BLOODBOUND:BENEATH THE MOON

Noah woke up choking on a scream.,he just had a nightmare called dream.

His body shot upright in bed, lungs burning, heart slamming so hard it hurt. Sweat soaked through the expensive sheets, hair all scattered his forehead, breath coming out in sharp, broken gasps like he'd just outrun death,or maybe he just did.

For a second, he didn't know where he was.

Then the ceiling came into focus , smooth white, faint reflection of city lights ,and the familiar weight of his favorite expensive sheets tangled around his legs.

In his penthouse,the top floor and very safe

Except his hands were shaking.

Noah slowly lifted them into the dim light spilling through the glass wall.

They were clean,no blood or burns I could swear I saw blood on my hands,he panted.

But he could still feel it,the heat.

The sticky drag of blood between his fingers.

The sound God that sound,the screams,the voices were in dozens, both men,women and children.

A whole village crying out at once.

He squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched so hard it ached, dang not this again. He has been having hr dreams since when he was little.

The dream clung to him like smoke.

He'd been running.

Barefoot across dirt soaked dark and warm beneath his feet.

Fire everywhere , houses burning, roofs collapsing, sparks flying into a moon so bright it looked painted across the sky.

Like a silver color.

And then the woman.

She always came at the end.

Standing in the middle of the chaos like the flames couldn't touch her.

Long dark hair tangled down her back, dress torn and stained, silver eyes glowing so bright they hurt to look at.

Holding a baby,him.

She had looked straight at him, tears streaming down her face.

"Noah," she cried out.

Always his name,always that voice,soft ,breaking.

Like she'd been calling him his whole life.

Then the claws,very long and he couldn't explain.

Huge shadows leaping from the fire.

Steel flashing.

The baby screaming.

And blood ,so much blood .

Noah dragged a hand down his face, breathing hard.

"Jesus..." he whispered to the empty room.

His alarm clock Showed 3:17 a.m.

Again,same damn time

Every full moon.

Like clockwork.

He swung his legs off the bed and stood, bare feet sinking into the cold marble floor. The city stretched beneath his windows , lights, traffic, life going on like nothing in the universe was wrong.

Thirty floors below, people laughed in bars, fought in taxis, fell in love, broke up.

Normal people,very lucky people indeed

Noah walked to the glass wall and pressed his palm against it.

His reflection stared back.

Tall,handsome with his broad shoulders,sharp jaw,dark hair falling into his eyes he looked breath taken.

The face that covered magazines and business journals.

Youngest billionaire CEO in the country.

Everyone's golden boy.

No one ever wrote about the part where he woke up shaking from nightmares that felt more real than memory.

His phone buzzed on the nightstand.

A text.

Ethan:

Bro it's 3am. If you're still awake you need therapy or a boyfriend. Preferably both.

Noah huffed out a weak laugh.

Shut up bro, he muttered, typing back and smiling.

Noah:

Go to sleep. Some of us have real problems.

Ethan:

Yeah yeah. Try not to dream about murdering villages again.

Noah immediately froze,and slowly looked down his again

For half a second ,just half -

He swore they were red,wet,dripping ,whe he blinked his eyes

They were normal,dry ,clean

His pulse thundered in his ears.

You're losing it.

That's what he'd been telling himself for years.

Stress,too much work, not enough sleep

When you run a billion-dollar empire before thirty, your brain does weird shit.

That's what therapists said, one day,and Ethan his friend.

That's what Noah told himself.

Still...

He moved to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing cold water on his face. When he looked up, his reflection looked pale.

Tired,scared and thats the part no one ever saw.

Noah Vale didn't get scared.

He crushed competitors.

Fired executives without blinking.

Walked into boardrooms full of men twice his age and made them nervous.

But dreams? Nah,

Dreams had started owning him.

And they were getting worse, every time he had one.

He wiped his face and glanced back at the bed.

For a moment, he almost expected to see ash on the sheets.

Or claw marks in the mattress.

Or footprints that weren't his,but he saw nothing just his Gucci sheets and silence.

Noah exhaled slowly.

"Get it together," he told himself.

Tomorrow was important.

**********

His birthday, his big thirty and he is also in need of an assistant to relieve him of some stress.

Big board meeting.

Press conference.

Investors flying in from three continents.

Life didn't pause for nightmares.

Still...

As he crawled back into bed, the image of the silver-eyed woman burned behind his eyelids.

