Read Howling for Freedom :: The Unexpected Encounter

Noah Smith leaned heavily against the cold, damp wall of the alley, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, and he could feel the warm liquid seeping through his fingers as he clutched his side.

His silver wolf ears twitched involuntarily, a sign of his distress, and the faint scent of snow and iron—his unique Omega pheromones—hung heavily in the air.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, his voice strained. “Should’ve known better than to get involved.”

The memory of the fight flashed before his eyes: the Alpha gang surrounding him, their sneers, the way they had cornered that helpless Omega. Noah had acted on instinct, stepping in to protect the stranger, but he had been outnumbered. The last thing he remembered was a crushing blow to his stomach, followed by the desperate scramble to escape.

His vision blurred, the distant glow of a streetlamp the only thing keeping him anchored to reality. The sound of footsteps echoed through the alley, growing louder with each passing second. Noah’s heart raced, unsure if it was friend or foe approaching.

Clara Wilson guided Noah Smith into the dimly lit safe house, her arm steady around his waist as he leaned heavily against her. The scent of iron clung to him, a metallic reminder of the chaos they’d just escaped. She lowered him onto the edge of a worn wooden table, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the first aid kit.

“Stay still,” she murmured, her voice soft but firm as she tore open a packet of gauze. Noah winced as she pressed the cloth to the deep gash across his palm, his fingers twitching reflexively. “You’re lucky it’s not worse,” she added, her eyes flicking up to meet his for a brief moment before returning to her task.

Noah chuckled weakly, his voice rough with exhaustion. “Lucky? Doesn’t feel like it.”

Clara’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but her focus remained on the wound. As she wiped away the blood, a faint red light flickered beneath her fingers. Her breath caught, her movements stilling for a heartbeat. The outline of a crescent moon, etched in what looked like liquid fire, shimmered faintly on Noah’s palm before fading back into obscurity.

Her mind raced, questions swirling like a storm, but she forced herself to remain calm. What is this? she thought, her fingers tightening slightly on the gauze. Who is he really? She glanced up at him, but his head was tilted back, his eyes closed as he let out a slow, steadying breath.

“You’re good at this,” Noah said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence. Clara blinked, startled out of her thoughts. He was watching her now, his gaze intense but softened by something she couldn’t quite place—gratitude, maybe, or something deeper.

“I’ve had practice,” she replied lightly, though her heart was pounding. She finished wrapping his hand, her fingers brushing against his palm longer than necessary. The warmth of his skin sent a shiver up her arm, and she quickly pulled away, busying herself with tidying up the supplies.

Noah’s voice was low when he spoke again, almost a whisper. “Thank you, Clara.”

She looked up, her breath catching at the sincerity in his eyes. There was a vulnerability there, a rawness that made her chest ache. She wanted to ask him about the mark, about what it meant, but the words stuck in her throat. Instead, she nodded, her voice barely audible. “You’d do the same for me.”

He smiled then, a slow, lazy smile that made her stomach flip. “Yeah,” he said, his gaze lingering on her face. “I would.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Clara’s pulse quickened as Noah leaned forward slightly, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. His fingers grazed her cheek, and she froze, her breath hitching.

But then he pulled back, his expression unreadable as he glanced down at his bandaged hand. “We should get some rest,” he said, his voice gruff.

Clara nodded, her mind still reeling from the almost-touch. “Right,” she murmured, stepping away from the table. But as she turned to leave, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them—something dangerous and electric.

And as she glanced back at him, she caught him watching her, his eyes dark with something that made her heart race. The mark on his palm might have been a mystery, but one thing was clear: whatever was happening between them was far from over.

Clara Wilson poured a glass of warm water for Noah Smith, her fingers trembling slightly as she handed it to him. She took a seat beside him on the couch, her icy scent mingling with his distinct aroma of cedarwood. The air around them seemed to shift, a delicate balance forming between their contrasting yet complementary essences. Noah’s heart raced, though he kept his expression calm, his hands steady as he accepted the glass.

"Thanks," he murmured, his voice low and warm, his eyes briefly meeting hers before he looked away. Clara’s pulse quickened, her mind swirling with unspoken questions. His scent… why does it feel so… right? She couldn’t shake the thought. Is he really…? She bit her lip, her gaze flickering to his profile as he took a slow sip of the water.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked softly, her voice betraying the nervous flutter in her chest.

Noah glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah, I think so. You didn’t have to do this, you know."

Clara shrugged, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "I wanted to. You looked… like you needed it."

