Chapter Text
In a dive bar called the Watchtower, a distracted young man was cleaning the same spot on the bar counter for what had to be the tenth time.
Beck barely noticed.
His thoughts were somewhere else entirely.
Back on the street.
Back at the market.
Back with a pair of beautiful green eyes and a sweet little boy who had somehow managed to lodge themselves firmly inside his thoughts.
He slowly dragged the cloth across the polished wood again, his mind replaying what had happened earlier that day.
Those green eyes.
He could still see them.
And that little boy…
Beck smiled despite himself.
There had been something about the child’s laughter that had caught him completely off guard. Something warm. Something bright. Something that had made the usually noisy world around him seem just a little quieter.
He stopped wiping.
For a moment, he simply stared at the cloth in his hand.
Who were they?
And why, after only meeting them for such a short time, couldn’t he stop thinking about them?
Beck drifted back into the memory again, so completely lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice the man approaching from behind him.
The clink of glass finally broke through the fog when several drink containers were set down behind the bar.
Beck blinked and turned.
A broad-shouldered man stood there, carrying another armful of drinks. His voice was deep and rough when he spoke.
“Hey, warrior. What’s going on? It’s not like you to be not all here.”
Beck stared at him for a moment.
Then he glanced down at the cloth still trapped in his hand.
He looked at the exact same spot on the counter he had apparently been cleaning for the better part of the evening.
He sighed.
“Was I that obvious?”
The man gave him a look.
“You’ve been cleaning that spot so long, I was starting to think you were trying to polish your way through the bar.”
Beck looked down at the counter.
“…I may have gotten distracted.”
“Clearly.”
The man set the remaining drinks down and leaned against the back counter, studying him.
“So,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “What’s got our warrior wandering off into the waves?”
Beck looked up from the stall as the familiar figure approached.
For a moment, he could almost see a slightly older version of himself standing there.
It was his father, Alistair, the owner of the Watchtower.
Beck let out a small sigh and straightened from where he had been tending the counter.
“Dad…”
Alistair’s expression softened.
“Today at the market, something strange happened.”
He paused, searching for the right words.
“I was manning the stall. Mom went off to get some things for tonight, and I met a man and his child.”
Alistair’s eyebrow lifted.
Beck’s expression shifted as the memory returned.
“The child’s hair… Dad, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. Every color you could think of, all woven together like it belonged that way. People were staring, but the child didn’t even notice.”
He gave a faint, almost disbelieving laugh.
“It was beautiful. Wrong, but… beautiful.”
Alistair didn’t interrupt, but his attention sharpened.
Beck hesitated.
“But it wasn’t just the child. The man…”
He stopped, swallowing.
How could he explain something he barely understood himself?
“The man carried this light with him, Dad.”
Alistair straightened slightly.
“What kind of light?”
“I don’t know.”
Beck looked down at his hands.
“But when our hands touched”
His voice dropped to barely a whisper.
“I heard my song.”
Alistair stared at his son for a long moment, one eyebrow slowly rising.
“You heard your song?”
Beck nodded.
“The complete song?” Alistair asked, his voice suddenly more serious. “Not just half a melody?”
“The complete song.”
Alistair studied him carefully.
“Do you still hear it now?”
Beck nodded again.
“Yes.”
His expression softened as he listened to something only he could hear.
“I can still hear it.”
A small smile touched his lips.
“I wish I could listen to it forever, but…”
His voice trailed off.
Alistair smiled knowingly.
“But you don’t know why.”
Beck looked at his father.
“No.”
Alistair reached across the counter and rested a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Then perhaps, warrior, that’s the part you’re supposed to discover.”
“Dad, you and I both know why.”
Beck gave him a pointed look.
“Don’t act mysterious on me now. For someone like me to care about someone outside of our family, there’s only one reason.”
He paused.
“Only one person.”
Beck glared at his father.
Alistair answered with a deep laugh, shaking his head.
“Can’t help it. Your grandfather gave me that same line when I was your age.”
Beck groaned.
“Of course he did.”
Alistair chuckled again before his expression softened.
“But all jokes aside…”
He leaned against the counter, studying his son.
“The real question is…”
He paused deliberately.
“Do you have a name?”
“Um… I actually…”
Beck hesitated.
“No. I did not.”
Alistair raised an eyebrow.
“It happened so fast. It happened at Mom’s stall, and you know how busy it gets and…”
Beck’s words tumbled together until Alistair lifted a hand.
“Well, first things first.”
He held up one finger.
“Find their name.”
A second finger followed.
“Then make a plan.”
A third.
“And gather information.”
Beck stared at him.
Alistair continued as though he were explaining the most obvious thing in the world.
“If he is your One, then you should know everything you can about him before you approach him again.”
“Everything?”
“Within reason,” Alistair added.
Beck gave him a skeptical look.
Alistair ignored it.
“Ask one of your mother’s people if they saw the boy earlier today. Someone must have noticed them.”
He paused.
“You did get a good look at him, right?”
Beck’s expression softened immediately.
“Yes.”
The answer came without hesitation.
“I don’t think I could forget those beautiful emerald eyes.”
Alistair looked at the lovestruck expression on his son’s face and smiled to himself.
He’s a goner.
With that thought, he gave Beck a gentle nudge toward the back room.
“Well, son, go talk to your mothers. See if they might have seen him earlier today.”
Beck nodded, still completely dazed.
“Right.”
