Chapter 171

ISABELLA

When I finally blinked my eyes open, everything felt wrong. The world was fuzzy around the edges, like I was waking up in someone else’s dream. My head throbbed with a dull pain, and I struggled to piece together what had happened. Where was I? How long had I been asleep?

As I shifted in the bed, attempting to sit up, a voice called out from the doorway. “Isabella, take it easy!”

Jax. His voice was loud, cutting through the haze surrounding me. I groaned, instinctively raising a hand to shield my eyes from the light streaming in. “Keep it down,” I mumbled, surprised at how raw my throat felt.

“Down?” he echoed, sounding bewildered. “I’m just talking to you normally!”

I squinted at him, still trying to make sense of my surroundings. He looked worried, his brow furrowed, and it struck me that he’d been standing there, watching over me. I could feel the warmth of the sunlight pouring in, but it was muted by the heaviness in my chest.

“Water?” I croaked, my voice barely more than a whisper. He quickly poured me a glass, and I took it gratefully, gulping it down. The coolness felt heavenly against my dry throat, but the headache remained, a relentless pulse in my temples.

“How long have I been out?” I asked, setting the empty glass down on the nightstand.

Before he could answer, Asher and Knox entered the room. Their expressions were a mix of relief and concern, and I felt a flicker of unease rise in my stomach.

“You’ve been sleeping for hours,” Knox said, glancing at Jax. “The healer came to check on you.”

“Healer?” I echoed, trying to piece together the disjointed fragments of the past few hours. “What did he say?”

Jax leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “He thinks there’s something going on with you, Isabella. Something... unusual.”

“Unusual how?” My heart raced. “What do you mean?”

Asher stepped forward, his expression serious. “He mentioned that you might have werewolf genes. Given your father’s history...”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “My father was half-werewolf,” I said slowly, feeling a wave of disbelief wash over me. “But he never had a wolf. He was never part of this world.”

“I know,” Asher replied, running a hand through his hair, a gesture I recognized all too well. “But the healer is doing some research. He believes there must be a connection between you and your father. He thinks that your genetics may have manifested in ways we didn’t understand until now.”

I sat in stunned silence, the implications of his words swirling in my mind. I had felt different, especially since Emilia’s return, but this was beyond anything I had imagined. “So, what does this mean for me?”

Knox exchanged a glance with Jax, his expression troubled. “We don’t know yet. But we’ll figure it out together. You’re not alone in this.”

Asher nodded, his gaze steady on me. “We’ll protect you, Isabella. No matter what.”

The weight of their words settled around me, wrapping me in a cocoon of warmth and support, but uncertainty still gnawed at my insides. I had thought I was just a mother, an author, a woman trying to find her way in a world that had suddenly turned upside down. Now, I was part of something I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

A few days later, I found myself feeling like a different person, the haze of illness lifting to reveal a clearer mind and renewed energy. The healer’s visit brought a mix of anticipation and anxiety, and I paced the living room while waiting for him to arrive. When he finally stepped through the door, his expression was serious but compassionate, and I braced myself for what he had to say.

After a brief examination, he looked me in the eyes and spoke. “Isabella, I’ve done some extensive research, and I believe I have an explanation for what you experienced.” My heart raced. “You’ve inherited a wolf from your father’s family, even though he didn’t possess one of his own.”

I blinked at him, trying to process his words. “Inherited a wolf? But how is that possible?”

He continued, “It appears that your wolf has remained dormant within you, waiting for the right trigger to awaken. I suspect that something significant has recently stirred it. Something powerful.”

My thoughts immediately flew to Emilia’s return, the chaos she had unleashed, and the looming threats she had made against Luca. “Are you saying that my mother’s return might have caused this?”

The healer nodded. “It is possible. Emotions like fear, anger, or even love can awaken dormant instincts and powers. In your case, it seems that your mother’s threats against your child may have been the catalyst.”

A chill ran down my spine at the thought. The very idea of my mother being the reason for this awakening filled me with unease.

After he left, I gathered Jax, Knox, and Asher in the living room to share what I had learned. As I recounted the healer’s findings, I could see the wheels turning in their minds, processing the information.

“So, you’re saying this has to do with Emilia?” Jax asked, crossing his arms, his expression darkening.

“It makes sense,” Knox chimed in. “The moment she showed up, everything changed. The tension in the air was palpable. It could have triggered something deep inside you.”

Asher nodded thoughtfully. “The threats against Luca would have amplified those emotions. It’s understandable that your wolf would want to protect him.”

“Exactly,” I said, feeling a mix of fear and empowerment swell within me. “I didn’t even know there was a wolf inside me until now. It feels strange and overwhelming.”

Knox moved closer, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “But it also means you’re stronger than you realize, Isabella. This isn’t just about protecting yourself anymore; it’s about protecting your family.”

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of their support surrounding me. “I know I can’t allow Emilia to threaten us. I have to learn how to embrace this new part of myself. I can’t let fear dictate my actions.”

Jax stepped forward, his eyes intense and filled with determination. “We’ll be with you every step of the way. Whatever this means for you, we’ll face it together. You’re not alone in this.”

Asher nodded in agreement. “We’re a pack, and we’ll find a way to keep Luca safe while helping you navigate this new reality.”

Their unwavering support bolstered my resolve, and I knew that no matter what lay ahead, we would face it as a united front. The awakening of my wolf might have come with a set of challenges, but it also brought the strength of my mates beside me, and together, we would confront whatever darkness Emilia might bring.