Chapter 65
KNOX
The last few weeks have been absolute hell for me. I never imagined it would be this hard. I was the one who came up with the idea to end things with Dominic, convinced that it was the only way to protect Isabella and secure our future. But now, I regret it. Every single day, the weight of that decision bears down on me, and the lie we’re living eats away at my conscience.
When I first suggested it, I thought it was the smartest move we could make. Dominic knew too much, and I couldn’t stand the thought of him being a threat to everything we were working for. I convinced Asher and Jax that it was necessary, that we had no other choice. We planned everything down to the last detail—the staged escape, the hired double, the fake message to his mother. It was supposed to be clean, efficient. But I didn’t think it would feel like this.
I didn’t think it would feel like I’m losing myself in the process. I didn’t think I’d have to lie to Isabella every day, look her in the eye and pretend everything’s fine when I know it’s not. I thought I could handle it, that the ends would justify the means. But now, I’m not so sure.
The guilt is suffocating. Every time Isabella looks at me with that trusting smile, it feels like a knife twisting in my gut. She’s too perceptive, too connected to us through the mating bond. She knows something’s off, even if she can’t put her finger on it. And that scares me more than anything.
I never imagined the lie would be this hard to live with. I thought I was doing the right thing, protecting her, protecting us. But now I see the cracks forming, and I’m terrified that one day, everything will come crashing down. I wish I could go back, undo what we’ve done, and find another way. But it’s too late for that now.
Asher and Jax—they’re holding it together better than I am, or at least they’re pretending to. But I can see it in their eyes too, the same doubt, the same fear. We’re all in this together, bound by the secret we’ve sworn to keep. But I can’t help wondering how much longer we can keep it up. How much longer we can keep lying to Isabella, keep pretending everything is okay.
I was the one who pushed for this, the one who insisted we take the most drastic step. And now, I’m the one who’s drowning in the consequences. I didn’t think it would be this hard. I didn’t think it would feel like this. But here we are, and all I can do is hope that somehow, we’ll find a way to make it right before it’s too late.
ISABELLA
The moment I stepped into the house, I was completely blown away. The place was magnificent, more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. From the soaring ceilings to the expansive windows that looked out over the private beach, it was like something out of a dream. Every room seemed to be filled with light, the soft breeze carrying the scent of the ocean through the open doors.
I wandered through the house in awe, taking in every detail. The living room opened directly onto a sprawling deck, with a view that stretched out to the endless horizon. The kitchen was a masterpiece, with gleaming countertops and every appliance imaginable. But it was the master bedroom that took my breath away—a massive space with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the beach. I could already picture us waking up to the sound of the waves every morning.
As I made my way back downstairs, the boys were waiting for me in the living room, grinning like kids on Christmas morning.
“What do you think?” Asher asked, a smug smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“It’s incredible,” I breathed, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we were actually here. “I can’t believe we get to spend a few days in this place.”
“Only the best for our queen,” Knox said, slipping an arm around my waist and pulling me close.
Jax nodded toward the back of the house, where I could see the glimmer of a pool through the glass doors. “We were thinking of taking a dip,” he said, his voice teasing. “Care to join us?”
I smiled, already imagining the cool water on my skin. “Let me go grab my bathing suit,” I said, turning to head toward the bedroom.
But before I could take a step, Jax caught my hand, a playful glint in his eyes. “You won’t be needing it,” he said, his voice dropping to a flirty whisper.
Heat rushed to my cheeks as I met his gaze, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Is that so?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.
“That’s so,” Jax replied, his grin widening. “Besides, I think you’ll enjoy the water more without it.”
I shook my head, still laughing, but I couldn’t deny the thrill that ran through me at his words. There was something about being here, in this perfect, secluded place, that made everything feel a little more magical, a little more daring. I was ready to embrace it all—the beauty of this place, the love of the three men beside me, and even the playful, flirty challenges they loved to throw my way.
“Alright,” I said, feeling a wicked smile spread across my face. “Let’s see what this pool has to offer.”
As we headed out to the pool, hand in hand, I knew this was going to be a getaway we’d never forget.