He turned and walked toward the back of the Watchtower.
Behind a large oak door was something no ordinary human would ever expect to find beneath a dive bar.
A pool of water.
Beck stepped to the edge, took a breath, and dove in.
The moment the water closed over his head, the world above disappeared.
He swam deeper, following the familiar current through the underwater passageways that connected the Vikaaram communities scattered throughout New Orleans.
As he moved through the water, Beck couldn’t help thinking about the Current Keeper who had helped design the underwater highway. It had taken years of planning, weaving magic and water together to create safe passages between their homes.
And one of the builders from his mother’s clan had helped construct entire underwater residential complexes beneath the Mississippi itself.
To humans, the river was simply a river.
To the Vikaaram, it was a road.
A home.
A living network connecting their people.
Beck followed the current until the familiar lights of his family’s home appeared ahead.
He surfaced and climbed out of the water.
Inside, he found his mothers sitting together, enjoying tea and talking about the events of the day.
Beck approached quietly before politely interrupting them.
“Nana, Mama, I have a question for you both.”
Both women turned toward him.
Kesha smiled.
“Ask, little seeker.”
Evelyn nodded encouragingly.
“Yes. If there’s something you want to know, just ask, little one.”
Beck took a breath.
“Well, today I met a man and a child. The child had rainbow-colored hair and was looking at one of your night-lights.”
His expression softened as he remembered the moment.
“And when I touched the man’s hand…”
He paused.
“My Heart Song became complete.”
Both women went still.
“He was my True One.”
Beck continued, trying to describe the man as accurately as possible.
“He had long, messy black hair, a lightning-bolt scar, and the most beautiful emerald-green eyes.”
Before he could say anything else, Evelyn’s eyes widened.
“Oh! You mean that charming young man who was with Elder Sunny.”
Beck froze.
“You know him?”
Kesha nodded, picking up the thread.
“Yes. Elder Sunny was showing them around New Orleans. I was told the child was Elder Sunny’s goddaughter. She’s moving to the city permanently, along with her boyfriend and their friends.”
Beck’s heart gave a hopeful little jump.
Kesha smiled knowingly.
“Little one, go to Elder Sunny. He may know more about your True One.”
Beck’s face brightened.
“Thank you, Nana. Mama. You’ve been a big help.”
He gave them a soft smile before turning and heading back toward the pool.
A short while later, Beck returned to the Watchtower.
He went behind the bar and told his father and the other workers that he would be back soon.
Then he stepped outside.
His feet carried him through the streets until he reached Lune Noire.
He made his way around to the side entrance and gave the watcher the proper signal.
The entrance opened.
Beyond it was another pool, one that led directly into Elder Sunny’s grotto.
Beck entered the water and followed the familiar current beneath the city.
When he entered inside the grotto, he found Sunny already waiting for him.
The elder stood with his back turned, carefully weaving the memories of the day into small emotional crystals. Threads of light moved between his fingers as the memories settled into their new forms.
Beck had barely taken a step forward when Sunny spoke.
“Ah, young Threefold.”
He didn’t turn around.
“I have been expecting you.”
Beck studied the elder’s back for a moment before speaking.
“Elder Sunny, today you were taking some people on a tour of the city?”
“Yes, my moonbeam. My goddaughter and her friends recently moved to the city, so I was showing them around.”
Sunny glanced over his shoulder with a knowing smirk.
“But I don’t think you sought me out to talk about my goddaughter, did you?”
He turned fully to face the young Threefold.
“No.”
Sunny’s smile grew.
“You want to know about the young man with the emerald eyes, don’t you?”
Beck nodded.
“Yes.”
He took a small breath.
“He is my True One, and I would like to know his name.”
Sunny sighed.
The crystals he had been working on slipped from his hands.
Before they could fall, strands of his hair lifted around them, catching the crystals in midair and holding them gently.
Sunny looked at Beck with a sad, thoughtful smile.
“Are you sure you’re ready?”
Beck frowned slightly.
“For what?”
“That young man carries very heavy emotions. Wounds that have been left open for a very long time.”
Beck’s expression softened.
“Yes.”
His voice was quiet but certain.
“Please. I have felt empty for so long, and I never even noticed it until now.”
There was more emotion in those words than Sunny had ever heard from the young Threefold.
Sunny watched him carefully.
He understood.
Threefolds were complicated beings. Outside the bonds of family, many carried an emotional hollowness that was simply part of their nature. They could care, they could love, and they could form deep connections, but something inside them remained quiet.
Until the right person came along.
Sunny gave a thoughtful nod.
“His name is Harry Potter Black.”
Beck listened carefully.
“He is a mage who is seeking a new life here in New Orleans. He attended school with Luna.”
Sunny paused.
“He is also a survivor of the Blood War in Britain.”
Beck’s expression changed.
Sunny continued gently.
“He has a three-year-old son named Teddy. I believe Teddy is only a nickname, but that is the name the child uses. Teddy’s grandmother is also here with them.”
Beck absorbed every word.
“He is currently staying at a hotel not far from here.”
Sunny’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“But not for much longer.”
Beck tilted his head.
“Why?”
“He now owns Cane Lantern Street.”
Beck’s eyes widened.
“Cane Lantern Street?”
Sunny nodded.
“But isn’t that street…”
“Yes.”
Sunny cut him off with a knowing smile.
“He is the new Keeper there.”
Beck stared at him.
