Chapter 74
JAX
As soon as the girls headed outside to the terrace, I knew it was time to confront my brothers. The tension from earlier was still hanging in the air, and we needed to clear it up before things got any worse.
“Alright, you two,” I said, turning to Asher and Knox as soon as mom and Bella were out of earshot. “What the hell happened back there? I want an explanation, and I want it now.”
Asher let out a sigh, rubbing his hand over his face. “It’s complicated, Jax. Isa mentioned Rebecca's invitation to dinner, and I just... I think it’s easier if we keep up the appearance that she and I are the only ones in a relationship. That way, it’s less complicated, and we won’t have to explain the whole... situation.”
I mulled that over, nodding slowly. “I see your point. The fewer people who know about our bond with Isa, the safer it is for all of us—especially with the whole werewolf secret. I can’t say I disagree with you, Asher.”
Knox’s reaction was instant. He crossed his arms and scowled at me. “Seriously? You’re just going to side with him, Jax? You know Isa’s already stressed enough, and now we’re going to add lying to Rebecca and Freddie on top of everything else? How is that fair to her?”
I raised an eyebrow at Knox, trying to keep my cool. “It’s not about being fair, Knox. It’s about being practical. The more people who know the truth, the harder it’ll be to protect Isabella—and our child. We’ve got enough on our plates as it is.”
Knox wasn’t having it. His frustration boiled over. “But this isn’t just about practicality, Jax! It’s about trust. If Isa wants to tell them the truth, then maybe we should let her decide instead of making decisions behind her back!”
Before I could respond, the door swung open, and I nearly jumped out of my skin. Mom stood in the doorway, eyes blazing with anger. “What on earth is going on in here?” she demanded. “I can hear you arguing all the way out ont he terrace!”
I felt my heart sink. Mom always had a way of making us feel like kids who’d been caught red-handed. She stepped further into the room, hands on her hips, and I knew we were in for it.
“You’re all acting like children, and I won’t have it. Now, someone better explain what this is about, and fast.”
Knox, still fired up, quickly jumped in. “Mom, they want Isa to lie to Alex’s parents about our relationship. They think it’s easier if she pretends she’s just with Asher, and I don’t think that’s fair to her.”
Maggie listened, her gaze shifting between the three of us. She sighed, the anger in her eyes softening into concern. “Knox, I understand where you’re coming from. But Asher and Jax aren’t wrong either. It’s not about being dishonest—it’s about protecting Isa. You know how delicate this situation is, especially with the baby on the way.”
She turned to Asher and me, her voice firm. “But I also agree with Knox that Isa shouldn’t be kept in the dark or forced into a decision she doesn’t agree with. You need to find a balance here. Talk to her, and figure out how to navigate this together. You’re all in this relationship, and you’re all going to be parents. You can handle being a couple without the whole world knowing you’re werewolves.”
The weight of her words settled over us, and I could see the truth in what she said. We needed to find that balance—not just for Bella’s sake, but for our own sanity too.
Asher nodded, his expression thoughtful. “You’re right, Mom. We’ll talk to Isabella. No more decisions without her input.”
Knox finally relaxed a little, though I could still feel the tension. “Okay. As long as we’re all on the same page.”
I exhaled, relieved that the argument was finally over. “Good. Let’s get this sorted before it becomes a bigger issue. We’ve got enough to deal with without adding more drama to the mix.”
Mom gave us all a pointed look. “And no more arguing. Zaza doesn’t need the stress, and neither do I.”
As mom left the room, an awkward silence fell over the three of us. I could feel the tension slowly dissipating, but Knox still looked uneasy, like he had something on his mind. He shifted on his feet, glancing between Asher and me before finally blurting out, “So… who’s Isa spending the night with?”
Asher and I both rolled our eyes in unison. After everything we’d just gone through, the last thing we needed was another argument over something so trivial.
I let out a chuckle and shook my head. “Knox, we’re not going to fight over this again. We’ve had enough drama for one day.”
Asher crossed his arms and gave a half-smile, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “If you’re that concerned, we can all sleep together. The bed’s big enough, and I’m sure Isabella wouldn’t mind being with the three of us.”
Knox’s face softened at that, and he let out a relieved sigh. “Yeah, I think that’d be nice. After what we talked about, it might be good to just… be together.”
I nodded in agreement. “Sounds like a plan. Besides, Isa deserves a peaceful night, and so do we.”
With the decision made, the tension finally started to melt away. It was a simple solution, but one that felt right. After all, at the end of the day, it wasn’t about who spent the night with her—it was about being there for her, together, as a family.