Chapter 190

Chapter 190
ASHER

My fists clenched as I stared at Isabella, trying to hold back the torrent of anger rising inside me. She looked back, calm and defiant, with that same determined gaze she’d given me a thousand times. This wasn’t some trivial argument; this was her life, our lives, Luca’s life—everything she’d risked without a second thought. And for what? A gamble with hunters who wouldn’t hesitate to turn on us?

I wasn’t alone in my frustration. Knox paced back and forth, his jaw set, occasionally glaring at Jax, who stood near Isabella, arms folded, looking unfazed by the tension radiating through the room. I was grateful at least one of us was pacing; the fire simmering in me would have done more than that if I hadn’t reined it in.

Jax crossed his arms, his face set in a cool, collected mask that grated on me. “Asher, we went in with a plan, and it worked. She’s here, alive. We got the message across, and now we’re a step closer to peace.”

“Peace?” I shot back, my voice low but laced with fury. “How much peace would we have if Isabella hadn’t come back, Jax? Did you think about that? Did either of you?”

Isabella exhaled, not backing down an inch. “I did think about it, Asher. I’m not reckless—I knew what I was doing. And now, because of that, we’re not about to lose more people to a pointless war.”

Knox finally stopped pacing and turned to face her. “And what about Luca?” His voice was softer, but his eyes betrayed the same frustration I felt. “What would he do without his mom?”

She blinked, but her expression remained resolute. “I would never put Luca at risk, Knox. You both know that.”

“Do we?” I asked, unable to stop myself. My tone was sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t care less. “Because, from where I’m standing, all I see is you throwing yourself into danger without even letting us stop to discuss it.”

Jax shook his head, finally breaking his silence. “Asher, you refused outright. I hate to admit it, but we had to take this chance, even if it wasn’t ideal. The longer we drag our feet, the more they’ll come at us. Today we proved we’re open to peace. That’s worth a lot more than you’re giving credit for.”

I met Jax’s gaze, my voice low and controlled. “And what if they’d simply taken her, Jax? Tortured her, killed her? Would you still feel the same about it?”

His jaw tightened, but he kept his stance firm. “I didn’t send her off alone, Asher. I was with her. I would’ve never let anything happen to her.”

Isabella’s eyes narrowed, her voice steady and unyielding. “I’m not some fragile thing you need to protect, Asher. This is about something bigger than any one of us, and if we want to make real progress, it’ll take more than anger and muscle. It takes risk.”

Knox’s jaw tightened. He shared my frustration, but there was something in Isabella’s voice that made him pause, as if he was seeing her determination with fresh eyes.

“Maybe so,” he muttered. “But you still have us to think about. And Luca.”

She looked away, her gaze softening, if only for a second. “I’ll always think about you, and Luca. But that’s why I have to keep trying. Because a world where we live side-by-side is the only way he’ll grow up safely.”

I could feel the fight draining out of me, though I wasn’t ready to concede just yet. “This is dangerous, Isabella. I can’t ignore that. I don’t want to feel like I could lose you at any moment.” My voice softened, reluctant as the words left me. “We’ve come too far for that.”

She met my gaze, something unreadable in her eyes, but she reached for my hand, and in that touch, I felt her resolve.

“Nothing is forgotten,” she said quietly. “We need to figure out what Nicole has done, what she’s told the hunters. This isn’t over. It’s just beginning.”

I nodded, still feeling the sting of her risk, but I understood. This was the life she was choosing, and I was part of it.

Knox nodded, though his frustration was still evident. “Agreed. We deal with Nicole first. Whatever she knows, we’ll get it out of her.”

Jax looked between us, his own frustration starting to ease. “Then we’re all on the same page. For now.”

We all glanced toward the door. We had our work cut out for us, and if nothing else, that would give us a focus. This wasn’t the end of the conversation, but it was enough for tonight.

ISABELLA

As we stepped out of the apartment, I felt Knox’s hand reach for mine, warm and firm. He pulled me into his arms with a grip that was equal parts relief and reprimand. His breath was shaky as he held me, pressing his cheek against the top of my head, and I could feel the tension that had kept him together these last few hours begin to unravel.

“Isabella,” he murmured, his voice just above a whisper, raw with an edge I rarely heard from him. “Don’t ever do that to me again. I thought—” His voice broke off, and he tightened his hold, as if he needed to feel that I was really here, safe and solid in his arms.

I let out a slow breath, letting the warmth of him seep into me. “I’m sorry, Knox,” I whispered, feeling the weight of his words settle deep inside me. “I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his amber eyes sharp, tinged with hurt and something deeper, something unshakable. “You have no idea. I was terrified, Isa. We’ve finally found this life together, and then I thought for a moment I was going to lose you. I can’t… I won’t go through that again.”

His words settled over me like a promise, heavier than the world around us. I reached up, resting my hand against his cheek, and he leaned into my touch.

“I’ll be more careful,” I promised, though a part of me knew he understood that the path I was taking was a risk all its own. “But I have to try, Knox. I feel it... like it’s the only way forward for all of us.”

His jaw clenched, but he nodded, resting his forehead against mine. “Then I’ll be with you, every step of the way. No more secrets.”

“No more secrets,” I repeated, letting those words anchor us both.

Knox exhaled deeply, then wrapped his arms around me in one last fierce hug before pulling back. "Let’s just get through whatever comes next," he said, his eyes serious but warm, that familiar spark rekindling. “But don’t think I’ll let you out of my sight.”

He smiled, pulling me forward into the hallway where Asher and Jax were waiting. The four of us, ready for what lay ahead—together.