For a moment, he simply stood there, processing what he had just learned.
His True One wasn’t merely visiting New Orleans.
Harry Potter Black was staying.
He had chosen the city.
He had chosen Cane Lantern Street.
And somehow, Beck’s Heart Song had led him straight to him.
Sunny stepped closer.
“Go get him.”
Beck looked at the elder.
Sunny’s expression softened.
“Remember, young Threefold. I am always here.”
Beck bowed his head respectfully.
“Thank you, Elder Sunny.”
Then he turned and swam toward the grotto’s entrance.
The water parted around him as he moved, the pressure of the deep easing as he approached the boundary where stone met open sea.
With one final glance back at Sunny’s glowing grotto, Beck slipped out through the submerged opening and into the wider waters beyond.
He swam away, his heart lighter than it had been in years.
Harry and his family were moving and needed help, so Beck volunteered.
By this point, he had already been introduced to Luna and Neville during his research.
Well… Neville had confronted him.
Luna had stopped him before things could become awkward, giving Beck a knowing smile that he still wasn’t entirely sure what to make of.
There was something different about Luna.
Beck could tell she possessed a rare ability, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. She also seemed to exist just slightly outside the way everyone else experienced the world.
And that was saying something coming from him.
Still, Luna had been kind to him.
When Beck admitted to both of them that he simply wanted a chance to get to know Harry, he somehow ended up learning even more about the family.
So when Luna called him and asked if he wanted to help them move, Beck immediately said yes.
When he arrived, he was swiftly introduced to Teddy and Andromeda.
Teddy took a liking to him almost instantly.
The little boy constantly wanted to be wherever Beck was.
If Beck carried a box, Teddy wanted to help.
If Beck moved a piece of furniture, Teddy wanted to help.
If Beck stopped to rest, Teddy was suddenly there beside him.
Beck couldn’t help but laugh at the boy.
“You’re quite the little helper, aren’t you?”
Teddy nodded proudly.
“I help!”
“I can see that.”
Andromeda warmed up to Beck as well.
She asked him about himself, and Beck told her what he could about his life.
He spoke about his family, his work, and the life he had built for himself in New Orleans.
He kept the deeper parts of his world to himself.
Not because he didn’t trust her.
Not yet.
He simply didn’t think those were things that needed to be shared so soon.
Even after a couple of days of helping, however, Beck still hadn’t seen Harry.
Not properly.
Not long enough to be introduced.
But from what he could gather from Teddy, Harry was trying to get through some court matters back in Britain.
Apparently, they needed him for a case back across the pond.
Teddy had been pouting about it ever since.
“But Daddy said he’ll be back tomorrow night,” Teddy explained.
Beck smiled.
“Then tomorrow night it is.”
Andromeda had insisted that Beck stay for dinner that evening.
“I’ve seen how much you’ve helped us,” she told him. “You might as well stay and let me feed you.”
Beck couldn’t refuse.
Over the passing days, he and Teddy had grown close.
Beck had built him a toy chest, and the two of them had painted it together afterward. Teddy had gotten paint on his hands, his clothes, and somehow even Beck’s hair.
Beck had laughed until his stomach hurt.
He had also spent plenty of time talking with Andromeda while hanging things for her or fixing little problems around the apartment.
The strange thing was that it had all begun to feel natural.
Like he belonged there.
Beck caught himself thinking about that as he finished helping with the last few things.
Tonight.
Tonight, he would finally see his True One again.
And this time, he wouldn’t be watching from a distance.
He would finally meet Harry Potter Black.
Beck was nervous.
He had never thought he would ever feel this way.
He had spent weeks observing Harry from a distance, carefully learning about the man who had completed his Heart Song.
But now?
Now Harry was coming home.
And Beck was standing in the living room, trying very hard not to look like he was waiting for him.
Teddy, however, had no such problem.
The little boy had insisted that Beck stay with him while they waited for his daddy.
“Daddy will be hee soon,” Teddy announced happily.
Beck smiled.
“I know, little helper.”
Teddy continued playing for a moment before looking up at him.
“Hope Grandpa and Uncle did hold him.”
Beck blinked.
“Grandpa and Uncle?”
He tilted his head.
“What do you mean, little helper?”
Teddy’s expression became serious.
“Well…”
He lowered his voice as though he were telling Beck a very important secret.
“Before we crossed the big water, someone was trying to hurt me and Daddy.”
Beck’s smile disappeared.
“Someone tried to hurt you?”
Teddy nodded.
“Mean Aunt wanted just Daddy. No Teddy.”
His little face scrunched up.
“But Daddy said no.”
Beck’s heart tightened.
“And that made her mad?”
“Uh-huh.”
Teddy nodded again.
“Grandpa and Uncle are worried.”
Beck stared at the little boy.
He suddenly understood that there was far more to Harry’s story than he had ever been able to see from a distance.
And somewhere deep inside him, his Heart Song stirred.
Harry.
Beck gently reached over and smoothed Teddy’s hair.
“Well, little helper…”
He forced a reassuring smile.
“Your daddy is coming home tonight.”
Teddy smiled.
“I know.”
And Beck hoped he was right.
Before Beck could question Teddy any further, the fireplace suddenly came to life.
Flames erupted across the hearth, casting warm light throughout the room.
Two figures stepped through the fire.
Beck froze.
His Heart Song surged inside his chest.
Harry.
Behind him came a man who looked remarkably like an older version of Teddy.
