Chapter 164
ISABELLA
As I finish telling Alex the whole story, I can see the shock on his face. His mouth drops open, and for a moment, it’s like he’s forgotten how to speak. That alone is enough to make me smile a little—Alex, speechless, is a rare sight. He’s always got something to say about everything, but now he’s just standing there, blinking at me as if trying to process what I’ve just unloaded on him.
"Oh my God," he finally says, dragging out the last word like he’s still catching up. “Wait… Asher kidnapped Dominic? And then… and then they killed him? Like, actually killed him?”
I nod, tightening my grip on Luca’s stroller as we walk. The cool autumn breeze does little to settle the whirlwind of emotions inside me. “Yeah. That’s the whole truth.”
Alex shakes his head, eyes wide. “Isabella, that’s—" He stops, waving his hands around dramatically. “That’s insane! I mean, I knew they were intense, but wow. That’s like some dark, mafia-level werewolf business. And you didn’t know?”
I shrug. “Not until recently. They kept it from me. They said they were trying to protect me.”
“Protect you?” Alex scoffs, clearly not buying it. “Honey, I get that they’re werewolves, but this whole ‘I know what’s best for you’ thing is such a Dominic move. Ugh, I can’t believe they didn’t tell you.”
I cringe at that comparison—Dominic. I know Alex doesn’t mean to hurt me, but it’s a sting I can’t ignore. “Yeah, I told Asher the same thing. It felt like they took away my choice. Like I wasn’t a part of something that was directly affecting me.”
“Exactly!” Alex bursts out, his extroverted energy coming back in full force. “They should have told you. I mean, I get it, Dominic was a total scumbag, and trust me, I’m not shedding any tears over that psycho being out of the picture. You remember how much I hated him, right?”
I nod. Alex had always been vocal about his distaste for Dominic. He saw through his charm from the beginning, always warning me that something wasn’t right about him. I didn’t want to hear it back then, but now I wish I had.
“And let’s be honest,” Alex continues, “Dominic wasn’t just toxic, he was manipulative in ways that still give me the creeps. So, yeah, fine, maybe Asher, Jax, and Knox did everyone a favor. But—” he pauses, narrowing his eyes at me, “they should’ve trusted you. I mean, they love you, right? What’s the point if they’re just going to make decisions behind your back like you don’t matter?”
“I know,” I say, feeling that familiar ache in my chest. “That’s what hurt the most. I get why they did it, but it doesn’t change how it made me feel.”
Alex reaches out and squeezes my arm, his expression softening. “Listen, babe, I’m not saying it’s easy. I know you love them. They’re good guys, and I’ve seen how much they adore you and Luca. But, come on, they need to do better by you.”
I let out a long breath, grateful for Alex’s candidness. He’s never one to sugarcoat things, but that’s part of why I love him. He always tells me what I need to hear, even when it’s hard.
“You’ve been through enough,” Alex continues, his voice softer now. “After Dominic… I just hate that you had to deal with something like this again. But, to be fair… werewolves, babe. They’re a whole different breed, literally. I bet they’re thinking with their instincts first, and you know how protective they are. Still, that doesn’t mean they can just steamroll over your feelings.”
I nod again, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I told Asher that. I told him I felt betrayed.”
“And what did he say?”
“He apologized. He’s trying to fix it, I can tell. But it’s going to take time. I don’t know if I can fully trust him again, not like before.”
Alex shakes his head, biting his lip. “I get that. And you shouldn’t have to rush into forgiving them. It’s okay to take your time. They screwed up big time.”
We walk in silence for a few moments, the sound of the leaves crunching underfoot and the occasional babble from Luca the only noise around us. Alex looks down at my son, smiling softly before glancing back at me. “But I will say this. I’ve seen how they are with Luca, how they are with you. They’re nothing like Dominic. Not in the ways that matter. They’ll do whatever it takes to make it right. And as much as I hate to admit it, I’m rooting for them.”
I smile at him, grateful for his support. “Thanks, Alex.”
“Anytime, babe. And listen,” he says, his eyes twinkling with that mischievous look he always gets, “next time they screw up, I’ll be here with the popcorn, ready for all the drama.”
I laugh, feeling some of the tension lift from my chest. No matter how complicated things get, it’s good to know I have someone like Alex in my corner, keeping things real and reminding me that, despite everything, I’m not alone in this.