And somewhere deep in his chest, something stirred,like he feels something is trying to connect with him.

Like a part of him had heard his name being called...

And had finally started waking up.

**********

By sunrise, Noah Vale was already a legend again.

The city woke up to headlines screaming his name, and making Noah's name was making waves again.

VALE TECHNOLOGIES STOCK SOARS AFTER MIDNIGHT ACQUISITION

NOAH VALE: THE GENIUS BILLIONAIRE WHO NEVER SLEEPS

He read none of it.

By seven a.m., he was already dressed in a tailored black suit, hair perfectly styled, he barely tasted his coffee on the counter as he scanned three tablets at once.

At the penthouse,Noah was quiet. But at office,

CEO Noah vale was a machine.

By the time he walked into Vale Technologies, the entire building shifted.

People straightened themselves, assistants whispered pretending to tend to their computers.

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

Executives checked their posture.

Because when Noah Vale moved through the halls, power followed like a shadow.

He didn't raise his voice,or threaten them ,he isn't need to

One look from those dark eyes and grown men remembered deadlines they had forgotten, contracts they'd messed up, mistakes they prayed he hadn't noticed.

And the thing was he noticed everything, every nervous twitch, fake smile, every lie,he is that good.

"Morning, Mr. Vale," his secretary said, practically vibrating.

"Morning, Claire," he replied calmly, already skimming a report. "Why is the Singapore merger still pending?

She froze. "B-Because legal....."

"Legal had three days," Noah said mildly. "Fix it before lunch."

"Yes, sir." She replied back almost immediately.

When is my next meeting he asked her, Boardroom meeting by 8am , and Market calls by nine sir.

By the time lunch came, Noah had made decisions that ruined two careers and created six new millionaires.

He is Efficient,ruthless and very Brilliant.

That was the version the world worshipped.

What they didn't see was the way his phone screen lit up at 12:03 p.m.

Mom ❤️:

Did you eat yet, sweetheart?

He smiled without meaning to.

Typed back with one hand while signing documents with the other.

Noah:

Working on it. Love you.Mum

His parents were the only people who didn't treat him like a god or a weapon.

To them, he was still the little boy they'd adopted at two years old.

***********

The quiet child with big eyes who used to cry at thunderstorms and sleep curled between them until they sang a lullaby for him to sleep .

They were ruthless with everyone else.

With him? He was still their little boy,

Proud in a way that made his chest ache sometimes.

They called him their miracle.

Their legacy,and their whole world.

And maybe that was why he worked like a man running from something.

Because when work stopped...

The silence came back.

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

By six p.m., the building emptied.

By eight, Noah was still in his office.

Tie loosened,he had his shirt sleeves rolled up.

Eyes burning from screens.

The city glowed outside his window, dark and alive and tempting.

And still...he stayed.

Until the door burst open without knocking.

"NOPE."

Noah flinched,i thought i told you i didnt want any disturbance,thinking his secretary allowed another visitor,when he turned around it was Ethan.

What the hell.......

Ethan Rivers stood there with a grin and a leather jacket, holding two coffees and pure chaos in human form.

"You are DONE," Ethan announced. "Close the laptop.

"No," Noah said flatly, not even looking up.

"Close. The. Damn. Laptop Noah.

"No."

Ethan walked over and slammed it shut himself.

Noah finally looked up, eyes sharp. "Do you have a death wish?"

"Relax, billionaire Batman," Ethan said, dropping into the chair. "If you don't leave this office right now, I'm calling your mother and telling her you skipped dinner."

Noah stiffened.

"...You wouldn't dare, ooh try me.

Then Noah sighed, long and tired, rubbing his face.

"You are the worst." Do you know that.

"I know. That's why you love me." Ethan grinned. "Come on. You've been working for eighteen hours straight. When was the last time you had fun?"

Noah thought about it.

Actually thought.

His brain came up blank.

"That's... not concerning at all," Ethan muttered.

Ten minutes later, Noah was in the passenger seat of Ethan's sports car, staring out the window like a man being kidnapped.

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

They ended up at some quiet late-night diner very cozy, vinyl booths, the kind of place that smelled like fries and regret.

Ethan ordered burgers, fries, milkshakes.

Noah ordered water.

Of course he did.

They sat in silence for a minute.

Then Ethan leaned back, studying him.

You look like shit.

"Good evening to you too."

"No, seriously," Ethan said softer. "You're exhausted, man. You ever think about... I don't know... living? Or just take a break.