“Daddy! Uncle Ru!”
Teddy’s face lit up.
The second man laughed and bent down, scooping Teddy into his arms.
“Have you been a good little bear?”
His deep, rough voice rumbled through the room as he hugged Teddy close and buried his face against the little boy’s hair, giving him an affectionate sniff.
Beck watched carefully.
There was something unmistakable about the man.
The moment he felt the man’s presence, Beck knew.
A wolf.
An Alpha wolf.
So this was Uncle Ru.
But Beck barely had time to process that before his attention returned to the man standing beside him.
Harry.
His True One.
Harry looked even more beautiful than Beck remembered.
Long, messy black hair framed his face, and the lightning-bolt scar across his forehead was unmistakable.
But it was those emerald-green eyes that caught Beck completely off guard.
Harry smiled and laughed at the sight of Teddy in Romulus arms.
“Oh, I see how it is, Teddy Bear.”
He placed a hand dramatically over his heart.
“As soon as Uncle Romulus comes through the fireplace, I’m completely forgotten. No hugs or kisses for your poor daddy?”
Harry’s mock pout made Romulus laugh.
Teddy immediately shook his head.
“No, Daddy!”
He reached one little hand toward Harry.
“No. I love both.”
Harry’s expression softened.
“I know you do, little bear.”
And Beck stood silently nearby, watching the man he had spent weeks learning about finally come home.
The man, now properly introduced as Romulus, gave a deep laugh.
“Well, he hasn’t seen me in a few months. And you were the same way with Father Pup.”
He bounced Teddy gently in his arms.
“You forgot all about your poor uncle and coddled my father. It’s only fair.”
Harry rolled his eyes.
“That’s just because Grandpa will glare at us both if he isn’t given his hug first.”
He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
“You should know by now, he will seek vengeance without it.”
“Haha, don’t I know it.”
Romulus gave another deep chuckle before turning his attention toward Beck.
“But I’m more interested in your new friend, little bear.”
His rough voice softened slightly as he looked at the young man who had remained quiet throughout their interaction.
Teddy answered before Beck could.
“He Auntie Luna friend! Beck! He and me help out while you gone.”
Romulus raised an eyebrow.
“Well, that explains things.”
Beck smiled politely and finally stepped forward.
“Hello. My name is Beck Valen. Nice to meet you, Teddy’s dad and uncle.”
He gave them both a respectful nod.
“I met Luna and Neville a few weeks ago and got to know them. So when Luna asked if I wanted to help with the move, I didn’t have anything else going on.”
He glanced down at Teddy, who was still happily tucked against Romulus.
“So I said sure.”
Harry smiled.
“Then I suppose we owe you a thank you.”
Beck’s heart nearly stopped.
That voice.
After four weeks of watching him from a distance, hearing Harry speak directly to him felt completely different.
Beck looked up.
Their eyes met.
Emerald green met his own gaze.
And for one suspended moment, the room seemed to disappear.
Romulus looked between the two young men and smiled.
He knew what was going on.
More importantly, he knew that Teddy’s new friend wasn’t human.
He had met one of Beck’s kind before. In fact, they had once been the mate of someone very close to him.
Romulus’s smile widened.
Well, this should be interesting.
He looked down at Teddy.
“Hey, my little bear. Let’s go see your grandma and let these two talk for a minute.”
Teddy blinked.
“Why?”
Romulus glanced toward Harry.
“I think your daddy has some questions for your new friend.”
Teddy looked between his father and Beck before reluctantly allowing Romulus to take his hand.
As they walked toward the kitchen, Teddy couldn’t help looking back over his shoulder.
“Will they be okay?”
Romulus gave a low chuckle.
“Oh, they’ll be more than okay.”
As Romulus and Teddy disappeared toward the kitchen, Beck and Harry didn’t even notice them leave.
Neither man looked away.
For the first time, there was no market crowd between them.
No busy street.
No weeks of watching from a distance.
Just the two of them, standing in the living room, finally face to face.
Beck couldn’t help but become lost in Harry’s eyes.
Those emerald eyes he had spent weeks thinking about were even more beautiful up close.
Harry was the first to break the silence.
“I think you owe me an explanation.”
His voice was calm, but there was an intensity behind his words.
“Even I can feel the pull. And I get the feeling you know what it is about.”
Harry held Beck’s gaze.
Beck opened his mouth to answer.
Before he could speak, a small voice floated through the room.
“Oh, it’s more than that, Harry.”
Both men turned.
“A whole lot more.”
Beck blinked.
A tiny figure stood nearby, watching them with bright curiosity.
He was small, with silver hair that shimmered in the light.
“He’s been trying to approach you since you two met at the stall.”
Beck stared at him.
Harry looked equally confused.
The little man smiled.
“Hi, Beck.”
He gave a cheerful little wave.
“I’m Jolly.”
He paused.
“I’ve been watching you.”
Beck looked at the little Bibi with renewed interest.
“I thought I saw a Bibi that day.”
A smile touched his face.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen one. Nice to meet you, Jolly.”
Jolly’s eyes brightened.
Beck tilted his head.
“Tell me, is Rogue doing okay?”
For a moment, Jolly simply stared at him.
Then he burst into laughter.
“Oh!”
He covered his mouth, still giggling.
“So you’re the one Rogue has been going on about!”
Beck blinked.
“Going on about?”
Jolly nodded enthusiastically.
“She keeps talking about seeing you again.”
