Chapter 83

ASHER

As I sat in the ultrasound room with Isabella, Jax, and Knox, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation building in my chest. It was one of those moments where everything else fades away, and all that matters is the here and now. Isa lay on the examination table, her hand in mine, while the doctor prepared to reveal the sex of our baby. Jax and Knox stood on the other side of the bed, equally eager and trying to mask their excitement.

The room was dimly lit, with the soft glow of the ultrasound monitor casting a blue hue over Isa’s face. She looked radiant, even more beautiful with that tiny swell of life growing inside her. It was hard to believe how far we’d come—how much had changed since we first found out she was pregnant. But here we were, about to learn if we were having a son or a daughter.

“Would you like to know the sex of the baby?” the doctor asked, her voice calm and professional.

We all nodded in unison, our agreement almost comical in its synchronization. Isa squeezed my hand a little tighter, her excitement palpable.

The doctor moved the ultrasound wand over Isa’s belly, her eyes focused on the monitor. “Congratulations,” she said with a warm smile. “It’s a boy.”

The room erupted in joy. Jax and Knox both let out whoops of excitement, and I could see the pure happiness in Isa’s eyes as she turned to look at me. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, feeling an overwhelming sense of love and pride.

“A boy,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “We’re going to have a son.”

Isa beamed, her hand resting protectively over her belly. “I can’t believe it,” she murmured, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “A little boy.”

Knox grinned from ear to ear, and Jax looked like he was already planning all the things he’d teach our son. It was a perfect moment, one that I wanted to hold onto forever. But even as I reveled in the joy of the news, a small, nagging thought crept into my mind.

I couldn’t help but wish our son was a werewolf like me and my brothers. Not because I didn’t love Isa with all my heart—because I did, more than anything—but because I knew the reality of our world. As much as I wanted to shout from the rooftops that I was going to be a father, I couldn’t shake the worry that our son, if he were human, would never be accepted by the pack. And with everything we were trying to accomplish, that was a risk I wasn’t sure we could afford.

After the ultrasound, as the others were still caught up in the excitement, I took a moment to pull the doctor aside. She looked at me curiously, sensing that something was on my mind.

“Doctor,” I began, keeping my voice low so Isa and my brothers wouldn’t overhear. “Is there any way to tell if the baby is...well, if he’s going to be a werewolf or human?”

The doctor’s expression softened with understanding. She hesitated for a moment before replying. “It’s difficult to say at this stage, Asher. Werewolf traits typically don’t manifest until later in childhood, sometimes even adolescence. There’s no definitive way to know right now.”

I nodded, trying to keep my disappointment in check. “I see. I just—well, you know how it is. It’s important to me.”

“I understand,” she said gently. “But try not to worry too much. Regardless of whether your son is human or werewolf, he’s already loved and cherished. That’s what matters most.”

I forced a smile, knowing she was right, even if it didn’t completely ease my concerns. “Thank you, doctor.”

As I rejoined Isa, Jax, and Knox, I pushed my worries to the back of my mind. Today was a day to celebrate. We were going to have a son, and no matter what the future held, I was determined to protect him and Isa with everything I had.

But as we left the doctor’s office and headed back home, I couldn’t stop thinking about the challenge ahead. The monarchy we were building, the legacy we hoped to create—it all hinged on acceptance. And in our world, acceptance was often dictated by strength, by power, by being one of them. I was close to achieving my goal, but I knew the road ahead was still fraught with obstacles.

For now, though, I would hold onto the happiness of this moment. I had a son on the way, and nothing—werewolf or human—would ever diminish the love I already felt for him.

ISABELLA

As I climbed into the car, my heart was still racing from the excitement of finding out we were having a boy. My mind was flooded with dreams and plans for our little one, and I couldn’t wait to share the news with everyone. The drive home should have been a time of celebration, but something caught my eye as I settled into my seat.

Across the street, parked in a sleek black sedan, was a face that made my skin prickle with unease. It was the same tall, dark-haired man I had seen at the bookshop. His gaze was fixed in our direction, and even from a distance, I could feel an unsettling intensity.

I turned to Asher, who was sitting beside me in the front seat. “Asher,” I said, my voice tinged with concern, “that man from the bookshop, he’s parked in a black sedan over there. He’s staring right at us.”

Asher’s expression immediately shifted from relaxed to alert. He glanced over his shoulder and followed my gaze. The calm demeanor that had accompanied us throughout the day seemed to vanish, replaced by a steely focus. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number with quick, practiced movements.

“I don’t like the look of this,” he muttered into the phone. “Get a team to the penthouse. We might have a security situation.”

Knox and Jax, who had been chatting excitedly about the news, noticed the change in Asher’s tone and quickly fell silent. Their faces mirrored Asher’s concern as they turned to look at me. Jax reached out, squeezing my hand reassuringly, while Knox's eyes darted toward the black sedan, which was now slowly pulling away.

“We’re heading back to the penthouse,” Asher said, ending the call and starting the car with a sense of urgency. “We need to make sure everything is secure.”

The drive back felt like it took much longer than usual. The once-joyous atmosphere was now tinged with anxiety. I could tell that the boys were trying to mask their worry for my sake, but I could see it in their eyes—the determination to keep me safe was palpable.

When we arrived at the penthouse, the security team was already on alert, and a quick sweep of the area revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Still, the presence of the black sedan and the unsettling stare of the man left me feeling on edge. Asher and the boys reassured me, but the unease I felt wasn’t easily dispelled.

In the quiet moments that followed, as I sat with Asher and the boys in the safety of our home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was more than just a coincidence. The man’s gaze had been too deliberate, too focused. I tried to focus on the happiness of the day, but the shadow of that unsettling encounter lingered, making me wonder what it meant for our future.

For now, though, I tried to put on a brave face. The baby’s kicks were a comforting reminder of the life growing inside me, and despite the unease, I was surrounded by the people I loved and who loved me. That had to be enough—for today, at least.