Chapter 183
Chapter 183
ISABELLA
The early morning quiet wrapped around me as I sat in the kitchen, hands curled around a mug of tea that had already gone lukewarm. The dream from last night lingered, clear yet frustratingly out of reach in parts, like words on the tip of my tongue. The weight of it pressed into my chest, refusing to fade as the night dissolved into dawn.
I felt Asher’s presence before I saw him, a shift in the air that made me look up. He entered with that usual calm confidence, but the second his eyes met mine, his expression softened. He could sense something was bothering me, of course. He always did.
I took a breath, setting my mug down. “I had a strange dream last night,” I began, unsure of how to convey the intensity of it without sounding ridiculous. "It felt… different. Like it wasn’t just a dream but something more, something real.”
He gave me a skeptical smile, his eyebrow quirking just slightly. “You know dreams are just that, Bella—dreams. Maybe it’s just nerves, everything going on with your new abilities.”
I pressed my lips together, frustration blooming beneath my skin. “Asher, it was more than that. I heard voices—the forest spoke to me. It said I’m the key to bringing peace between hunters and werewolves. I don’t know how, but it felt… true.”
Asher reached for a glass of water, his brow barely furrowing as he processed my words. “Maybe it’s just pressure getting to you. These things don’t usually come from the spirit of the forest.”
Before I could retort, I heard footsteps. Jax and Knox entered the kitchen, both looking refreshed and ready for the day. They each looked at me, sensing the tension in the room. I recounted the dream again, this time with more certainty, my voice unwavering as I explained what I’d seen and felt. This time, as I spoke, I saw Jax’s eyes darken in thought, and Knox’s jaw tighten, both of them paying close attention.
When I finished, Knox glanced at Jax, then looked back at me. “If what you heard was real, if the pack’s spirit truly spoke to you… there might be something in my father’s notes. He left behind manuscripts, records about our family’s history with hunters. Maybe he uncovered something about a prophecy or a connection that could explain this.”
The suggestion stirred a flicker of hope within me. “Where are the manuscripts?” I asked, already ready to follow whatever lead this dream might offer.
“They’re at my mother’s house. I’ll go over and start looking, see if anything connects to your dream,” Knox replied.
I nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for his open-mindedness. “I’ll drop Luca off at the day-care and join you as soon as I can. This… whatever this is, we need answers.”
Jax gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “If anyone can figure this out, it’s you, Isabella.”
Asher, while still skeptical, gave me a small, conceding smile. Maybe he didn’t fully believe yet, but the determination in my eyes had him quiet—for now.
KNOX
As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew I’d missed some kind of cue. There was Mom, smiling a little too brightly at Spencer as they stood in the kitchen. They both went silent the second I entered, like a couple of teenagers caught sneaking out past curfew. Spencer had a mug in his hand, and he looked like he’d settled in for the morning, which only made me feel worse. It didn’t help that he was standing awfully close to her, their shoulders brushing as they leaned against the counter.
I froze, glancing between them. Was Spencer… Spencer, my mother’s new breakfast buddy?
A deep, almost instinctual horror twisted in my chest. There was no way I could start my day with this—my brain flat-out refused. But instead of saying anything, I mumbled a quick “Good morning” that sounded more like a cough and escaped down the hall and up the stairs to my father’s study, my mind in a full spiral.
By the time Isabella joined me, I’d been staring at an empty shelf for at least fifteen minutes, thinking of every terrible scenario my imagination could offer. She entered quietly, but as soon as she saw me, she narrowed her eyes.
“What’s up?” she asked, clearly sensing something was off.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I walked in on my mother and Spencer, together. Not in any real compromising situation, but they were… close. They stopped talking as soon as they saw me, Isa. I think I interrupted something,” I finished, cringing as I relived the scene.
Isabella held back a smile, which only fueled my torment. “Knox, you do realize your mom is a grown woman, don’t you?”
“Sure, she’s grown. I mean, she’s very grown,” I replied, a little exasperated. “But she’s Mom. And Spencer’s what…twenty years younger? I mean, what could she possibly see in him? And what does he see in—okay, I don’t even want to think about that.”
Isabella put a hand on my shoulder, looking at me with that infuriating mix of sympathy and amusement. “Knox, come on. Your mom is still… well, she’s still her. She’s strong, she’s beautiful, and yes, maybe even—”
“Please don’t say it,” I groaned.
“—capable of being in a relationship again,” she finished, ignoring me. “Look, it’s not easy for you to think about, but you have to give her space to figure things out. Even if it is with Spencer.”
I crossed my arms, realizing how ridiculous I sounded. She was right, of course, but it didn’t make this situation feel any less strange. “I know. It’s just… unexpected. And maybe a bit weird.”
Isabella squeezed my hand, her expression softening. “I get it. Just remember, she deserves happiness, Knox. She’s been there for all of you for so long.”
I managed a small smile. “Fine, I’ll try to wrap my head around it. But if I catch him eating breakfast here again, I swear…”
She laughed, rolling her eyes. “Let’s just find those notes, Romeo. We’ve got bigger things to worry about than who’s having breakfast with whom.”
With that, she leaned in close, grounding me with her presence, and the tension melted just a little. As unsettling as this morning had been, I was grateful to have her here, ready to pull me back to the matter at hand.