Chapter 0241

We gathered Victor and Nathaniel before making our way into the city. Upon arrival, Sebastian took Victor to a boutique for new clothes and a backpack, then purchased his bus ticket.

"Where to? The next departure heads west to Crestview," Sebastian offered.

"That'll do," Victor replied gruffly.

Sebastian handed him a thick envelope. "Enough to rebuild your life. Good luck, Victor."

With muttered thanks, Victor boarded the bus. We watched until the vehicle disappeared down the highway.

The human city overwhelmed my senses. Towering structures pierced the sky while endless streams of honking vehicles clogged the streets. I clung to Sebastian's hand like an anchor in the chaos.

His penthouse took my breath away. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the glittering skyline. "Incredible," I breathed.

Sebastian's arms encircled me from behind. "The view's not what's breathtaking." His warm breath tickled my ear as he stared at me instead of the cityscape.

Heat flooded my cheeks.

"Ready to visit the office?" he asked. "I'd feel better having you nearby after recent events."

Through our bond, I sensed his unease. Truthfully, I'd be lost alone in this concrete jungle. Perhaps I could assist him somehow. "Let's go."

Nathaniel joined us as we descended to Blackstone Enterprises' executive floor. The moment we entered, my body locked in shock.

There she stood - dyed hair, oversized clothes, thick glasses - but those eyes remained unmistakable. The same eyes that kept me sane through seven years of darkness.

"Genevieve," I choked out.

"Mate," Nathaniel growled simultaneously, lunging forward.

Sebastian blocked him with a sharp whisper. "She's human. Control yourself or you'll terrify her."

Nathaniel trembled, fists clenched at his sides.

Meanwhile, Genevieve's whisper barely reached human ears. "It's really you."

"Genevieve!" I rushed forward, embracing her tightly. "You're alive! When I escaped, I feared the worst. I've searched everywhere-"

I held her at arm's length. "You worried about me? I thought the hunters protected you! What happened? Why the disguise?"

Her body stiffened as warmth pressed against my back. "Mr. Blackstone," she addressed Sebastian warily.

"Seraphina, you know Victoria?" Sebastian asked.

I whirled toward him. "Sebastian, this is Genevieve!" My brow furrowed. "Why did you call her Victoria?"

His gaze darted between us. "My office. Now."

Genevieve tensed like a cornered rabbit. I seized her hands. "I'm here."

Our old code words slipped between us. "You're not alone." Some tension left her shoulders.

"Trust me. Trust them," I urged.

After assessing Nathaniel's vibrating form and Sebastian's steady presence, she nodded.

Inside the office, Nathaniel practically vibrated out of his chair until Sebastian's alpha command settled him. Genevieve perched stiffly beside me.

"What happened after I left?" I asked gently.

Her hands twisted in her lap. "The hunters were monsters too. They took us to this... facility." A shudder racked her frame. "Cells filled with part-animal people. Screams everywhere. They wanted to recruit us, said these 'creatures' deserved no mercy."

Sebastian's rage pulsed through our bond.

"How did you escape?" I pressed.

"I refused their ideology." Her whisper cracked. "Couldn't stomach their cruelty."

When Nathaniel reached to comfort her, she recoiled. The hurt flashing across his face vanished behind a carefully neutral mask.