Noah snorted. "I live."

You work,Same thing.

"Wrong." Ethan pointed a fry at him. "When was the last time someone touched you?"

Noah choked on his water.

"WHAT......

"Sexually, Noah. I meant sexually."

"Jesus Christ, Ethan! You are gross .

The waiter glanced over.

Ethan waved cheerfully. "Sorry, family discussion.

Noah rubbed his temples. "Can we not do this?"

"No, we cannot," Ethan said smugly. "It's been what, eight months? Nine? Since someone last rocked your world? Like sucked your d**k real good that you had shaky legs.

"That is none of your business."

"That's a yes."

Noah glared. "I am busy."

Busy my ass. You're lonely boo.

Silence,guess that one landed too close.

Ethan softened. "Bro... you work, you sleep, you work again. No vacations. No dates. No fun. You're almost thirty in a few months, you are hot and rich and miserable."

"I'm not miserable."

"You had a panic nightmare last night and texted me 'do you ever feel like you don't belong in your own skin' at 3:21 a.m."

Noah froze.

"...Delete that."

"Too late. Screenshot."

They shared a small smile.

Then Ethan leaned forward, eyes lighting up.

"Which brings me to my genius plan."Nah

"I haven't even said it yet."

"It's still no."

"Dating app,absolutely not .

"YES."No,

"Bro, I will personally make your profile."

"No."

"I will pick the hottest men in a ten-mile radius." Or even in another country as long as you get yourself hooked.

"Ethan."

"It has been TOO LONG since someone fucked you real good."

"ETHAN-"

Ethan laughed so hard he almost fell off the booth.

"Look at you blushing! Oh my god, the mighty Noah Vale still gets shy!

"I do not get shy,you are red.

"It's the lighting."

"Sure, Mr. Billionaire Virgin-Energy."

Noah groaned, dropping his head onto the table.

"Why are we friends."

"Because I keep you from turning into a corporate vampire," Ethan said. "Which is ironic, now that I think about it."

Noah stiffened.

"...What?"

"Nothing. Bad joke."

They ate,and laughed

They laughed.

For the first time in days, Noah felt something loosen in his chest.

And maybe , just maybe -

When Ethan secretly downloaded a dating app onto Noah's phone...

It wasn't the worst idea in the world.

He just didn't know yet...

That somewhere out there...

Fate was already moving.

And the man who would ruin his life...

Was about to walk straight into his world.

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

The whisper came first,not loud, it wasnt dramatic,it felt wrong.

Noah was in the middle of a board meeting, seated at the head of a glass table that probably cost more than most people's cars, when he heard it.

"...don't trust him..."

Soft,thin,Like breath sliding through cracks in a wall.

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

He froze.

Around him, twenty executives kept talking.

About profit margins,expansion plans. Some people explaining why Singapore was still behind schedule.

But the whisper wasn't coming from the table.

It was coming from the wall behind him.

Noah's pen stilled between his fingers, trying to figure out whats happening to him.

He slowly turned his head.

The wall was solid marble, there was no vents. No doors. Nothing.

"...he's watching..."

He felt an ache in his stomach, but no one else reacted, or even pause

No one even blinked.

Noah's heart started racing.

Okay, no,nope. Absolutely not.

He straightened, forced his face into calm, and focused back on the meeting.

"You were saying?" he said coolly, cutting into the CFO's rambling.

The man jumped. "I-uh-yes, sir. As I was saying.....

...run...

There it was again, this time it was much clearer and closer.

Noah's fingers tightened around the pen until it cracked.

That was it.

He stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly across the floor.

Everyone shut up, he yelled out loud.

Twenty pairs of eyes snapped to him.

The whisper vanished immediately,and silence filled the room.

Noah forced a breath.

"Take five," he said evenly. "I need fresh air."

No one argued,they never did.

He walked out like nothing was wrong.

But inside?

Inside, his mind was on fire.

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

By the time he reached his office, his hands were shaking.

He shut the door, locked it, and leaned back against it like a man running from ghosts.

Okay,lets be logical, he hadn't ,had a proper rest in forever.

He worked too much.

He drank too much coffee.

Stress hallucinations were a thing, right?

He pushed away from the door and went to his desk.

That's when he smelled it.the rain,fresh,and clean.

The scent of wet asphalt and cold wind.

Noah frowned,maybe he was overthinking it.

He walked to the window and looked out.

