Chapter Two:The Problem With Marcus Blackwood

Marcus Blackwood had a problem.

And the problem’s name was Noah Vale.

Marcus stood in the dark apartment across the street from ValeTech Tower, one hand resting on the windowsill as he watched the building like a hunter studying prey.

Thirty-two floors up, lights burned in the CEO office.

Noah was still there.

Of course he was.

Marcus had already read the man’s entire schedule twice tonight. The youngest CEO in ValeTech history worked like he had something to prove to the entire world.

But that wasn’t the part bothering Marcus.

No.

What bothered him was the way Noah had looked at him in the garage last night.

Not afraid, or confused, he was f**king looking at me closely.

********

Marcus had spent his whole life around fear. Humans usually sensed something dangerous about him even if they didn’t understand why.

But Noah Vale?

The man had leaned closer.

Like he wanted to see the monster better, he was fearless if I must say.

Marcus exhaled slowly and opened the file on his tablet again.

NOAH VALE

Age: 30

Occupation: CEO, ValeTech Industries

Adopted by: TheVales family.

Marcus had already memorized every word, every line.

But the deeper he dug, the stranger things became.

No hospital birth record, no trace about his adoption , it was a clean slate.

No real explanation for where the billionaire couple had found a baby boy thirty years ago.

Which meant one thing.

The Elders were right.

Marcus stared up at the glowing office window again.

You really are the one.

The hybrid heir.

Half vampire.

Half werewolf.

A living mistake powerful enough to start a war that had nearly destroyed both clans centuries ago.

Marcus should have ended it already.

That had been the mission.

Get close,Confirm identity.

Kill him before the prophecy awakened.

So why the hell was Marcus still standing here watching him?

Because Noah Vale wasn’t what Marcus expected.

Cold CEOs usually hid behind arrogance and security teams.

But Noah had walked into that empty parking garage alone.

Had stood his ground.

Had smiled like danger excited him.

Marcus rubbed a hand down his face.

And there was something else too.

Something far more annoying.

Marcus could still picture the exact moment Noah looked up at him.

With his sexy Grey eyes and his sharp mouth.

Marcus had seen beautiful people before.

Vampires practically invented beauty.

But Noah Vale had something different.

Something rougher, more human and very tempting.

Marcus pushed the thought away immediately.

Ridiculous.

Humans weren’t tempting.

Humans were weak and gullible.

Yet here Marcus was.

Still watching.

Still thinking about the way Noah’s voice had dropped when he asked, What do you want?

Marcus muttered under his breath.

“This is stupid.”

Then he picked up his coat.

Because clearly the only way to deal with this problem was to get closer to his target.

**********

Meanwhile Noah was having the exact same thoughts about The stranger he met at the garage last night.

His problem had broad shoulders, dark eyes, and the most dangerous voice Noah had ever heard.

Noah groaned softly and rubbed his hands over his face.

This was ridiculous.

He didn’t obsess over random men he met in parking garages.

He was a CEO.

He ran a multibillion-dollar company.

He had investors breathing down his neck and board members waiting for him to screw up.

And yet—

His brain kept replaying Marcus standing there at the garage alone with all his abs in the right places.

Watching him, studying like Noah was some puzzle he intended to solve.

Noah leaned back in his chair trying to pretend he wasn’t having dirty thoughts about this dude.

There had been something in Marcus’ eyes.

Something dark, very possessive.

Like the man could snap a room in half if he wanted to.

And for some reason that thought made heat crawl slowly through Noah’s chest.

Noah swore under his breath.

“Get a grip.

But the images kept coming anyway.

Marcus standing closer.

Marcus gripping his wrist, and cuffing him to the bed,

Marcus leaning down And kissing his nipples softly..before he could realize he was already jerking precum in his pants.

“Nope.”

Noah shot upright in his chair.

Absolutely not.

He was not about to sit here fantasizing about a stranger like some hormonal teenager.

A loud knock on the apartment door interrupted him.

“Door’s open,” Noah called.

A second later Ethan strolled in carrying two takeout bags and the kind of grin that meant trouble.

“There he is,” Ethan said cheerfully. “The corporate tyrant himself.”

Noah snorted.

You’re late buddy.

“Traffic. Also your building security hates me.”

“They hate everyone.”

Ethan dropped onto the couch like he owned the place.

Which, to be fair, he practically did.

Ethan had been Noah’s best friend since college, he was loud and very chaotic.

Completely unimpressed by billionaire status.

Which was probably why Noah trusted him.

Ethan tossed Noah a drink.

“So,” he said casually. “Why do you look like you haven’t slept?”

Noah opened his mouth but the words was so heavy to spill out.

He was absolutely not about to explain that he’d been thinking about some mysterious guy all night.

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

“Oh no.”

“What?”

“That look means something happened.”

“No it doesn’t.”

“Dude,” Ethan said dryly, “I’ve known you for ten years. Spill.”

Noah hesitated.

Then sighed.

“Fine.”

Ethan leaned forward eagerly.

“This better be good.”

Noah ran a hand through his hair.

Met someone last night.

Ethan blinked twice.

Waoh, you don’t say.

“You met someone?”

“Yes.”

“At work?”

“Sort of.”

Ethan stared at him.

Then slowly grinned.

“Oh this is incredible.”

“Don’t start.”

“No, no,” Ethan laughed. “Continue. Tell me about the mysterious stranger who managed to distract Noah Vale from spreadsheets.”

Noah rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at his mouth.

“He was… weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Like he knew something about me.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow.

“That’s not creepy at all.”

“No,” Noah admitted quietly. “It should have been.”

“But?”

Noah looked away, but it wasn’t.

Ethan studied him carefully now.

“Okay,” he said slowly. “Now I’m curious.”

Noah shrugged.

“He just… looked at me differently.”

Ethan smirked.

“Oh my god.”

“What in the world is going on MR CEO.

“You’re attracted to him.”

Noah scoffed immediately.

“I am not.”

“You are absolutely attracted to him.”

“No I’m not.”

“You met a mysterious, probably dangerous guy in a parking garage and now you’re thinking about him.”

Ethan’s grin widened.

“Wow,” Ethan said. “You’re doomed.”

Noah grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

“Shut up.”

But even as they laughed, something cold slid slowly down Noah’s spine.

Because somewhere deep inside…

He had the strange feeling that Marcus Blackwood wasn’t just a random stranger.

And whatever game the man was playing—

Noah was already in it.

***********