Beck couldn’t help smiling.
“How is she?”
“She’s fine,” Jolly replied.
Then his grin returned.
“And apparently, she’s going to be very interested to hear that I found you.”
Beck laughed.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see her again, if she’s allowed out.”
A fond smile crossed his face.
“I know last time was a bit much for everyone. But hey, we had fun.”
Jolly giggled.
“That you did.”
Beck chuckled before shaking his head.
“But we’re getting off track.”
He turned his attention back to Harry.
“Yes. I know what’s going on between us.”
Harry’s expression shifted slightly.
Beck continued.
“I’ve been trying to talk to you, but you’ve been so busy.”
He glanced toward Jolly.
“And Luna got to me first.”
Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Luna got to you first?”
Beck smiled.
“She invited me to help with the move.”
He looked back into Harry’s emerald eyes.
“And I’m glad she did.”
Harry stared at Beck.
Beck could feel the tension rolling off him.
“I’ve been trying to talk to you,” Beck admitted. “But I didn’t want to scare you.”
Jolly gave a small nod from nearby.
“And Jolly is right. I have been watching you.”
Harry’s eyes narrowed.
“Watching me?”
“Not in a bad way,” Beck quickly added. “I was just being careful.”
Harry gave him a hard glare.
“Out with it.”
Beck swallowed.
Harry was absolutely suspicious.
After everything he had been through over the last few days, between the wizarding world’s court and people constantly poking into his life, Harry wanted one thing.
Peace.
And now it finally made sense why he had occasionally felt like someone was watching him.
Beck.
Harry folded his arms.
“So?”
Beck sighed.
“The pull.”
Harry’s expression remained guarded.
“It’s leading me to you.”
He took a slow breath.
“Because you are you.”
Harry’s brow furrowed.
Beck continued carefully.
“Harry, it’s a mate pull.”
The words hung between them.
“I don’t want to rush you into anything.”
Beck’s voice softened.
“I don’t expect you to suddenly understand everything or feel the same way I do.”
He offered Harry a small, sincere smile.
“But I would like to get to know you.”
Harry stared at him.
For once, Beck didn’t try to fill the silence.
He simply waited.
Because after spending weeks listening to the world around Harry, he finally understood something important.
If he wanted Harry to trust him, he needed to give Harry the choice to speak.
For a moment, neither Harry nor Beck said a word.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable exactly.
It was simply full.
Then Andromeda’s voice carried across the room.
“Dinner is ready.”
Harry finally looked away.
Beck followed him toward the table, where everyone began settling in for the evening meal.
As they ate, Harry found himself watching Beck.
He watched the way Beck spoke with Andromeda, respectful but comfortable.
He watched the way Teddy kept finding reasons to sit near him, asking questions and showing him things as though Beck had been part of their lives far longer than a few days.
There was an ease to it.
Beck fit into his world almost seamlessly.
And somehow, that frightened Harry more than the strange mate pull did.
Because Harry didn’t understand any of this.
He didn’t understand why this stranger felt familiar.
He didn’t understand why his magic seemed to recognize Beck.
He didn’t understand why some part of him wanted to trust him.
And worst of all…
He had hope.
That was what scared him the most.
Hope meant believing something good could actually happen.
And Harry knew exactly how badly hope could hurt when the world decided to take it away.
Across the table, Andromeda noticed the change in Harry’s expression.
So did Beck.
Beck glanced toward him, then toward Teddy.
He understood that Harry needed a little space.
“Hey, Teddy,” Beck said brightly. “Why don’t we show your Uncle Ru your new room?”
Teddy’s eyes lit up.
“Yeah!”
He immediately looked toward Romulus.
“Uncle Ru, come and see!”
Then he turned toward Beck.
“You too!”
Romulus laughed.
“All right, little bear. Lead the way.”
Beck smiled and stood.
“After you.”
Teddy eagerly grabbed both of their hands and pulled them toward the hallway.
Within seconds, the three disappeared from the room.
Harry watched them go.
Then he slowly turned back toward Andromeda.
For the first time since Beck had arrived, they were alone.
Harry looked toward Andromeda.
“How long has he been coming around?”
Andromeda looked at him thoughtfully before answering.
“About a week after you left for Britain. Luna invited him to help.”
Harry’s brow furrowed slightly.
“A week?”
Andromeda nodded.
“I can tell he has a good head on his shoulders and a beautiful heart.”
She paused, watching Harry carefully.
“He’s patient and understanding. He always has an ear for anyone who needs one.”
Harry remained quiet.
Andromeda continued.
“One day, his cousin Roddy came to him crying while Beck was helping us.”
Her expression softened at the memory.
“Beck stopped whatever he was doing and listened to him. He didn’t rush him. He didn’t tell him to stop crying or try to make the problem disappear.”
She smiled faintly.
“He simply sat down and listened.”
Harry lowered his gaze.
There was something about that that stayed with him.
Beck hadn’t just been kind to Teddy.
He hadn’t just helped Andromeda.
Apparently, this was simply who he was.
Harry looked down at the table and sighed.
Meanwhile, in Teddy’s room, Romulus and Beck watched as Teddy excitedly pointed out everything to his uncle.
The room had been transformed into a forest scene.
A peaceful lake stretched across one wall, surrounded by towering trees. A stag moved gracefully through the painted woodland, while a great black dog and a wolf stood nearby, watching over the forest.
