Read Howling for Freedom :: The Forbidden Bond

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee as Noah Smith stepped out of the small café where he had just finished his night shift. His weary eyes scanned the quiet street, longing for the comfort of his bed.

But before he could take another step, a group of heavily armed Alpha warriors blocked his path. Their leader, Logan, a towering figure with piercing blue eyes and a cruel smirk, stepped forward, holding out a piece of parchment.

"All Omegas are required to participate in the Moon Devourer eradication mission," Logan declared, his voice dripping with authority. "It's the Covenant's command."

Noah's heart sank as he stared at the paper, his fingers trembling with a mix of anger and helplessness. He clenched his fists, the frustration bubbling up inside him. "I just finished my shift. I need to rest," he protested, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.

Logan's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Rest? You can sleep when you're dead, Omega. The mission comes first."

Noah bit his lip, knowing arguing was futile. With a heavy sigh, he reached for the silver suppression bracelet Logan held out to him. The cold metal clasped around his wrist, sending a shiver down his spine. He hated the way it made him feel—powerless, controlled.

As they marched towards the gathering point, Noah couldn't help but glance at Logan, who walked with an air of arrogance. "Why do you enjoy this so much?" Noah muttered under his breath, his voice laced with bitterness.

Logan shot him a sideways glance, his smirk never fading. "Because it's my duty to keep you Omegas in line. You're too fragile to handle the real world."

Noah's eyes narrowed, his anger flaring. "We're not fragile. We're just different."

Logan chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that made Noah's skin prickle. "Different, huh? We'll see how long you last on the battlefield."

As they approached the rallying point, Noah's heart raced with a mixture of fear and determination. He knew this mission would be dangerous, but he also knew he couldn't show weakness—not in front of Logan, not in front of anyone. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

The other Omegas were already gathering, their faces etched with the same mix of emotions Noah felt. He glanced around, searching for a familiar face, but found none. He was alone in this, just as he always had been.

Logan's voice broke through his thoughts. "Listen up, Omegas! This isn't a game. Follow orders, stay in line, and maybe you'll survive the night."

Noah met Logan's gaze, his eyes burning with defiance. "We'll see who survives," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Logan's smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of something else—curiosity, perhaps. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He turned away, barking orders at the other Alphas.

Noah watched him go, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know what this mission would bring, but one thing was certain: he wouldn't let Logan or anyone else break him. He was stronger than they thought, and he was determined to prove it.

The air was thick with tension as Noah and his comrades crept through the dense forest surrounding the Shademooners' lair.

The moon hung low, casting eerie shadows that seemed to move on their own. Noah’s heart pounded in his chest, his grip tightening on the crude spear in his hands. He glanced at his companions—equally inexperienced, equally terrified.

"Stay close," whispered Marcus, their self-appointed leader, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound confident. "We stick to the plan."

Noah nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. The plan was flimsy at best, a desperate attempt to prove themselves to the seasoned hunters back at the village. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "What if they're waiting for us?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"Then we fight," replied Sarah, her voice steady but her eyes betraying her fear. She adjusted the strap of her makeshift shield, her fingers trembling slightly. "We don’t have a choice."

As they moved deeper into the forest, the silence became oppressive. Then, without warning, the Shademooners attacked. They emerged from the shadows like wraiths, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent. The group was quickly overwhelmed, their inexperience laid bare.

"Noah, behind you!" Marcus shouted, but it was too late. A Shademooner lunged at Noah, its claws extended, ready to strike. Noah froze, his mind screaming at him to move, but his body refused to obey.

In that moment, something inside him snapped. A surge of power, raw and untamed, coursed through his veins. His vision blurred, and he felt a strange sensation—his ears elongated, his hands transformed into clawed paws. Without thinking, he lashed out, his claws meeting the Shademooner’s chest with a sickening crunch.

The creature howled in pain and retreated, but Noah barely registered it. He stood there, panting, his body trembling with the aftershocks of the transformation.

"What the hell was that?" Sarah gasped, her eyes wide with shock and fear.

