Chapter 89

ASHER

The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. My brothers and I were on edge, our wolves just beneath the surface, itching to rip into the two security agents in front of us. These were the men who were supposed to protect Isabella, and they had failed. Miserably.

“How the hell did you let her leave?” Jax snarled, his fists clenched at his sides. Knox was pacing back and forth like a caged animal, his eyes blazing with fury.

The head of security tried to remain calm, but I could see the sweat beading on his forehead. “Sir, we… we thought she was safe. She’s always been good about letting us know when she leaves—”

“That’s not an excuse,” Knox growled, cutting him off. “You’re paid to watch, not to assume.”

Before I could add my own harsh words, the door to the penthouse swung open. Every instinct in me went on high alert as I turned, ready to deal with whatever threat had just breached our home. But when I saw her—Isabella—relief surged through me like a wave. She was okay.

But then I saw the man standing behind her.

“Spencer Donovan,” I muttered under my breath. He was taller than I’d expected, broad-shouldered with a quiet intensity in his eyes. He moved with a calculated calm, as if every step was deliberate. He looked like someone who was used to being in control. The kind of person who could be dangerous if he wanted to be.

My brothers must have felt the same, because as soon as we started moving towards Isabella, Spencer stepped forward, putting himself between us and her.

Knox growled low in his throat, and I could feel my own wolf bristling at the audacity of this man to block us from getting to our mate. “Who the hell do you think you are?” Knox hissed.

Spencer didn’t flinch. He stood his ground, his eyes locked on mine. “I’m here to protect her,” he said calmly, as if that was reason enough.

Jax took a step forward, his muscles tensed like he was ready for a fight. “You’re going to need to move,” he warned, his voice dangerously low.

Before things could escalate further, Isabella moved between us, her hands up in a placating gesture. “Everyone, stop,” she said, her voice firm but soothing. “Please, let’s just sit down and talk. Spencer isn’t our enemy.”

Her words were like a bucket of cold water over the flames of my anger. I forced myself to take a breath, then another. If Isabella was vouching for this man, we had to at least hear him out.

Knox and Jax exchanged a look, but eventually, they relented, backing off slightly. We all moved to the living room, taking seats around the coffee table. Isabella sat next to me, her hand resting on my knee, grounding me. Spencer took a chair opposite us, his posture relaxed but alert.

“Explain,” I said, not bothering to hide the demand in my voice. I needed to know who this man was and why he thought he had the right to step between us and our mate.

Spencer’s gaze didn’t waver as he spoke. He told us about his lineage, the ancient duty passed down through generations of his family to protect the royal bloodline. He explained how the moment we marked Isabella and she became pregnant, something inside him woke up—an instinct, a calling he couldn’t ignore. He was here to protect her and the child she carried, no matter what.

As he spoke, I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the way he chose his words carefully, not out of fear, but out of respect. He wasn’t here to challenge us—he was here because he believed it was his duty.

By the time he finished, the tension in the room had shifted. It wasn’t gone, but it had transformed into something more contemplative, more understanding.

Jax was the first to speak, his tone grudgingly accepting. “So you’re saying you’re here to help us?”

“To help her,” Spencer corrected, his gaze briefly flicking to Isabella before returning to us. “Which, by extension, means helping you.”

I leaned back, considering his words. There was something about him that made me believe him—his calm demeanor, his unwavering focus on Isabella’s well-being. He wasn’t here for power or to assert dominance. He was here because he felt he had to be.

After a long silence, I finally nodded. “Alright,” I said. “We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, for now. But make no mistake—if you step out of line, if you do anything that puts her or our child in danger, there won’t be a second chance.”

Spencer met my gaze steadily. “Understood.”

Isabella let out a breath I hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her hand squeezing mine in silent thanks. The room felt different now, less hostile, more unified. We weren’t quite allies yet, but there was an understanding, a common goal.

And that was enough, for now.

KNOX

Sitting in the living room with Jax and Spencer, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me. Asher and Isabella were in the bathroom, and it felt like the room had shrunk, like the air itself was thick with tension. Spencer was calm, almost too calm, and that bothered me more than anything. I could feel Jax’s eyes flicking between us, sensing the tension but staying silent.

The guy had just waltzed into our lives, putting himself between us and Isabella, and now he was acting like he belonged here. It didn’t sit right with me. And the fact that he seemed so damn sure of his place made me want to push back, to challenge him.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, staring directly at Spencer. “I’ve been wondering something,” I started, my voice low but steady. “Why are you so hell-bent on protecting Isabella? I get that you’re some kind of ancient guard or whatever, but we’re the rightful kings here. We should be the ones you should protect.”

Spencer met my gaze, unflinching. He didn’t seem the least bit intimidated, which only added to my frustration. He was older, probably had seen more than I could imagine, but that didn’t mean he could just waltz in and take over.

"It’s not about who’s rightful or who holds the title of king. It’s about duty. My family has been tied to the royal bloodline for generations. It’s an instinct, something primal that’s been ingrained in me since birth. When Isabella became pregnant, it triggered something in me that I can’t ignore.” Spencer replied, his tone measured.

I clenched my jaw, trying to process his words. Duty. Instinct. Those were things I could understand, even respect. But still, something about this felt off. “So, you’re saying you have no choice? That this is just some biological drive you can’t control?”

Spencer nodded, his expression serious. “In a way, yes. But it’s more than that. It’s not just about protecting her because I’m supposed to. It’s because I believe in what she represents—what all of you represent. The future of our kind, of the monarchy. Ensuring her safety ensures the survival of that future.”

Jax, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up, his voice thoughtful. “And what if we can’t trust you? What if your instincts lead you to make decisions that go against what we want for her?”

Spencer didn’t hesitate. “Then I would defer to you. You’re her mates, the fathers of her child. My role is to protect, not to dictate. But know this—I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if that means protecting her from those who might be closest to her.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I didn’t like the idea that he thought we might not be capable of keeping her safe, but I couldn’t deny the conviction in his voice. He believed in what he was saying, and I couldn’t fault him for that. Still, the thought of him stepping in, of him even considering that we might fail, made my wolf bristle.

“What if you’re wrong?” I pressed, my voice harder now. “What if your instincts aren’t enough?”

For the first time, Spencer’s calm demeanor faltered, just for a second. He took a deep breath before answering. “Then I’ll have failed. But I won’t stop trying. I’ve been alone for a long time, and this is the first time I’ve felt like I have a purpose, like I’m needed. I won’t let anything happen to her. Not on my watch.”

Jax leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re really willing to risk everything for this?”

Spencer’s eyes flicked to Jax, then back to me. “Yes.”

It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but it was the one I got. And for now, I had to accept it. Spencer wasn’t going anywhere, and despite my reservations, I knew we were on the same side. We both wanted the same thing: to keep Isabella safe, no matter the cost.

Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t over, that there was more to Spencer’s story than he was letting on. But for now, I’d keep that to myself. I needed to be sure before I pressed further.

Asher and Isabella reappeared from the bathroom, and the tension in the room eased slightly. But as I watched Spencer’s gaze flicker to Isabella, something in me stirred. This wasn’t just about duty or instinct. Spencer felt something, something deeper, that I couldn't name.