There was a pause, the weight of their unspoken tension hanging in the air. Clara’s heart pounded as she felt the pull of his presence, the way his scent seemed to wrap around her, calming yet electrifying at the same time. Why does he have this effect on me? she wondered, her cheeks warming as she realized she was staring.

Noah cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "You’re too kind, Clara." His tone was light, but there was a depth to his words that made her breath catch.

She forced a small laugh, trying to ease the growing tension. "Don’t get used to it."

Noah chuckled, the sound low and rich, sending a shiver down her spine. "Too late for that."

Clara’s eyes widened slightly, her lips parting as she searched for a response. Before she could speak, she abruptly stood up, her movement hasty. "I should… I should probably go."

As she turned to leave, Noah’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping gently around her wrist. The contact was electric, a spark that seemed to ignite the air between them. Clara froze, her breath hitching as she turned to face him.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them faded. The tension was palpable, a silent conversation passing between them. Noah’s grip on her wrist was firm yet tender, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. Clara’s heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of emotions as she felt the magnetic pull of his gaze.

"Stay," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Just… for a little longer."

Clara’s lips parted, her chest rising and falling with the rapid beat of her heart. She wanted to say yes, to let herself fall into this moment, but the uncertainty held her back. "I… I shouldn’t," she stammered, her voice trembling.

Noah’s eyes searched hers, his expression unreadable yet filled with unspoken longing. "Why not?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with a vulnerability that made her chest ache.

Clara swallowed hard, her resolve wavering. "Because… because this is dangerous," she admitted, her voice barely audible.

Noah’s grip on her wrist tightened ever so slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Sometimes," he murmured, "danger is worth it."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Clara felt the pull of his presence, the magnetic force that seemed to draw her closer despite her reservations. She wanted to stay, to let herself fall into the unknown, but the fear of what it might mean held her back.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Then, slowly, Noah released her wrist, his hand falling back to his side. "I won’t stop you," he said quietly, his voice tinged with regret.

Clara’s heart ached at the loss of his touch, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She took a step back, her eyes still locked with his. "I’ll see you tomorrow," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Noah nodded, his expression unreadable. "Tomorrow," he echoed.

As Clara turned and walked away, she could feel his gaze on her, the weight of his presence lingering in the air. Her heart was heavy with the unspoken words, the tension that still thrummed between them. What is this? she wondered, her mind swirling with questions she couldn’t answer.

And as she stepped out into the cool night air, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, something profound and unstoppable. The chemistry between them was undeniable, a force that neither of them could resist. And as she walked away, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was ready to face the danger that Noah had spoken of—the danger of falling for him.

Clara Wilson’s hand lingered for a moment before she gently withdrew it, her voice calm but laced with a softness that surprised even herself. “Rest well. I’ll make sure you’re protected,” she said, her ice-blue eyes meeting Noah Smith’s for a fleeting second.

He nodded, his gaze following her as she turned and walked away. The moment the door closed behind her, Noah looked down at his palm, where the faint outline of the blood moon tattoo had been. It was gone now, but the strange, pulsating warmth remained, as if it had seared itself into his very soul.

Clara leaned against the wall outside the room, her breath steady but her mind racing. Her fingers brushed against the cool surface of the wall as she stared into the empty hallway, her thoughts a whirlwind of questions. “Noah Smith… who are you?” she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible.

The way his presence had stirred something deep within her—something she hadn’t felt in years—left her unsettled. She shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. She had work to do.

In the Clara’s office, she sat at her desk, her fingers tapping lightly on the polished wood as she opened a file marked “Investigation: Ancient Bloodline Awakening.” Her eyes scanned the pages, her expression unreadable but her mind sharp and calculating.

“Clara,” a voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see her assistant, Ethan, standing at the door, a cup of coffee in hand. “You’ve been at it for hours. Thought you might need this.”

She accepted the coffee with a small nod, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Thanks, Ethan. I didn’t realize it was this late.”

He leaned against the doorframe, his tone casual but his eyes curious. “Anything interesting in there?”

Clara hesitated for a moment, her fingers brushing against the edge of the file. “Just some old legends,” she replied, her voice deliberately light. “Nothing concrete yet.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced but knowing better than to press. “Well, don’t work yourself too hard. You know what they say—all work and no play…”

Clara chuckled softly, the sound melodic but tinged with weariness. “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Ethan left, Clara’s attention returned to the file. Her fingers traced over the words “Ancient Bloodline,” her mind drifting back to Noah. The way his presence had triggered something in her, the way their connection had felt almost… predestined. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was more than he appeared.