BLOODBOUND:BENEATH THE MOON

Noah decided, very firmly, that he hated birthdays, he doesn't just like the attention,cake was fine.

Not gifts either. He liked gifts. Expensive gifts, thoughtful gifts, awkward gifts from Ethan that always came with a joke.

What he hated was the attention.

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

The speeches, cameras,

The "youngest billionaire CEO" headlines that made him sound like a museum exhibit instead of a human being.

And apparently, his parents had decided that thirty was not just a birthday,it's going to be an event.

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

"You are absolutely not canceling this," his mother said over the phone that morning, voice already in full celebration mode. "Thirty is very important, Noah. It's a milestone."

"It's a number," Noah replied, wedging the phone between his shoulder and ear while tying his tie,A very rude number mum.

His father laughed in the background.We already booked the venue, Noah closed his eyes,

"Of course you did."

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

"Celebrities are coming," his mother continued happily, and senators, and the board, and that actor you like

I do not like that actor mum.

"You absolutely do,you watched all his movies."

"That was a research job mum and nothing more.

She ignored him. "It will be glamorous. Elegant. Perfect."

"No pressure," Noah muttered.

"And the moon will be full that night," she added casually.

Noah froze, he over react to things now.

What?

"Yes, the silver moon. Very romantic, isn't it?" she said. "Your father said it was a good omen."

A strange chill slid down Noah's spine.

He laughed it off, forcing it. "Great. Love that for me."

When the call ended, he stood in his bedroom for a long moment, staring at nothing.

Full moon,

Why did that word suddenly feel... heavy?

He shook his head,nah stop it..

You're not a werewolf in a bad Netflix show.

Still, unease followed him all the way to work.

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

If birthdays stressed him out...

Louis distracted him.

Completely, at least he doesn't think much about work by the time he got to his office, Noah had already exchanged fifteen messages with him.

Louis: Morning, billionaire.

Noah smiled at his phone like a teenager.

Noah: Morning, mysterious hot stranger.

Louis: You say that like you're not also a mysterious hot billionaire.

Noah: I am not mysterious. I'm just tired.

Louis: Tired men are my weakness.

Noah actually laughed out loud, hmmmm sexy,

Claire poked her head into the office. "Sir?"

"Sorry," Noah said quickly, clearing his throat. What's up?

Your ten o'clock is here, send them in.

He set the phone face down,focused or tried to.

But all through the meeting, his thoughts kept drifting.

To the way Louis typed,how he imagined kissing him.

To the voice he imagined behind those messages.

To how easy it felt to talk to him.

At lunch, Ethan appeared at his door like clockwork.

"So," he announced, dropping into the chair. "How's my matchmaking genius doing?"

Noah tried very hard not to smile,failed.

Ethan gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD."

"No," Noah said immediately,I can see you smiling.

Nah,am not.

"You are glowing."

"I am not glowing."

Ethan slapped the desk. "HE'S REAL."

Noah sighed, but he couldn't hide it anymore. "His name is Louis."

"LOUIS," Ethan repeated like it was sacred. "Tell me everything handsome.

"He's... funny. Smart. Calm," Noah said softly. "He listens."

Ethan's grin softened. "Look at you. Catching feelings already huh

I am not....He paused. Then quietly, "Okay, maybe a little."

When are you meeting?

Noah hesitated. "I asked him last night."

"And?"

"He said soon."

Ethan wiggled his eyebrows. "Soon is good. Soon means naked and getting laid eventually."

"ETHAN."

"I'm just saying."

Despite himself, Noah laughed.

For the first time in years, he felt... excited about something that wasn't work.

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

That night, after twelve straight hours of meetings and calls, Noah collapsed onto his bed with his phone.

Louis was already typing.

Louis: Long day?

Noah: You have no idea.

Louis: Want to complain to a very handsome stranger?

Noah smiled

They talked for hours.

About childhood memories.

Bad first dates,first kiss,favorite color.

At some point, the conversation shifted.

Slowed,softened.

Louis: Can I ask you something a little... personal?

Noah swallowed.

Noah: Depends,Will I regret it?