The sky was clear and not a single cloud in sight.

*******

About 30 minutes later, thunder cracked so loud the building shook and there comes the rain so heavily,it slammed down in sheets.

Noah just stared.

"...what the hell...

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

The rest of the day got worse.

He heard someone say his name when no one was near.

He answered a question someone hadn't asked out loud.

Once.

Later that day, he had convinced himself of one thing.

I am officially losing my damn mind.

So when his driver pulled up that evening, Noah didn't argue.

"Take me home," he said tiredly.

He rested his head as they past he city, the tinted windows made no one notice the stress he has undergone today.

Ethan's voice echoed in his head.

You're lonely, boo.

You don't belong in your own skin.

Noah closed his eyes.

"...shut up," he muttered, not sure if he meant Ethan or his own thoughts.

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

The penthouse was silent when he got home.it felt so empty,of course he was alone in the big house.

He kicked off his shoes, loosened his tie, and poured himself a glass of water he forgot to drink.

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

His reflection in the kitchen mirror looked wrong, but still very handsome and looking sharp.

But his eyes looked older, tired in a way sleep didnt fix.

He leaned both hands on the counter.

"What is happening to me..." he whispered.

No one answered,just the sound of the refrigerator.

He sighed and flopped onto the couch, staring at the ceiling.

That's when his phone buzzed

Dating app.

The cursed thing Ethan had installed.

Noah groaned.

"Oh dang , I forgot about you..."

He unlocked his phone, stared at the icon for a long second, then sighed.

Fine. One look. Then I delete this and pretend it never happened.

He opened it,profiles flooded the screen with smiling men, hot and sexy looking guys,

Bathroom mirror disasters.

He swiped,left,left and left,he paused at one nah

"Too young... no... why are you holding a fish... sir please put your shirt back on..."

He stopped on one.

Lucas,32 years, tall,has broad shoulders,cute smile, Noah tilted his head.

"...hmm."

Then squinted,his too pretty,it seems like a fake

"Nah," he muttered, swiping left.

More scrolling, an hour passed, then two

His phone battery dropped to forty percent.

He sighed and tossed the phone onto the couch.

"I told Ethan this was a waste of time..."

He rubbed his face.

At least it distracted him from the whispers.

Just as he was about to stand up,then he heardhis phone ping,a notification.

He froze.

Slowly picked up the phone.

You have a new match.

His heart jumped like he'd been caught stealing.

"...what?"

He opened it.

The profile loaded

And then........

He stopped breathing.

Dark hair,very sharp jawline,he is smoky hot

Soft eyes that looked like they hid too much.

A crooked half-smile that did illegal things to Noah's nervous system.

Name: Louis, 31

Bio: New to the city. Likes late-night coffee and bad movies. Looking for something real.

Noah stared for some minutes.

And then whispered, very softly, very stupidly:

"...oh. This one. Yes."

He smiled at his phone like an idiot.

Typed something then he deleted it typed again and deleted again.

"Don't be weird, don't be weird..."

Finally he sent a message Noah: Hi 🙂

Three seconds passed, five,ten,and then the response came back.

Immediate reply.

Louis: Hey. Didn't expect a match with you 😉

Noah's heart did a full backflip.

"...he knows who I am??"

He typed back fast.

Noah: Guilty 😅 Hope that's not a problem.

Louis: Not at all. Kind of exciting, actually.

Noah bit his lip, already blushing so hard.

Yessssss.

Ethan was going to be unbearable about this.

They talked,about work,movies,

About how Louis had just moved into the city.

He was funny.

Smooth, but not cocky.

Flirted just enough to make Noah blush like a teenager.

For the first time all day ,Noah was relaxed,he laughed out loud

In his empty penthouse.

Maybe...

Maybe Ethan was right.

**********

Far away.

In a marble chamber soaked in candlelight and old blood...

Marcus Blackwood lowered the phone from his face.

The fake profile glowed in his hand.

Louis, 31.

He had chosen the pictures carefully.

Chosen the tone,chosen every word.

Across the hall, Elara watched from the shadows.

"Well?" she asked softly I think he bought it

He answered.

A slow, dangerous smile curved her lips.

"The prophecy child has taken the bait."

Marcus looked back at the screen.

At Noah's name.

At the last message glowing there.

Something twisted in his chest,not guilt, just curiosity..

"Phase one," Elara said quietly.

Marcus swallowed hard

"...activated."

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