Chapter 176

Chapter 176
JAX

I was sifting through files in my office, scanning for anything we might need to double-check before the next council meeting, when I heard heavy footsteps coming down the hall. I barely glanced up as Asher pushed open the door, still in his gym clothes, a sheen of sweat covering his forehead. He didn’t even pause to grab a chair but stood in front of my desk, his arms crossed, eyes set in that intense, unreadable stare.

“What’s going on?” I asked, putting down the papers.

“I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low and steady. “King to alpha.”

I leaned back, studying him. When Asher used that phrase, I knew it wasn’t just a family issue—this was pack business, something that needed his authority and my decision as his second.

“Alright. Go on.”

He drew a quick breath, glancing toward the door as if to make sure no one else was listening. “I got a call from Mason, my contact. Emilia… she’s building an army. She’s recruiting rogues, working with hunters. This isn’t just about Isabella or revenge anymore. She’s planning something big—an attack on the ceremonial grounds.”

I felt my jaw clench, a flicker of anger starting to build. “So she’s not letting up. She’s actually escalating.”

Asher nodded, the tension clear in his stance. “This is a serious threat, Jax. One that affects everyone, not just our family. We need to prepare.”

I nodded, absorbing his words. “Then we tell Knox. And Isabella.”

Asher’s face hardened. “No. Not Isabella—not yet.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Not tell Isabella? Are you serious? She’s a target, Asher, just as much as the rest of us—maybe even more so. She has a right to know what’s going on, especially after all the hell we went through with Dominic.”

Asher’s jaw set, that stubborn look taking over. “She’s been through enough. She’s still adjusting to everything—the wolf, the hunters. We need to handle this without putting more on her shoulders.”

I leaned forward, unwilling to back down. “That’s exactly what we told ourselves with Dominic. We thought we’d protect her by keeping her in the dark, and look where that got us. She felt betrayed, and it nearly broke everything we’ve worked to build with her. We’re not going through that again.”

“This is different, Jax. She wasn’t a werewolf then. She’s got more on her plate now than she ever did with Dominic,” Asher argued, his voice tight with frustration.

“Maybe,” I replied, matching his tone, “but now she has more power, too. She’s part of this, Asher, and she deserves the respect of being kept in the loop. If you want her by your side—and I know you do—then you can’t just shut her out whenever things get dangerous.”

He paused, rubbing his hands over his face, and I could tell he was torn. As much as he wanted to protect her, there was a part of him that knew I was right.

“Look,” I said, my voice softer, “Isabella’s stronger than we gave her credit for. She’s proved that over and over. Don’t underestimate her by trying to handle this alone. We’re better when we’re a unit.”

Asher exhaled, his shoulders sagging just a bit. “Fine,” he muttered. “But I’m telling her. On my terms. And only the details she needs to know right now.”

I held his gaze for a moment, nodding. “That’s all I’m asking. But we go forward with transparency this time. No secrets, no half-truths.”

A shadow of a smile tugged at his lips. “You know, I came in here expecting you to side with me on this.”

I chuckled, crossing my arms. “And when have I ever just gone along with what you want? That’s why you keep me around, isn’t it?”

Asher grinned, shaking his head. “Alright. We’ll do it your way, Jax. Let’s go find Knox and Isabella. I’ll fill her in… carefully.”

“Good,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder. “Because if we’re going to face down Emilia and whatever army she’s mustering, we’re going to need every single one of us ready.”

With that, he straightened up, giving me a determined nod. We’d face whatever Emilia threw at us—together.



After putting Luca down for the night, we lingered around the table, the comforting warmth of dinner settling into a quiet silence. Asher, though, looked like he was wrestling with something, his gaze darting between us, his fingers drumming against the table.

“Asher,” I said finally, leaning forward, “what’s on your mind?”

He glanced at Knox, then over to Isabella. “I got a call today,” he began, his voice measured but tense. “From Mason.”

At the mention of his contact, Isabella straightened, her expression shifting to alert curiosity. Knox leaned back, crossing his arms, already sensing the seriousness that Asher’s tone carried.

“Emilia’s not just lurking in the background anymore,” he continued. “She’s… well, she’s putting together a group—a small army, actually. She’s recruiting rogues, forming alliances with hunters. She’s gearing up for something big, and from what Mason can gather, her endgame is attacking the ceremonial grounds.”

Knox’s brow creased in anger. “So she’s planning a full-on assault? That’s a hell of a leap.”

Isabella’s face was a mix of shock and determination. “Why now? She’s been waiting in the shadows for so long…why this all-out aggression now?”

Asher took a deep breath. “We’ve become a threat to her, especially now that you’ve shifted, Isabella. With your new abilities, we’re no longer just targets in her eyes; we’re an active threat.”

Isabella’s jaw set, and a subtle flicker of fear passed through her eyes. But just as quickly, it hardened into resolve. “If she wants to come after us, we won’t make it easy. I’m not going to live looking over my shoulder, wondering if she’ll come after Luca, or any of us, ever again.”

Asher nodded. “That’s exactly why I think we need to start preparing now. We’ve faced her games before, but this is different. I think it’s time we stop waiting for her to make the next move and begin taking control of our defenses—and our offense, if it comes to that.”

Knox’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Guess it’s time we show her we’re not backing down.”

Isabella reached over, placing a hand on Asher’s. “Thank you for telling me, for not keeping this from me,” she said softly. “I can’t be in the dark about this, not again.”

Asher met her gaze, nodding solemnly. “No more secrets,” he murmured. “If we’re going to get through this, it’s all of us, together.”

Isabella held his gaze, and for a moment, the tension in the room softened. With Emilia looming over them, this resolve to face her together bound them closer than before, ready to take on whatever she dared to bring next.