chapter six

The Vale family knew how to throw a party, and it’s very extravagant.

A Vale gala was the kind of event people talked about for months after it ended. The kind where politicians, billionaires, celebrities, and investors all gathered under the same apartment, pretending they didn’t secretly hate each other.

***********

The ballroom of the Vale estate looked like something pulled straight out of a movie.

Crystal lights shimmered from the high ceiling. A string quartet played softly near the balcony. Waiters moved smoothly through the crowd carrying trays of champagne and expensive wine.

Everything was polished,very Elegant and perfect.

Which was exactly why Noah Vale hated it.

He stood behind a velvet curtain near the stage, adjusting the cuff of his black suit like it had personally offended him.

“I swear,” Noah muttered, “if I survive tonight, I’m banning galas from the company forever.

Behind him, Ethan his bestie laughed.

“You say that every year.”

“Because every year I mean it.”

Ethan walked around him and straightened Noah’s tie with exaggerated seriousness.

“Relax. You’re the golden boy tonight.”

“I don’t want to be the golden boy.”

“You’re the CEO,” Ethan said. “You don’t get a choice.”

Across the ballroom, hundreds of guests mingled under the warm lights. Investors from all over the world had shown up tonight. People who owned banks. People who owned entire countries if you believed the rumors.

And every single one of them expected a speech.

From him.

“I hate large parties,” Noah muttered again.

Ethan smirked.

“You don’t hate parties. You hate pretending to be polite.”

“That too.”

Ethan leaned closer with a grin.

“Just imagine Marcus is somewhere in the room.”

Noah froze, haha , don’t start.

Ethan raised both hands innocently.

“Hey, I’m just saying. Your mysterious investor friend might be here.”

Noah shot him a look.

“Marcus isn’t my friend.”

“Right.”

“And he’s not mysterious.”

“Uh huh.”

Ethan’s grin widened.

“You’ve been thinking about him all week.”

Noah ignored him.

But the annoying part?

Ethan wasn’t entirely wrong.

The club bathroom scene had been stuck in Noah’s head for days.

Marcus’ voice.

Marcus’ hands pinning his wrists.

Marcus whispering like he was fighting himself.

Tell me you don’t feel this.

Noah bite down of his lips.

“Focus,” Ethan said, nudging him toward the stage. “Speech time, Mr. CEO.”

Before Noah could argue, the event coordinator gave him the signal.

Showtime, Mr vale.

Noah took a slow breath and walked out onto the stage.

The room quieted almost immediately.

Hundreds of eyes turned toward him.

Flashes from cameras lit the room like quick bursts of lightning.

Noah stepped up to the podium smoothly, adjusting the microphone.

From the outside, he looked calm and confident.

The perfect heir to the Vale empire.

Inside?

He was already counting the minutes until this was over.

“Good evening everyone,” Noah began, his voice carrying easily through the ballroom.

A ripple of polite applause moved through the crowd.

“On behalf of my parents and the entire Vale family, I want to thank all of you for being here tonight.”

Noah continued speaking, his tone smooth and practiced.

“ValeTech was built on trust, partnership, and innovation. None of what we’ve accomplished over the years would be possible without the investors and collaborators who believed in our vision.”

The audience listened attentively.

Investors nodded approvingly.

Cameras kept flashing, clicking.

Noah’s speech flowed naturally. Years of public appearances had made this routine.

But halfway through his sentence…

He felt the presence of someone in the crowd.

Just a small ripple near the entrance.

Noah’s eyes scanned toward the large double doors at the far end of the ballroom.

They doors were opened, he saw a man walked in.

He moved through the room slowly like he wasn’t impressed by the luxury surrounding him.

Conversations around the entrance quieted slightly.

People turned to look.

But the man didn’t seem interested in any of them.

His gaze stayed fixed on one person.

Noah vale.

Something about the way he looked at him made Noah pause for half a second.

Just long enough for Ethan—standing near the stage—to notice.

Noah recovered instantly and continued his speech.

“…and as we look toward the future of ValeTech, we remain committed to innovation that changes lives—”

But his focus kept drifting back to the stranger.

The man had stopped near the back of the ballroom now.

Standing perfectly still, watching.

The lights caught his face briefly.

Se looks very handsome,sharp features.

Dark eyes that didn’t blink.

And somehow…

The way he looked at Noah didn’t feel like admiration.

It felt like assessment.

Like a hunter studying something across a field.

A strange chill slid down Noah’s spine.

Still, he finished his speech smoothly.

“…so tonight, we celebrate not just success, but the partnerships that made it possible. Thank you all for being here.”

The room erupted into applause.

Guests stood.

Champagne glasses lifted.

Noah stepped away from the podium, forcing a polite smile.

But his eyes moved straight back to the man at the entrance.

Still there watching him.

Ethan appeared beside him instantly.

“You paused during the speech.”

Noah didn’t answer.

Ethan followed his gaze across the ballroom.

“Oh,” Ethan murmured.

“Yeah,” Noah said quietly.

“Who’s that?”

“No idea.”

Across the room, the man finally moved.

He walked deeper into the ballroom slowly, guests parting slightly around him.

Something about his presence made people instinctively give him space.

Ethan tilted his head.

“That guy looks like trouble.”

Noah watched him approach.

“Yeah.”

A moment later, the event coordinator whispered something to Noah.

“There’s someone asking to meet you,” she said softly.

“Who?”

She glanced toward the man.

“Kris Heather.”

Noah blinked.

“Kris Heather?”

The name meant nothing to him.

Yet the way the man looked at him felt like they’d been connected long before this moment.

Across the room, Kris Heather finally stopped walking.

Only a few feet away now.

Up close, the man looked even more striking.

And a faint smile that didn’t quite reach them.

Guests nearby continued chatting, unaware of the tension building quietly between the two men.

Noah stepped forward politely.

“Mr. Heather,” he said.

Kris studied him for a long moment.

Then finally spoke, with his calm voice.

“You’re exactly what they said you’d be.”

Noah frowned slightly.

“And what did they say?”

Kris’ smile deepened.

But his eyes remained cold.

“They said you wouldn’t know.

Know what exactly?

Kris leaned closer slightly.

His voice dropped just enough so only Noah could hear.

“I didn’t come here as a guest.”

Noah’s breath caught.

Kris’ gaze locked onto his.

I came for a purpose

Guests laughed.

Champagne glasses clinked.

But in that moment, the air around Noah Vale suddenly felt very different.

And somewhere outside the estate grounds…

Hidden in the darkness beyond the gates…

The vampires and werewolves were watching.

Because if even a single drop of blood spilled tonight…

The prophecy would start waking.

And the war between wolves and vampires would no longer stay buried.

But Noah Vale didn’t know that yet.

All he knew was the man standing in front of him had just walked into his life like a storm.

And whatever purpose Kris Heather had come for…

It was going to change everything.