Alex realized this meeting would be more than just a social formality.

Catherine Blackwood would be evaluating him. Judging whether he was worthy of her best friend. Deciding if he was a threat or an ally to Victoria's happiness.

And somehow, that felt more significant than any business negotiation or supernatural confrontation he'd faced so far.

"When?" Alex asked simply.

Victoria's smile was relieved, almost disbelieving, as if she'd expected him to refuse.

"Soon," she said softly. "She's giving us time to prepare, but... soon."

She kissed him gently, a promise and a plea wrapped into one gesture.

"Thank you," she whispered against his lips. "For understanding. For being willing to do this."

Her eyes sparkled with excitement and hope.

"I know it might seem like a lot, but it would mean everything to me. Catherine's opinion... it matters. She's been there through everything, and having her approval, her support for us..."

Victoria's voice caught slightly with emotion.

"If she approves, we don't have any fear of James or anybody concerning our relationship. Catherine's word carries that much weight in the family." She paused, letting that sink in. "It would make everything feel more real. More possible."

She waited, watching his face, clearly expecting him to share her enthusiasm.

Alex looked at her... at the genuine joy in her expression, the hope shining in her dark eyes, the way she talked about Catherine with such obvious love and trust.

He pulled her closer, his hand cupping the back of her head as he pressed his forehead to hers.

"Then we'll make sure she approves," he said quietly.

Victoria's answering smile was radiant.

But even as he held her, feeling her happiness radiate against him, Alex's enhanced Mind was already calculating variables.

Alex had dealt with enough people from powerful families to recognize patterns Victoria was too close to notice.

People of that stature... old money, established power, generations of carefully cultivated influence... they didn't do anything without purpose.

Every action, every gesture, every invitation carried weight and intention that went far beyond surface appearances.

On the surface, this was about a women eager to meet the man who'd stolen her bestfriend's heart.

Simple. Personal. Emotional.

But the hidden purpose?

Alex's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Catherine Blackwood wasn't just Victoria's best friend.

She was James Blackwood's sister.

The sister of the man whose wife Alex had stolen.

And no matter how understanding she claimed to be, no matter how much she congratulated Victoria on finding happiness... family was family. Blood was blood.

And the Blackwood name carried obligations that transcended personal friendship.

This meeting wasn't just about approval.

It was about assessment. Evaluation.

Determining if Alex was a threat to the family, to their interests, to the carefully maintained balance of power and reputation that families like the Blackwoods built their entire existence around.

Victoria trusted Catherine completely.

Believed in that friendship with the kind of certainty that came from years of loyalty proven and tested.

And Alex hoped... for both their sakes... that trust wasn't misplaced.

Because if Catherine decided he was a threat to the Blackwood family rather than just Victoria's happiness, this dinner would become something far more dangerous than a simple introduction.

From the moment Alex had realized this world was more than it appeared... that supernatural power lurked beneath society's surface... he'd understood what the Big Seven families truly represented.

They weren't just wealthy. Weren't just influential.

They were apex predators in human form.

Families that had cultivated power across generations. That possessed Enhanced individuals who'd had decades to refine their abilities to terrifying levels. That commanded resources and connections most people couldn't even comprehend.

The Blackwoods were one of those seven pillars holding up the hidden world's power structure.

Catherine herself was almost certainly Enhanced... possibly mid-stage or higher, given her position and age. The Blackwood family was one of the Big Seven, after all.

They didn't maintain that status without power to back it up.

The question was: did he walk in as the charming boyfriend hoping to win her over, or as an equal who understood exactly what game was being played?

His arms tightened around Victoria as she nestled against him.

Meeting with Catherine Blackwood.

And Alex would need every advantage his Enhanced Stage capabilities could provide to navigate whatever that meeting truly represented.

***

Alex stared at the ceiling, something shifted in his chest. Not fear. Not apprehension.

Anticipation.

A dark curiosity that had nothing to do with Victoria's happiness and everything to do with the challenge itself.

He'd heard whispers about the Big Seven since discovering this hidden world. Rumors of their power, their influence, the carefully cultivated abilities that made them untouchable.

Now he'd finally get to see one up close.

See what kind of animal these people really were.

What separated them from everyone else who claimed power in this supernatural underworld.

Whether the legends were justified... or just carefully maintained mythology designed to keep people afraid.

A faint smile touched his lips in the darkness.

Let Catherine Blackwood evaluate him.

Let her assess whether he was worthy, whether he was a threat, whether he belonged in Victoria's life.

While she was busy judging...

Alex would be conducting his own evaluation.

Of her. Of the Blackwood family. Of the Big Seven themselves.

And by the end of that dinner, he'd know exactly what he was dealing with.

Exactly what it would take to protect what was his.

***

The anticipation faded as another realization crept in, colder and more immediate.

Victoria was married into one of the Big Seven. Had navigated their politics for years. And she'd never questioned his transformation.

The question that had been lurking in the back of his mind since Viktor's revelation finally crystallized into something he couldn't ignore.

Did Victoria know about the Enhanced world?

And if she did... why had she never said anything?

He needed to know.

"Victoria," Alex said quietly, his voice careful. "Can I ask you something?"

She smiled up at him, still half-asleep and lovely in the early light. "Of course."

Alex hesitated, choosing his words with the same precision his enhanced Mind used for strategic calculations.

"Do you... know about Enhanced people? About the hidden world beneath the surface?"

The change in Victoria's expression was subtle but unmistakable.

Her eyes cleared immediately, losing that sleepy softness and sharpening into complete awareness. Not surprise. Not confusion.

Recognition.

As if she'd been waiting for this question.

She was quiet for a long moment, studying his face with an intensity that felt like she was reading every thought behind his carefully neutral expression.

Then she sat up slowly, pulling the sheet around herself as she settled against the headboard. The movement was graceful, deliberate... giving herself time to formulate her response.

"Yes," Victoria said finally, her voice calm and steady. "I know."

Alex felt something twist in his chest. Relief? Guilt? He couldn't quite identify the emotion.

"How much do you know?"

Victoria's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "Some things. Not everything... the Blackwood family kept certain information from those who married in, especially those who weren't..." she paused, choosing her word carefully, "...Enhanced themselves."

"But you know they exist," Alex pressed. "You know about the abilities, the power structures, the Big Seven families and what they really represent."

"Yes." Victoria's gaze held his without wavering. "I've known since before I married James. Catherine explained some of it when she was helping me navigate the family politics. Enough to understand what I was entering into. Enough to make an informed choice."

Alex absorbed this, his enhanced Mind processing implications and connections with mechanical precision.

"You chose not to become Enhanced," he said. Not a question. An observation.

Victoria's expression softened slightly. "I was offered the opportunity. The Blackwood family has access to catalysts... substances that can trigger the Enhancement process in those with the proper... compatibility." She laughed softly, though there was no bitterness in it.

"Catherine even vouched for me. Said I had the intelligence and strategic thinking to make good use of power if I chose to pursue it."

"But you didn't."

"No." Victoria's voice was quiet but certain. "I had no greed for that kind of power. I'd built everything I had through intelligence, strategy, and hard work. The thought of taking a shortcut, of relying on supernatural abilities instead of my own capabilities..."

She shook her head. "It felt wrong. Like cheating at a game I'd already proven I could win fairly."

Alex found himself studying her with new eyes. Seeing the strength in that choice. The integrity.

"Besides," Victoria continued, her tone taking on a slightly wry quality,

"Enhanced individuals in families like the Blackwoods often find themselves... obligated. Expected to serve family interests in ways that go beyond business or politics. I preferred to maintain my independence."

That made sense. Perfect sense, actually, given everything Alex had learned about Victoria's fierce autonomy.

"So you've known about this world the entire time," Alex said slowly. "Since we met. Since we started..."

"Yes."

The single word hung in the air between them.

Alex's jaw tightened slightly. "Then you must have noticed. When I first started changing. My body, my physique... that wasn't normal. That wasn't something catalysts typically cause, from what I understand."

Victoria's expression shifted... something warm and almost tender crossing her face.

"I noticed," she confirmed softly.

"Of course I noticed. You think I wouldn't recognize when the man I was falling for underwent a physical transformation that defied normal explanation?"

"Then why didn't you ask?" The question came out more raw than Alex intended. "Why didn't you demand to know what was happening to me?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.