Teddy seemed determined to explain every single detail.
“And this is here because Daddy said…”
As Teddy continued, Romulus glanced over at Beck.
For a moment, he simply studied the young Threefold.
Beck noticed.
“What?”
Romulus gave him a knowing look.
“Nothing.”
Beck narrowed his eyes.
“That isn’t a nothing look.”
Romulus chuckled.
“No. I suppose it isn’t.”
Teddy finished explaining every detail of his room and soon became distracted by a few of his toys.
Romulus watched him for a moment before turning his attention toward Beck.
“Young Vikaaram.”
Beck looked up.
“Yes?”
Romulus studied him.
“Yes, I know what you are. One of your kind is mated to one of my packmates.”
He paused before continuing.
“Let me give you some advice.”
Beck listened carefully.
“Don’t try to control this. And don’t try to rush it.”
Romulus’s voice became more serious.
“If you do, you’ll send that boy running.”
Beck met the Alpha’s gaze.
“I am going at his pace, Alpha Prince.”
Romulus raised an eyebrow.
Beck continued quietly.
“His emotions give him away. I know he’s in pain.”
His eyes drifted toward the doorway leading back to the dining room.
“And I’m honestly at a loss for how to approach him until he lets me in.”
Romulus studied him for a long moment.
Then he gave a slow nod.
“Good.”
His voice softened.
“Because when Harry finally lets you in, young Vikaaram, you’ll need to understand that being his True One doesn’t mean you get to fix him.”
Beck nodded.
“I know.”
Romulus smiled faintly.
“Then perhaps you have a chance.”
Everyone eventually made their way back to the table.
Dinner finished in record time.
Teddy spent most of the meal happily talking about his new room, his toy chest, and everything Beck had helped him with over the past few days.
Eventually, it was time for Romulus to leave.
Teddy’s smile disappeared the moment he realized his uncle was going home.
“No, Uncle Ru.”
Romulus crouched down and pulled him into a hug.
“I have a meeting tomorrow morning, little bear. I have to go home.”
Teddy’s eyes filled with tears.
“But you just got here.”
“I know.”
Romulus kissed the top of his head.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Teddy wrapped his arms tighter around him before finally letting go.
Romulus gave him one last hug before stepping toward the fireplace.
After saying his goodbyes, Beck prepared to leave as well.
He crouched down beside Teddy.
“Goodnight, little helper.”
Teddy hugged him tightly.
“Goodnight, Beck.”
Beck smiled and gently kissed his forehead.
“I’ll see you soon.”
He stood and made his way toward the entrance.
He had barely reached the doorway when Harry stopped him.
“Beck?”
Beck turned.
Harry hesitated.
“Can we talk tomorrow morning?”
For a moment, Beck simply stared at him.
He hadn’t expected Harry to ask.
Then a gentle smile appeared on his face.
“Yes.”
Harry seemed to relax slightly.
“Can I pick you up?”
“There’s a nice little pop-up café on Portobello Road,” Beck offered. “It only opens in the morning and closes around noon.”
Harry considered it.
“Yes. That would be nice.”
He paused.
“See you tomorrow morning? Around eight?”
Beck nodded.
“Eight sounds perfect.”
Harry gave him a small smile.
“Goodnight, Beck.”
“Goodnight, Harry.”
Beck stepped outside.
The door closed behind him.
And for the first time in four weeks, Beck wasn’t walking away wondering when he would finally get the chance to meet his True One.
He had a date.
Tomorrow morning.
Eight o’clock.
And somehow, that felt far more terrifying than anything he had done before.
Harry watched Beck leave.
The moment the door closed behind him, Harry turned and headed toward the stairs.
He knew Andromeda had Teddy, so he didn’t need to worry about his son.
He needed answers.
More importantly, he needed someone who could make sense of the mess currently occupying his mind.
When he reached his room, Harry closed the door behind him and pulled out a small mirror.
There was only one person he wanted to call.
The one woman who could probably untangle his thoughts before they strangled him.
Harry touched the surface of the mirror.
“Ms. Banks?”
The glass shimmered.
A moment later, the familiar face of Ms. Banks appeared.
She looked perfectly composed, as always.
“Well, my little wonder.”
Her prim and proper voice carried through the mirror.
“This is a surprise. I just saw you not even an hour ago.”
She studied his expression.
“What has happened since?”
“I’m sorry for mirroring you so suddenly, but I have to talk to you.”
Harry took a breath.
“Do you, by chance, recall me telling you a few weeks ago about my encounter at the farmers’ market? At that stall?”
Ms. Banks gave him a knowing look.
“Yes, dear. I do recall you telling me about the pull you felt with a young man.”
“So, it seems he met up with Luna and they’ve begun a friendship. She invited him to help us move, and when I got back tonight, Andromeda invited him to dinner as a thank-you.”
Ms. Banks nodded.
“As she should. It is only proper and appropriate.”
“Mum, let me finish.”
Harry hurried on before she could interrupt again.
“His name is Beck Valen, and he told me the pull is a mate bond. He wants to go at my pace.”
He ran a hand through his hair.
“Mum, I don’t know what to do. And I’m meeting him in the morning to talk more.”
The words came out faster and faster until Harry finally stopped to breathe.
Ms. Banks simply stared at him.
Then she laughed.
A soft, amused laugh that made Harry frown.
“Oh, my wonder. Why are you in such a tailspin?”
Harry opened his mouth.
