Chapter 97

JAX

When Asher and Knox took off for California, I wished I could've stayed behind at the penthouse with Bella. But duty called, and I had to head into the office. As I sat in my chair, trying to focus on the work in front of me, I couldn’t stop thinking about Isabella. It wasn't that I didn't trust Spencer, but with Asher and Knox gone, I felt an even greater responsibility to ensure she was okay.

Throughout the day, I sent messages to both Isabella and Spencer, checking in. I was relieved to hear they were spending the day with Alex, doing some shopping. The thought of Spencer navigating the chaos of a shopping trip with Isa and Alex made me chuckle. The man was fiercely protective, but I couldn’t imagine he was comfortable in that environment.

When I finally got home later that evening, I walked into a scene that was both hilarious and slightly concerning. There were boxes everywhere—clothing, baby supplies, furniture, you name it. It looked like they had bought out half the stores in the city. Spencer and two of the security guards were in one of the guest rooms, setting up furniture, while Isabella stood in the middle of it all, directing traffic.

Isabella turned to me, her face lit up with excitement. "Jax! You’re just in time. We’re turning this into the baby’s room."

I blinked, taking in the chaos. "Already?"

She grinned and placed her hands on her hips. "No time like the present! Now, come on, help us get this together."

Spencer, who was carefully assembling a crib, glanced up at me with a look that was somewhere between exasperation and amusement. The guy looked completely out of his element, but he was going along with it. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or worry.

"Spencer, did you draw the short straw for this?" I joked as I rolled up my sleeves, ready to jump in.

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It’s part of the job, I suppose. Though I didn’t expect to be assembling furniture."

Isabella started pulling me toward the pile of boxes that hadn’t yet been opened. "Come on, Jax, there’s a dresser with your name on it."

As I started helping her unpack, I couldn’t help but be swept up in her enthusiasm. She was glowing—literally radiating happiness and excitement. Even in the midst of all this chaos, there was something incredibly heartwarming about seeing her so involved, so eager to prepare for our child.

At the same time, a small part of me was worried. There was still so much uncertainty with everything going on—the monarchy, the pack, Spencer’s sudden appearance in our lives. But looking at Isabella, surrounded by boxes and baby clothes, I knew that as long as she was happy and safe, we would figure the rest out.

"So, what do you think?" Isabella asked as she handed me a tiny onesie with a wolf on the front. "Perfect for our little guy, right?"

I smiled, taking the onesie from her. "Perfect," I agreed, imagining our son wearing it. "Just like everything else you’ve picked out."

The evening passed in a blur of unpacking, assembling, and planning. By the time we were done, the room was starting to look like a real nursery, and Isabella was beaming with pride. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calm settle over me as I looked around.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, we’d face them together. And seeing Isabella’s happiness made all the effort, all the worries, and all the uncertainty worth it.

ASHER

As soon as Knox and I stepped out of the meeting room, I exhaled, feeling the weight of the conversation lift slightly from my shoulders. The discussion had gone well. Better than expected, even. We had gathered significant support, but it wasn’t over yet—there were still plenty of hurdles to overcome before the final decision about the monarchy would be made.

Knox nudged me as we walked down the hallway toward the car. “One step closer,” he said with a grin. His easy confidence was contagious, but I knew better than to get too comfortable. We had allies, yes, but politics among alphas was never straightforward. There were always hidden agendas, shifting loyalties. This was far from finished.

Just as I was about to reply, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Knox’s phone went off at the same time, and we both stopped in our tracks. I pulled mine out to see a video message from Jax. Knox raised an eyebrow at me as if to say, This should be good.

I hit play, and immediately, the screen filled with the sight of the guest room at the penthouse. Except it was no longer just a guest room. It had been completely transformed. Soft blue walls, a crib, toys, and baby accessories filled the space.

Isabella appeared on screen, beaming, holding up a tiny onesie in her hands. “Look at this!” she said, her excitement palpable. “We’ve been so busy today!”

Knox let out a laugh, clearly amused. “Well, that didn’t take long.”

But my chest tightened, an unexpected surge of disappointment washing over me. As Isabella continued showing off the baby clothes and the room’s decorations, I felt… left out. I had been looking forward to helping with this—to putting together the nursery with her and my brothers. It was supposed to be one of those moments that we shared, something we did as a family.

I watched Isabella’s bright smile, saw how happy she was. Jax’s voice chimed in from behind the camera, clearly just as caught up in the whirlwind of her enthusiasm. It was hard to stay upset when they were so obviously overjoyed, but that didn’t stop the nagging feeling of having missed something important.

By the time the video ended, I pocketed my phone and stared out at the parking lot, letting out a long breath. Knox slapped me on the back.

“She’s a whirlwind,” he said with a laugh. “That room’s practically ready for the baby already.”

“Yeah,” I replied, my voice quieter than I intended. “She’s definitely excited.”

Knox shot me a sidelong glance, picking up on my mood. “You’ll have plenty more chances, Asher. This is just one step. There’s a whole lifetime of moments with your kid coming.”

I nodded, but that didn’t fully erase the sting. I wanted to be there for all of it. I had to be there for all of it. Missing out on this small moment felt like a preview of what could happen if I let this political game distract me. I didn’t want to be the kind of father who was constantly absent, too caught up in responsibilities to be part of my child’s life.

But I also knew what was at stake. Becoming king wasn’t just about power—it was about ensuring a future for all of us, including the baby. Still, the balance was difficult, and today it felt like I hadn’t struck it quite right.

“Come on,” Knox said, nudging me toward the waiting car. “Let’s head back. We’ll see them soon enough.”

I followed him, determined to shake off the feeling of having missed something important. There were bigger things ahead—more meetings, more alliances to secure—but no matter what, I wasn’t going to let my family fall by the wayside. This was just the beginning, and I wouldn’t miss another moment.