Chapter 146

ISABELLA

I was sitting at my desk, the afternoon light filtering through the window as I poured myself into the story I was writing. Luca had fallen asleep after an energetic morning of playing, and the house was quiet. I loved these moments—when everything felt still and I could lose myself in my world of words. Writing children’s books brought a strange kind of peace to my otherwise chaotic life.

My mind was wrapped in the latest adventure I was crafting, something about a little wolf who learns to overcome his fears. It felt oddly symbolic. My fingers moved fluidly across the keys, the characters coming to life with every sentence.

A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I glanced up, seeing Asher enter the room first, followed by Jax and Knox. They all looked serious, a stark contrast to the light-hearted energy I'd been channeling into my writing.

“Asher?” I asked, pushing my laptop aside. “What’s going on?”

He took a seat next to me, his hand finding mine. “We need to talk, Isa.”

The air shifted in the room, and my heart started to race. It wasn’t often that all three of them came to me like this, with such intensity.

Asher leaned forward, his voice measured but tense. “I got a call from Marcus today. He’s been tracking your mother’s movements.”

I blinked, the weight of his words settling on me. “And?”

“She’s building an army,” he said, his tone grim. “Hunters. We think she’s planning something big. Something that could target all of us—werewolves, humans with werewolf blood… families like ours.”

My stomach dropped. “So, what do we do?”

Jax was the next to speak. “We need to find her before she makes her move. Marcus has a lead, but we have to be smart about this. If we go in too fast, we risk playing into her hands. But if we wait too long…”

Knox crossed his arms, his expression tight with frustration. “We’re not going to wait forever. She’s not getting away this time.”

I swallowed, trying to process it all. I’d always known my mother was dangerous, but this was so much more than just a personal vendetta. This was a full-blown threat against our lives, our pack, and everything we’d built.

“So what’s the plan?” I asked, keeping my voice steady. I couldn’t afford to lose control—not now.

“We’ll continue gathering intel,” Asher explained. “But when the time comes, we need to strike. We’ll hit her where she’s weakest, and we’ll end this once and for all.”

The certainty in his voice was reassuring, but there was still so much I didn’t know—so many questions about what my mother was truly after. I nodded, trusting him, trusting them. “Okay. Whatever you need from me, I’m here.”

They all exchanged glances, and for a brief moment, the heaviness in the room lifted. We’d faced so many challenges together, and we’d come out stronger every time. This would be no different.

“We’ll figure it out,” Jax added, his hand resting on my shoulder before the three of them stood to leave.

As they turned to go their separate ways, I sat back down, trying to refocus. But as soon as they left, the quiet returned and something deep inside me shifted—an unease I couldn’t quite shake. I pushed my laptop aside, realizing I wouldn’t be able to concentrate now. Not with this lingering sense of dread.

The phone on the desk vibrated, the sudden noise startling me. I glanced down and froze when I saw the caller ID. It was an unknown number, but somehow, instinctively, I knew who it was.

I hesitated for a second, but then I answered. “Hello?”

“Isabella.” The voice on the other end was unmistakable. Cold, calculating, and entirely too familiar.

My mother.

I stiffened, gripping the phone tightly. “What do you want?”

There was a pause before she spoke, her voice smooth as ice. “I’m calling to warn you. You need to leave, Isabella. Take your son and disappear. You’re in danger. Both of you.”

My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my voice steady. “We’re not running.”

“You don’t understand,” she said sharply. “They will come for you. And when they do, there will be nothing left. You think those boys can protect you? They can’t. Not from what’s coming.”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “What are you talking about?”

She let out a low, mirthless laugh. “You really don’t know, do you? Ask them about Dominic.”

Her words sliced through me like a knife. “Dominic?”

“Yes,” she hissed. “Ask them about the man they tortured and killed. Ask them how they spilled his blood and never looked back.”

I was silent, the world around me shifting. I didn’t want to believe her. She was trying to manipulate me, twist me against the people I loved. But doubt crept in anyway.

“Lies,” I said, my voice shaking. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?” she taunted. “If you don’t believe me, ask them yourself. But don’t take too long to decide, Isabella. Time is running out. And when the wolves come for you, it’ll be too late.”

The line went dead, leaving me alone with my thoughts, my pulse racing. I sat there, stunned, trying to make sense of her words.

Dominic.

The man I called my husband what seems like an eternity ago. But as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I needed to know the truth. The room felt colder now, my mother’s voice echoing in my mind.

I stood, heart pounding as I headed towards the living room where the boys were. I had to confront them, to understand if there was any truth to the poison my mother had just poured into my ear. But no matter what, I wouldn’t let her tear us apart. Not now. Not ever.