The Genetic Bride: Alpha's Obsession

Chapter 8: Welcome home, my love

SEBASTIAN'S POV

I followed my father into his study after we finished our family dinner. I sensed something weighed on his mind. I also intended to talk to him—particularly about Bella. They knew what I did. Now my father also bore the same guilt I was carrying.

He didn’t look up when I stepped inside the study. He was standing near the tall windows, then quietly set his glass of old whiskey down and stared out—arms folded behind his back.

“How is Bella doing?" he asked in a low tone.

“She’s adjusting well,” I replied as I proceeded to the leather couch and sat down.

“I can see that,” he replied, his voice calm, but a faint glint passed through his watchful eyes. “She’s still the old Bella.”

I knew my father well. He's always been meticulous and had very keen senses and sharp instincts. I inherited these traits from him. I knew he was suspecting something too—like how I reacted the first time Bella woke up.

However, Callum resonated with me through a lot of proof. I couldn't possibly doubt my good friend's unquestionable skill, could I?

Then he turned around and made his way to the chair behind his desk.

“Is there any chance something could go wrong with it?” he asked again in a serious tone.

The question was expected—but still, it tightened something in my chest. I didn’t answer right away.

He watched me closely. “The procedure… Callum’s work. Is it stable?”

I nodded slowly. “Yes. There were no signs of rejection. No neurological irregularities. She’s stronger than we expected. She remembers what she’s meant to remember.”

“But what if she remembers more?”

That was the real question. I was still having these doubts. Even if it was clear that Callum only extracted part of Bella's old memories and imprinted a new one—with me in it—I still couldn’t be at ease, especially when there were times she struggled to find even just tiny fragments of the memory she believed was lost.

I met my father's gaze. “I believe the procedure was done right. If something goes wrong… I’ll handle it.”

He didn’t speak for a moment.

“Sebastian,” he spoke again with a quiet sigh, “you’ve brought her back. I won’t question how did you do it. But if that process fails—and she remembers everything that you’ve done—it won’t just destroy her. It’ll destroy you too. Isabella will hate you and might never forgive you.”

I said nothing to my father's statement. Because he wasn’t wrong. If that time truly comes, I’m prepared for it. I won’t force Bella anymore. It’s already enough that I made her suffer from my past mistakes. But this time, I will make sure she lives happily for the rest of her life… even if I’m not the cause of that happiness.

Amidst our conversation, there came a knock on the door. Then a guard entered briefly, handed my father a folded report, and left.

He opened it and scanned the contents. His brows knitted together.

“We’ve got a situation in western Blackvale,” he muttered with a grim expression.

I frowned upon hearing the news. “Drakemire?”

He nodded. “This is the second time I’ve received a notice. The Elder confirmed a movement near the Silverclaw's territory. Though nothing is confirmed yet—to me, it smells like a rebellion.”

Of course it did. This wasn’t new to us. The Silverclaw clan held most of Drakemire—a secluded region of Eldenhart. Our family had long stood as the protector of peace between the human world and supernatural beings. We ruled the whole of Eldenhart with righteousness and peace. But from the very beginning, the Silverclaw clan was always against our jurisdiction. And now, they were slowly making their move for rebellion.

“Someone’s backing this,” I murmured. My instincts couldn't be mistaken.

“We will not decide until I personally see the situation over there,” my father resonated.

I looked up at him, my eyes narrowing into slits. “If this turns into open war—”

“—It won’t,” he cut me off. “We won’t let it. I plan to visit Drakemire and will set a meeting with the council.”

I didn’t object to his decision. My father is a great ruler, and there’s nothing he couldn’t solve with a good talk. But the weight in my chest didn’t ease.

Bella had just returned. And now, there was another battle we had to face again. Timing was never kind to us.

“We'll go together,” I stated, leaving no room for consideration.

It was also the right time to meet the people who refused to submit to our governance.

___

I left my father’s study and walked down the hallway, heading back to my room. But as I passed Bella’s door, I noticed it wasn’t fully closed. It was slightly ajar, and a soft light spilled from within.

I paused in my tracks, contemplating whether I should check on her or not. In truth, after the tragic incident, I could barely recognize myself anymore—at least when it came to Bella.

I used to be a tough-hearted man, used to getting what I wanted through force. But now… there’s nothing left of me but endless guilt.

I let out a deep breath before gently pushing the door open and stepping inside.

She didn’t hear me come in. Bella was sitting on the window seat, silently staring outside. Her eyes fixed on the moon.

The room was quiet. Only the faint sound of the wind outside filled the space.

I didn’t speak right away. I just watched her.

She looked so calm and peaceful. Not the same girl who once looked at me with defiance and hate. There was something different now. Her expression was softer—her whole presence quieter.

I couldn’t help but stare at her lips, slightly parted, catching the light from the window.

She turned her head and saw me.

“Still awake?” I asked softly as I walked in.

She nodded slowly. “I couldn’t sleep.”

I stepped closer. “Something's bothering you?”

She looked back at the window. “No. Just quietly admiring the beautiful view.”

I walked over and leaned against the wall near her.

“The moon is bright tonight,” she said, her eyes shimmering with admiration.

I remembered—she really liked looking at the full moon every month. And this was also when our bond grew the strongest… the time meant for mating.

I’d been feeling it, but I held myself back. I was a different man now. I had made a vow—never to touch her again without her consent.

“Yeah. This side of the house always gets the full moon,” I said simply.

Then came a soft pause between us.

“I know it sounds weird,” she said, “but I keep getting these strange feelings. The emptiness I'm feeling wouldn't fade.”

“It’s not weird. It’s perfectly normal after losing parts of your memory,” I replied quietly.

She let out a small breath. “Maybe it’s just part of the process, right? My mind still adjusting or something.”

“Don’t stress yourself over it. What matters now is that you're finally home again,” I said, holding her gaze.

She smiled faintly and leaned her head gently against the glass again.

I moved closer and sat beside her.

Her face was calm, lips slightly parted. Her long, soft-wavy hair fell loosely around her shoulders. She looked nothing like the woman who once screamed and fought to get away from me.

She looked serene… and beautiful. So beautiful, in fact.

My gaze dropped to her lips again. I didn’t mean to stare, but something in me longed to close the gap between us—even just once. Just to feel her warmth again.

I leaned in, slowly. Her eyes met mine, but she didn’t pull away. She didn’t move at all.

Our faces were close—our lips just an inch apart. But then my rationality washed over me. I stopped before I lost control to the madness.

Instead, I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and lingered for a second.

“Goodnight, Bella,” I whispered.

'Welcome home, my love,' I almost said—but I still held back. There will be a right time for everything.

Then I stood up and walked out of the room, leaving her behind—still staring at the spot where I had just sat.