise and fall of her breath fills the room, her face relaxed and peaceful in sleep. I can feel the gentle rhythm of her heartbeat where my hand lays against her skin, and it calms something deep within me.

I never imagined waking up like this, all of us together, completely at ease. But here we are, the four of us tangled in sheets, a knot of limbs and warmth. And I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.

Knox stirs on the other side of Isabella, his hand still draped over her shoulder. His brow furrows for a moment as he shifts, then his eyes blink open, locking with mine. He gives me a sleepy smile, one that’s filled with contentment.

“Morning,” he whispers, his voice rough from sleep.

“Morning,” I murmur back, my lips quirking up in response. We don’t need to say anything more. The unspoken understanding between us speaks volumes.

Jax is still sound asleep, his face half-buried in Isabella’s hair, his chest rising and falling slowly. It’s rare to see him so still, so relaxed. Usually, he’s full of energy, always on the move, always thinking. But right now, there’s peace in his features, in the way his hand rests protectively on Isabella’s side.

I lean forward slightly, brushing a strand of hair away from Isabella’s face. She stirs at the touch, her lips parting in a soft sigh before her eyes slowly flutter open. For a moment, she looks confused, her gaze moving between the three of us before a soft smile curves her lips.

“Hey,” she whispers, her voice a sleepy murmur as her eyes meet mine.

“Hey, beautiful,” I reply, my thumb brushing lightly over her cheek.

Her eyes soften as she glances between the three of us, her smile growing. “Did we...?” she starts to ask, her words trailing off as she takes in the sight of all of us tangled together.

Knox chuckles softly. “Yeah, we did.” He presses a gentle kiss to the back of her neck, his voice full of affection.

There’s a brief moment of quiet as we all just lay there, savoring the stillness, the warmth of each other’s presence. It’s rare that we get a moment like this—just the four of us, no rush, no obligations. For once, we can just be.

Isabella lets out a soft laugh, the sound like music in the quiet room. “I don’t know how we managed to fit in this bed,” she says, her eyes sparkling with humor.

“We make it work,” Jax mumbles, still half-asleep, his voice muffled by her hair. He shifts slightly, pulling her closer to him, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

I grin, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of her head. “We always do.”

Her eyes close briefly as she leans into the touch, and I can feel the contentment radiating from her. It’s moments like this—quiet, intimate—that remind me how lucky we are. After everything we’ve been through, after all the chaos, we’ve found a way to be together. To have this.

She sighs softly, and I can see the love in her eyes as she looks at each of us in turn. “I don’t know what I’d do without you guys,” she says quietly, her voice filled with emotion.

“You’ll never have to find out,” Knox replies, his voice soft but firm. “We’re not going anywhere.”

I nod in agreement, tightening my hold on her. “We’re in this together. Always.”

There’s a moment of comfortable silence before she shifts in the bed, stretching slightly. “I guess we should get up,” she says, though her tone suggests she’s not in a hurry to leave the warmth of the bed.

“Or we could stay here a little longer,” Jax suggests, his eyes still closed as he burrows deeper into the pillows. “No one’s in a rush, right?”

Knox chuckles, shaking his head. “Lazy ass.”

I laugh softly, but I can’t deny the appeal of staying in bed just a little longer. It feels like we’re in our own little bubble, separate from the rest of the world. Here, everything is perfect. Peaceful.

But as much as I’d love to stay wrapped up in this moment forever, I know we’ve got responsibilities waiting for us. The pack, Luca, the future we’re building together. There’s always something pulling us forward. But for now—for this moment—it’s just the four of us. And that’s enough.

“We’ll get up in a minute,” I say, a grin tugging at my lips. “Just... let’s stay here a little longer.”

Isabella smiles, her hand reaching up to brush against my chest. “I’m okay with that.”

And so we stay, just a little longer, soaking in the quiet, the warmth, the love we share.

As I lay there, I can’t help but feel grateful. Grateful for her. For my brothers. For this life we’re building together. It’s not perfect, but it’s ours. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted.