Chapter 5

 

******

Marcus Blackwood didn’t like surprises.

His life had been built around discipline, silence, and control. Every mission had rules. Every step had purpose.

Tonight?

None of that existed.

 

***********

Marcus stood near the large window overlooking the skyline, he dressed very casual,as he replayed the scene from the club over and over in his head.

Noah pinned against the sink.

Noah’s breath catching.

That soft sound that escaped his throat when Marcus kissed his neck.

Marcus rubbed a hand over his face.

“Damn it.”

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

The mission had been simple.

Get close. Gain trust. Watch for signs.

Then kill him.

But nothing about Noah Vale felt simple anymore.

Marcus could still feel the heat of Noah’s skin against his lips like the moment was burned into him.

It wasn’t just attraction,Marcus was already falling for Noah.

Something that felt like fate tightening its grip around both of them.

Marcus trying to shake the feeling.

“This is for the mission.”

He had said that to himself a hundred times already.

It still didn’t feel convincing.

Then the front door opened.

Marcus’ body felt tensed instantly.

Only one person in the world can walk into the house without knocking.

And right on cue, a familiar voice cut through the silence.

“This is why I hate humans.”

Marcus turned slowly.

Standing near the entrance was Elara Westborn.

Another vampire, very beautiful in a way that could make kings fall to their knees.

Her long dark coat brushed the floor as she walked inside like she owned the place. Her sharp eyes scanned Marcus slowly.

**********

“And they are very weak and predictable.”

Marcus crossed his arms.

“What do you want, Elara?”

She ignored the question.

Instead, she walked closer until she stood directly in front of him.

Then her nose wrinkled slightly.

“I smell it on you, Marcus.”

Marcus burst out a loud laugh.

Elara, you dont seem to amaze me.

Oh spare me the pretence Marcus.

“The mission was very clear,” she interrupted calmly. “Just make him fall for you and take him out when he starts showing sign that he is manifesting his powers.”

Her voice softened slightly, but there was something dangerous underneath it.

“I doubt he knows what he is.”

Marcus didn’t respond.

Because the truth was… he wasn’t sure anymore.

Elara studied his face carefully.

“You got close to him already.”

It wasn’t a question.

Marcus stayed silent,Elara  exhaled slowly.

************

Then suddenly she stepped forward and shoved him back against the wall.

Marcus blinked in surprise.

“Elara—”

But before he could finish, she grabbed his shirt and kissed him, very deep tongue kiss

The kiss was sudden, desperate.

Marcus froze completely.

For a moment he didn’t even move.

Then Elara pulled back like she’d just realized what she’d done.

Her breathing was uneven, and her eyes were wide.

The usual cold control she carried was gone for the first time since Marcus had known her.

Marcus stared at her, and throw the question,  what  just happened Elara.

“What the hell—”

But Elara stepped back quickly.

Like the space between them suddenly burned.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“No kidding.”

For a second she looked like she wanted to say something else.

Something important.

But instead she turned toward the door.

“Elara—”

She stopped briefly but didn’t face him.

“Just finish the mission, Marcus.

“Before it’s too late.”

Then she walked out.

The door slammed shut behind her.

Marcus stood there for a long moment, perplexed, processing all the emotions kept flooding it.

“What the hell just happened?”

He ran a hand through his hair.

Elara Westborn losing control like that?

That had never happened before.

Marcus tried pushing  himself off the wall and walked back toward the window.

But now his thoughts weren’t just on Noah.

They were on something bigger.

Something darker.

Because if the Elders were this nervous about Noah Vale…

Then the prophecy might be closer to coming true than anyone realized.

 

And if that happened?

 

The world wouldn’t survive it.

**********

Noah vale was sitting alone deep in thoughts in his office.

He couldn’t get his mind off with what happened at the club

the way the man had locked the bathroom door like something inside him had finally snapped.

Noah leaned back in his chair slowly.

“What the hell was that?”

The memory replayed in his mind again.

Marcus gripping his wrists, making him behave like a teenager on high hormones.

Tell me you don’t feel this,that struck him so hard.

Noah exhaled slowly.

Too late for that.

Because the truth?

He definitely felt it, he wanted it so badly he want to surrender to him.

Something about Marcus pulled at him in a way he couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t just attraction.

Like they’d been standing on opposite sides of something long before they ever met.

A knock on his office door pulled him from his thoughts.

 

“Come in.”

 

Ethan stepped inside, holding two coffee cups.

“You look like a man having an identity crisis.”

Noah smiled.

“Morning to you too.”

Ethan handed him the coffee and sank into the chair across from his desk.

“So,” Ethan said, grinning. “Did that mysterious hot investor boy survive the club?”

Noah glared at him, “You’re annoying.”

“That’s not a no.”

Noah ignored him and took a sip of coffee.

Ethan leaned forward.

“Alright, what happened?” spill everything dude.

Noah hesitated, then muttered quietly,

“He followed me into the bathroom.”

Ethan’s eyes widened.

“Oh damn.”

“It wasn’t like that.”

Ethan leaned back.

“Sure.”

Noah groaned.

“Can we talk about literally anything else?”

“Fine,” Ethan said. “Your parents’ event.”

Noah blinked.

“What about it?”

“The massive event they’re hosting in two weeks?”

Right, that’s true I totally forgot.

Noah sighed.

His parents loved dramatic social gatherings.

Two weeks from now the Vale estate would be filled with politicians, billionaires, celebrities, and every powerful figure that mattered.

It was going to be huge, and exhausting.

“Don’t remind me,” Noah muttered.

Ethan laughed.

“You’re the guest of honor.”

“Exactly why I’m dreading it.”

But what Noah didn’t know…

What no one had told him…

Was that the event wasn’t just another elite party.

Because hidden deep in the ancient history of the vampire and wolf clans was a prophecy tied directly to his blood.

And if even a single drop of his blood spilled during that gathering…

It would awaken the curse.

 

Every wolf.

 

Every vampire.

 

Every supernatural creature tied to that old war would feel it.

And the moment that happened…

The war would start again.

Because Noah Vale wasn’t just a CEO.

He was the hybrid heir.

The one destined to lead.

The one both sides feared.

And when the truth finally surfaced, Noah would face the one question that could destroy everything.

Would he fight against his own blood?

 

Or embrace it?

 Marcus was thinking about Noah.

Thinking about the mission.

And wondering if killing the man he was supposed to destroy… was something he could actually do anymore.

*************