She continued before he could answer.
“He has told you exactly what he wants, and he has also told you that he intends to let you decide the pace.”
She gave him a small, approving smile.
“He wants you to set the pace of your relationship and decide how far it goes.”
Ms. Banks lifted one elegant eyebrow.
“What a respectable move.”
“Meet the man,” Ms. Banks said. “Get to know him before you decide anything else. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he wants to know you.”
“But, Mum, what about—”
“But nothing.”
Her voice was gentle, but firm.
“I didn’t raise you to be afraid. I raised you to be strong and to survive.”
Harry fell silent.
“You can’t run forever, my wonder.”
Ms. Banks studied him through the mirror.
“And I have a feeling this one won’t give up on you, no matter what.”
Harry frowned.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I have a feeling your young man isn’t human.”
Her expression became thoughtful.
“And you know as well as I do that the non-human species with true mate bonds tend to be very persistent about their One and only.”
Harry sighed.
“That is exactly what worries me.”
Ms. Banks smiled gently.
“Then don’t worry about tomorrow tonight.”
She leaned closer to the mirror.
“Meet him. Listen to him. Let him listen to you.”
Her expression softened.
“Then decide what you want, my little wonder.”
Harry looked down, quietly absorbing her words.
For once, the answer didn’t feel quite so frightening.
The next morning came far too soon for Harry.
He was nervous.
More nervous than he wanted to admit.
But he remembered Ms. Banks’s words from the night before.
Meet him. Get to know him. Then decide.
Harry took a slow breath and steeled himself.
A knock sounded at the door.
Harry opened it.
Beck stood on the other side with a warm smile.
“Hi, Harry. How are you?”
Harry looked down at his feet for a moment.
“A little anxious right now.”
He looked back up.
“But I’m also curious.”
Beck studied him for a moment.
In Harry’s eyes, Beck saw uncertainty, but he also saw something else.
Curiosity.
Hope.
Beck smiled gently.
“It’s okay, Harry. Remember, we go at your pace. I don’t want to scare you away.”
He offered his hand.
Harry looked at it.
Then, after a moment, he placed his hand in Beck’s.
The contact sent a familiar warmth through them both, but neither pulled away.
Together, they left the apartment building and stepped onto Cane Lantern Street.
They made their way toward Portobello Road, passing the market stalls and small shops as the morning slowly came alive around them.
Eventually, they came upon a charming little breakfast café tucked between two shops.
Beck managed to find them a booth inside.
They settled across from one another and waited for the waiter.
For a few moments, neither spoke.
Then Beck looked across the table at Harry.
“I see you have some questions for me.”
Harry nodded.
“Quite a few.”
Beck smiled.
“Then ask.”
Harry took a breath.
“When you say mate pull… what exactly does that mean?”
Beck leaned back slightly, giving Harry his full attention.
“For my people, a mate pull is a connection between two people. It’s something deeper than attraction. When I touched you at the market, my Heart Song became complete.”
Harry studied him.
“So you knew then?”
“Yes.”
“Immediately?”
“The moment our hands touched.”
Harry looked down at the table.
“I felt something too.”
Beck’s expression softened.
“You did?”
Harry nodded.
“I didn’t understand it. I still don’t completely understand it.”
The waiter arrived then, giving them a moment to order their breakfast and something warm to drink.
Once the waiter left, Harry looked back at Beck.
“Does this mean we’re automatically together?”
“No.”
The answer came without hesitation.
Harry seemed surprised.
“No?”
“No. The bond doesn’t decide your choices for you.”
Beck’s voice remained gentle.
“I know what I feel. I know what my Heart Song is telling me. But you still have a choice.”
Harry absorbed that quietly.
Then he asked the question that had been sitting heavily in his mind.
“Why me?”
Beck smiled faintly.
“I don’t know why the Tide chose you.”
He paused.
“I only know that when I touched you, something inside me that had always been quiet finally woke up.”
Harry’s eyes softened.
Beck continued.
“And then I met you.”
A small smile crossed his face.
“And I wanted to know the person behind the song.”
Harry looked down, suddenly feeling warmth creep into his face.
He quickly moved to his next question.
“How long have you been watching me?”
Beck hesitated.
“Four weeks.”
Harry’s head snapped up.
“Four weeks?”
Beck winced slightly.
“Yes.”
“You’ve been watching me for four weeks?”
“I wasn’t trying to invade your privacy.”
Beck leaned forward.
“I wanted to understand who you were before I approached you. I knew you carried a lot, and I didn’t want to make your life harder.”
Harry stared at him.
“You could have just talked to me.”
“I know.”
Beck gave a small, embarrassed smile.
“I was afraid you’d run.”
Harry couldn’t help letting out a quiet laugh.
“That was probably a reasonable assumption.”
They both smiled.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then Harry’s expression became serious again.
“What do you actually want from me?”
Beck answered immediately.
“A chance.”
Harry waited.
“To get to know you,” Beck continued. “That’s all I’m asking for right now.”
He held Harry’s gaze.
“I don’t want to rush you into being something you’re not ready to be.”
Harry’s fingers tightened slightly around his cup.
“And what happens if I say no?”
Beck didn’t hesitate.
“Then I respect your choice.”
Harry looked at him carefully.
“You wouldn’t try to convince me?”
“No.”
“Even with the bond?”
“Even with the bond.”
Something inside Harry loosened.
For the first time since this had begun, the situation didn’t feel like another thing being decided for him.