Louis: Probably.

Noah laughed. "Try me."

Louis: What do you look like when you're not in CEO mode?

Noah hesitated.

Then stood, walked to the mirror, loosened his shirt a little, took a quick picture, collar open, hair messy,his abs were in the right places looking all sexy.

He click sent.

Louis: ...

Louis: Noah.

Noah's heart raced.

Noah: What?

Louis: You are unfair.

Noah laughed, cheeks burning

Louis: That dangerous.

Heat rushed through him.

Louis sent a photo back.

Just him leaning against a wall, dark hair damp like he'd just showered, his eyes intense and warm at the same time.

Noah stared.

"...Oh."

Louis: Still breathing?

Noah: Barely.

They both went quiet.

Then........

Louis: I really want to meet you.

Noah's pulse jumped.

Noah: Me too.

Louis: After your birthday.

Noah blinked. "How do you know my birthday is coming up.

"You told me," Louis replied. "Three days ago. You said you hate them."

Oh that's true,he relaxed

He relaxed.

Noah: My parents are throwing this huge thing. I might actually die from social interaction, i really dont love parties.

Louis: I'll rescue you after.

Noah smiled at the thought.

Noah: Promise?

Louis: I promise.

Across the city, Marcus lowered the phone slowly.

His heart was doing something dangerous.

Something he hadn't felt in decades.

This wasn't supposed to feel like this.

He was supposed to be collecting information.

Not wondering what Noah's laugh sounded like in real life.

Not replaying the photo in his mind.

Not wanting to kiss him so badly,and make love to him.

He shut the thought down.

Focus, Marcus.

Soon, he told himself.

Soon, I'll meet him.

And then...

He didn't finish the thought.

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

Two days before the party, the unease came back.

Stronger this time around.

Noah woke from a dream breathing so fast and his heart raciag like he just did a race.

He saw the claws, fire.

A woman crying his name.

When he looked at the clock, it was 3:17 a.m.

Full moon tonight, his mind whispered.

He sat up, breathing hard.

"Get it together," he muttered.

At breakfast, his mother hugged him too tightly.

"You're nervous," she said knowingly.

"I'm fine."

You've been quiet lately Noah what happened.

He forced a smile. "Just tired."

That evening, Ethan dragged him out to pick a suit for the party.

"You have to look criminally hot," Ethan declared. "This is your villain origin birthday."

Noah rolled his eyes but let him choose.

Black suit, with silver cufflinks.

When he tried it on, even he had to admit...

Damn. Am very handsome you know, he told Ethan.

That night, Louis messaged him again.

Louis: Big day tomorrow.

Noah: Don't remind me.

Louis: Nervous?

Noah: A little.

Louis: Wish I could be there.

Noah's heart skipped a bit

Noah: I wish that too.

There was a pause.

Then-

Louis: After the party... come with me somewhere quiet.

Hmmmmmmmmm is someone asking me out???

Like... a date?

Louis: Like the kind of night you don't forget.

His face was blushing.

Noah: You're very confident.

Louis: Only because I really want you.

And every where was quiet,thick and charged

Noah typed slowly.

Noah: I really want you too.

On the other side of the city, Marcus closed his eyes.

This was bad.

Because the closer the full moon came...

The closer the mission came.

And the more he realized something terrifying.

He wasn't just falling for his target.

He was about to lose him.

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

The night before his birthday, as Noah stood on his balcony staring at the rising silver moon, unease coiled in his chest again.

The moon looked... brighter than usual.

Closer,watching then he heard his phone buzzed

Louis: Sleep well, birthday boy.

Noah smiled softly.

Noah: I'll try.

Louis: Tomorrow changes everything.

Noah frowned. "What do you mean?"

Louis took a moment to reply.

Louis: Just... trust me.

The message sent a strange shiver through him.

As he set the phone down, thunder rumbled in the distance.

Even though the sky was clear.

And somewhere far away...

Fate sharpened its knives.

Because by this time tomorrow...

Noah Vale would no longer be just a billionaire.

He would become something else entirely.

And the man he was falling for...

Would be standing right at the center of the storm.