Chapter 150

ISABELLA

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the trees as I wandered through the pack’s territory. I’d been walking aimlessly for hours, unsure of where I was going or what I was even hoping to find. My mind was clouded, spinning in circles with the weight of everything that had happened. The truth the boys had confessed still sat heavy in my chest, an ache I couldn’t shake. They had killed Dominic—for me. The man who had manipulated and degraded me for years was dead, and they had made sure of it.

I should’ve been relieved. But I wasn’t. I felt... lost. Torn between the love I had for Asher, Jax, and Knox, and the deep resentment I couldn’t seem to shake. They’d taken away my choice. They’d killed someone, even if it was Dominic, without telling me. Without asking me. They had acted out of a twisted sense of protection, and now I was the one left reeling from the aftermath.

When I finally stopped walking, I found myself in front of Maggie’s house. I didn’t know how I’d gotten here, but my feet had led me to the one place that still felt like a safe harbor. I hesitated for a moment before walking up to the door and knocking. It took a few moments before Maggie appeared, a warm smile spreading across her face as soon as she saw me.

“Isa, you’re here!” she said, pulling the door open wider to let me in. Her smile faltered slightly when she took a closer look at me. “You look like you’ve been through the wringer. What’s wrong?”

I didn’t answer right away, just stepped inside and let the warmth of her home settle around me. Luca’s giggles filled the air, and I could hear him playing in the living room. As soon as I saw him, my heart softened just a little. Luca was my anchor in all of this. No matter how chaotic my life got, he was the one constant that kept me grounded.

“Come on, sit down,” Maggie urged, her voice gentle but concerned. “You don’t look like you’re okay, Isa. What’s going on?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I sat down on the couch. I had been holding everything in all day, the emotions swirling inside me like a storm. But sitting here, with Maggie’s comforting presence and the sound of my son laughing in the background, the dam broke.

“I don’t even know where to start,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Everything feels like it’s falling apart, but at the same time... I don’t know if I can even be angry with them.”

Maggie sat down beside me, placing a hand on my arm. “What did they do?” she asked softly.

I took a deep breath, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “They killed Dominic,” I said, my voice trembling. “They kidnapped him and tortured him, and they killed him. And they didn’t tell me, Maggie. They kept it from me, and now... I don’t know how to feel.”

Maggie’s eyes widened in shock, but she didn’t say anything right away. She just listened, her expression full of understanding and patience as I continued.

“I don’t know if I can forgive them for it,” I said, my voice shaking with the weight of the confession. “I love them, I do, but they went too far. They made a decision without me. They took that choice away from me, and now I’m left here, trying to make sense of it all.”

Maggie sat quietly for a moment, her brow furrowed as she considered what I’d just told her. “Isa,” she began carefully, “I know what they did was... extreme. But you have to remember who they are. Asher, Jax, and Knox—they’re not just men, they’re werewolves. They’re protectors by nature, and sometimes that instinct to protect can push them to do things that might seem irrational to you.”

I sighed, my heart heavy. “I know. Spencer said the same thing. But it doesn’t make it easier to accept. I can’t help but feel like they crossed a line. And part of me resents them for it.”

Maggie nodded, her hand still on my arm, a comforting weight. “Of course you do. It’s natural to feel that way. They made a huge decision that impacted your life without considering how it would affect you. But you also know that, deep down, they did it because they love you. They’re not perfect, Isa. They make mistakes, just like we do.”

Her words settled over me like a blanket, offering some comfort, but the knot in my chest didn’t loosen entirely.

“I hate that I can’t stay mad at them,” I admitted. “As much as I want to be furious, as much as I want to walk away... I know I can’t. I love them, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to turn my back on them, no matter how much they hurt me.”

Maggie’s expression softened even more, and she squeezed my arm gently. “That’s because love is messy. It’s complicated. But it’s also powerful. You can be angry with them, Isa. You can hold them accountable for what they did. But it doesn’t mean you have to stop loving them.”

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them away, not wanting to break down again. I’d cried enough already. “I just don’t know how to move forward from here.”

“One step at a time,” Maggie said with a small smile. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one day at a time, and when you’re ready to talk to them, do it on your own terms. They’ll understand.”

I nodded, feeling a little more at ease after talking to her. Luca’s laughter reached my ears again, and I stood up to go pick him up. Holding him in my arms always brought me a sense of calm, a reminder of what was most important in my life.

“Thank you, Maggie,” I said softly, giving her a small smile.

“Anytime, Zaza,” she replied, her voice full of warmth. “And remember, you’re not alone in this. You’ve got people who care about you.”

I hugged Luca close, inhaling his sweet baby scent as I prepared to head back home. But the weight of everything was still there, looming in the back of my mind. I wasn’t sure what the future held, or how I would find it in myself to forgive my companions. But Maggie was right. I didn’t have to have all the answers right now.

I just had to keep moving forward. One step at a time.