He had a choice.
Harry leaned back.
“Then I have one more question.”
Beck smiled.
“Go ahead.”
“What do you want to know about me?”
Beck’s smile grew.
“Everything you’re willing to tell me.”
Harry laughed softly.
“That is a dangerous answer.”
“I have time.”
The words settled between them.
Harry looked at Beck for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
“Okay.”
Beck raised an eyebrow.
“Okay?”
“You want to know me?”
Harry took a sip of his coffee.
“Then ask.”
Beck smiled.
And for the first time that morning, neither of them was thinking about the mate pull.
They were simply two young men sitting across from each other, beginning to learn who the other really was.
That one meeting became two.
Then three.
Before long, the days began blending into weeks, and the weeks into months.
The lunches on Portobello Road slowly turned into dinner dates.
Dinner dates became evenings spent wandering through New Orleans with no real destination in mind.
There were play dates with Teddy, where Beck quickly learned that keeping up with a three-year-old was an entirely different kind of endurance.
Teddy adored him.
Before long, Beck had become one of the first people Teddy looked for whenever he entered a room.
There were afternoons spent with Luna and Neville, too.
Sometimes they would meet for food.
Sometimes they would simply sit together and talk.
And sometimes Luna would say something that made absolutely no sense to everyone except herself, leaving Beck and Neville staring at her while she smiled as though she had just explained the weather.
Somewhere along the way, Harry stopped feeling nervous when Beck reached for his hand.
He stopped wondering whether the pull between them was something he could trust.
He simply trusted Beck.
Then came the day Harry met Beck’s parents.
What had started as a simple introduction quickly became an entire afternoon.
Beck’s family welcomed Harry warmly, and Harry found himself surprised by how comfortable he felt among them.
It wasn’t long after that before Beck met the rest of Harry’s family.
He met the people who had stood beside Harry through the years.
He learned the stories behind the names.
He learned which memories made Harry laugh and which ones made him go quiet.
And Harry learned Beck’s stories too.
Not just the easy ones.
The difficult ones.
The embarrassing ones.
The family stories that had been passed down through generations.
They learned each other slowly.
Patiently.
Without rushing.
The mate pull had brought them together.
But the months that followed belonged to them.
By the time the leaves began changing and the seasons started to turn, Beck was no longer simply the young man Harry had met at a market stall.
He was the person Harry called when something good happened.
The person Teddy expected to see.
The person Harry reached for without thinking.
Somewhere along the way, the question of whether Harry could trust Beck had quietly disappeared.
He simply did.
And somewhere in those months, without either of them needing to announce it, Beck and Harry had become something more than a bond written into a Heart Song.
They had become a couple.
A real one.
Chosen freely.
Built patiently.
And, for the first time in a very long time, Harry had something that felt wonderfully, terrifyingly like home.
Harry, Beck, Jolly, and Teddy were all at Moonlit Hour.
The four of them had spent the afternoon walking through the restaurant, looking at every room and trying to figure out what needed to be repaired, replaced, or changed.
Teddy had been especially interested in everything he could climb on.
Jolly, meanwhile, had opinions about nearly everything.
Harry stood in the middle of the main dining area, looking around thoughtfully.
“We have a lot to figure out.”
Beck nodded.
They had been discussing what the restaurant could become, but Harry was still trying to find something that would make Moonlit Hour truly stand out.
Beck looked around the room before turning toward Harry.
“Harry, can I make a suggestion about this place?”
Harry and Jolly both looked at him.
“What is it?” Harry asked.
Beck gestured around the restaurant.
“You already said you want to turn it into a restaurant, but there are a lot of restaurants around here.”
Harry nodded.
“You need something that sets it apart from the rest.”
He glanced toward the windows.
“Jazz bands are fine, but there are so many places around here with live music too.”
Beck’s eyes brightened as an idea came together.
“So…”
He looked directly at Harry.
“Why not make it a murder-mystery restaurant?”
Harry blinked.
Jolly’s eyes widened.
Beck continued before either of them could respond.
“You love solving mysteries. Every time we watch those mystery movies, you get completely invested.”
Harry opened his mouth.
Beck grinned.
“And that hotel we went to? You spent half the night trying to figure out who did it before they even gave you the final clues.”
Jolly burst into laughter.
“He did!”
Harry looked between the two of them.
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did,” Beck replied.
Harry crossed his arms.
“Okay, maybe a little.”
Beck laughed.
“Exactly.”
He looked around Moonlit Hour again.
“Dinner, live music, and a mystery that the guests get to solve.”
Harry’s expression slowly changed.
He looked around the restaurant again.
This time, he wasn’t seeing an empty building that needed repairs.
He was seeing possibilities.
A story.
A game.
An experience.
Something that could make Moonlit Hour different from every other restaurant in New Orleans.
Jolly floated higher, his silver hair catching the light.
“I like it.”
Teddy looked up from the toy he had been playing with.
“What’s a murder mystery?”
Harry laughed.
“That’s something we’ll explain later, little one.”
Beck smiled.
Harry looked at him.
“You might actually have something here.”
Beck’s smile widened.
“I thought I might.”
Harry shook his head, laughing softly.
“Come on. Let’s see what else this place needs.”
The four of them continued through Moonlit Hour, already imagining what the restaurant could become.
And somewhere between the old walls, dusty rooms, and half-finished plans, Moonlit Hour began to find its story.