Chapter 142

ISABELLA

The sun was warm on my skin as I knelt in the soft soil, my hands deep in the earth. It felt good to be outside, doing something so simple, so grounding. Planting flowers wasn’t just about making the house beautiful—it was about creating roots, finding permanence in this new life we’d built. As I patted down the soil around the last bloom, I took a step back and admired the burst of color around the garden. It already felt like home, but now, with these flowers, it felt more like mine.

Behind me, Mikaela laughed as she chased Luca across the grass. He was growing so fast—each day he was a little more independent, a little more adventurous. His giggles filled the air, and I couldn’t help but smile. Watching him, it was hard to believe how much had changed in these last months. So much had happened—chaos, danger, but also love and joy. And now we were here, settled in the heart of the pack.

"Asher, Jax, and Knox seem to have really found their place," Mikaela said, as she walked over to sit beside me, wiping her brow from all the running around with Luca. “You’ve all come a long way.”

I nodded, brushing dirt off my hands. "They have. It took some time, but they’re good at what they do. Asher’s balancing his role as king and making sure Jax has everything he needs to lead the pack. Knox being his beta, it's like he was born for that role.”

Mikaela smiled, her eyes following Luca’s every move with fondness. “It’s nice to see everything settling down. You all deserve it.”

I sighed softly, feeling a sense of peace I hadn’t felt in ages. “Yeah, it’s been a whirlwind, but it’s... good now. We’re home.”

Home. That word felt so significant. We’d spent so much time moving from one place to the next, from the penthouse to the pack house. And now, we were here. We had found our home within the pack, and I had taken charge of redecorating it, shaping it into something that felt like us. It was more than just walls and furniture—it was where we were making memories, where Luca was growing up, where we were building our future.

“Speaking of settling in,” Mikaela started, her tone teasing, “how’s the children’s book coming along? You’ve been awfully quiet about it lately.”

I smiled, feeling a flutter of excitement in my chest. “It’s coming together, slowly but surely. I’m almost finished with the first draft.”

“That’s amazing!” Mikaela beamed at me. “What’s it about again?”

I wiped my hands on my jeans, excitement bubbling up as I talked about it. “It’s about a little boy who can talk to animals. He’s brave, a bit mischievous, but he learns that kindness is his greatest strength. It’s kind of inspired by Luca, honestly.”

Mikaela laughed softly. “That’s so sweet. Luca’s going to love it when he’s older.”

I glanced over at Luca, who was currently babbling happily as he toddled around the garden, picking up sticks and handing them to Mikaela like treasures. He was the heart of our family, the joy that tied everything together. And I wanted to capture that in my story—to create something that reflected the love and magic I saw in him every day.

“It’s fun, you know?” I continued. “I wanted to write something that he can grow up with. Something for him, but also for other kids... it feels like the right project.”

Mikaela tilted her head, giving me a warm look. “It sounds perfect. I can’t wait to see it published.”

I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude for moments like this. For the quiet, peaceful afternoons where we could laugh, talk about dreams, and share simple joys like planting flowers and chasing Luca around the garden. It felt like a different life from the one we’d lived not so long ago, but I was so grateful for it.

“So,” Mikaela grinned mischievously, “are there going to be more kids in the future to inspire your next books?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “One step at a time, Mikaela. Let’s see if we can handle the chaos of one before we start talking about more.”

She chuckled but didn’t press. I knew the idea was on everyone’s mind. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it, too—the idea of adding to our family, giving Luca a sibling. But for now, we were soaking in this chapter. There was time to think about the future later.

“Hey, slow down, little man!” Mikaela called out, laughing as Luca ran off toward the flowerbeds. I smiled, watching him go, feeling my heart swell.

This was everything I had hoped for—a life full of love, laughter, and the quiet joy of knowing we were finally where we were meant to be.

As Luca continued to explore the garden, I turned back to the flowers I had planted, feeling a sense of completion, of putting down roots not just in the garden but in this life we had built together. The future felt bright, full of promise, and I couldn’t wait to see what came next.

For now, though, I was content to live in this moment.

How had a year passed already? It felt like just yesterday that I held him for the first time, his tiny body swaddled in a hospital blanket, his little fingers grasping mine.

Now, he was this vibrant, curious little boy, toddling around the garden, picking up every stick and leaf like they were treasures, his laughter filling the air. A year of so many firsts—his first smile, his first laugh, his first steps. It had been both the longest and the shortest year of my life. And now, we were about to celebrate a milestone I still wasn’t sure I was ready for.

“I can’t believe he’s almost one,” I said, half to myself, as I sat back on my heels and wiped my hands on my jeans. The flowers looked beautiful, but the real beauty was in knowing that this garden would be part of Luca’s world as he grew up.

Mikaela, sitting nearby with a content smile, glanced up from where she was keeping an eye on Luca. “Time flies, doesn’t it? You must have something special planned for the big day.”

I smiled softly, already imagining the gathering. “Just a small party with family and close friends. I don’t want to overwhelm him, but I do want to make it memorable.”

Luca was still so little, he wouldn’t remember any of it, but I would. I wanted to savor every second of it, capture each moment of joy and wonder on his face as he saw the balloons, tasted cake for the first time, and basked in the love that surrounded him.

“He’s growing up so fast,” I said, my voice a little wistful. “Sometimes I just want to slow down time. It feels like I blinked and suddenly he’s not a baby anymore.”

Mikaela laughed gently. “Well, he’ll always be your baby. But yeah, I get it. They grow up before you know it.”

I nodded, watching Luca as he toddled toward a patch of flowers, his chubby little hands reaching out to touch the petals. His eyes lit up with curiosity, and I couldn’t help but smile. Every day was an adventure with him. But the thought of him growing up—it made my heart ache in the best way possible. I wanted him to explore the world, to learn and grow, but I also wanted to keep him small and innocent, just a little longer.