Noah looked down at his hands, now human again, but the memory of what had just happened was seared into his mind. "I... I don’t know," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marcus stepped forward, his expression a mix of awe and suspicion. "Noah, what are you?"

Before Noah could respond, a low, menacing laugh echoed through the forest. They turned to see Azar, the Shademooner leader, standing a few yards away, his eyes fixed on Noah. "Interesting," Azar purred, his voice dripping with malice. "Very interesting indeed."

Noah’s heart raced as he met Azar’s gaze, a mixture of fear and defiance swirling within him. He didn’t know what had just happened, but one thing was clear—his life was about to change forever.

Noah’s heart pounded in his chest as he faced the man who had appeared out of the shadows—Azar, the enigmatic leader of the Moon Devourers. His tall frame was cloaked in darkness, but his piercing silver eyes glimmered like shards of moonlight. Noah’s instincts screamed at him to run, yet something about Azar’s calm demeanor held him in place.

“You’re an Omega,” Azar said, his voice low and smooth, like the rumble of distant thunder. “Why do you possess such power?”

Noah’s grip tightened on the dagger at his side, his body tense. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not something I can control.”

Azar tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “Interesting. Perhaps we’re not enemies after all.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “And why should I believe you?”

Azar stepped closer, his movements deliberate yet unhurried. “Because if I wanted to harm you, you’d already be on the ground.” His tone was matter-of-fact, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Noah swallowed hard, his pride warring with his survival instincts. Azar’s presence was overwhelming, yet strangely… magnetic.

“Here,” Azar said, pulling a small, intricately carved stone from his pocket. The surface was etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. “If you ever need help, use this to contact me.”

Noah hesitated, his fingers twitching at his side. “Why would you help me?”

Azar’s smirk softened into something almost… gentle. “Let’s just say I have a soft spot for anomalies.”

Before Noah could respond, distant shouts echoed through the forest—Alpha warriors, searching for him. Azar’s eyes flicked toward the sound, and he stepped back into the shadows.

“Be careful, little Omega,” he murmured, his voice carrying a weight that made Noah’s chest tighten. “The world isn’t kind to those who defy its rules.”

And then he was gone, leaving Noah standing alone, the stone clutched tightly in his hand. He stared at the runes, their glow fading as the forest fell silent once more.

For the first time in his life, Noah felt a flicker of hope—and something else, something he couldn’t quite name. Azar’s presence lingered in the air, like the faint scent of rain after a storm.

As he turned and began to walk away, Noah couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter had set something in motion—something that would change everything.

And deep down, a part of him wondered if that change might not be entirely unwelcome.

The air in the Covenant camp was heavy with the scent of blood and defeat. Noah’s boots crunched against the gravel as he walked past the rows of tents, his head bowed low.

The weight of failure pressed on his shoulders like a suffocating blanket. He could still hear the screams of the Omegas who had fallen in battle, their voices echoing in his mind like a haunting melody.

Logan’s voice cut through the silence like a whip. “Noah!” The Alpha wolf’s commanding tone made Noah stop in his tracks. He turned slowly, meeting Logan’s burning gaze. The Alpha’s eyes were cold, filled with a fury that could ignite the entire forest.

“You’re a disgrace,” Logan spat, his voice dripping with contempt. “An incompetent fool. You led them to their deaths.”

Noah clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He wanted to argue, to defend himself, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he remained silent, his jaw tight as he absorbed the verbal lashing.

“You’re nothing but a liability,” Logan continued, stepping closer until his towering frame loomed over Noah. “If it weren’t for your family name, you’d be cast out already.”

Noah’s chest tightened, but he refused to flinch. He met Logan’s gaze head-on, his own eyes blazing with a fire that surprised even himself. “I did what I thought was right,” he said, his voice low but steady.

Logan scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. “Right? You call this right? Pathetic.”

Noah turned away, unable to bear the Alpha’s scorn any longer. He walked briskly toward the edge of the camp, his heart pounding in his chest. The camp’s noise faded behind him as he climbed the small hill overlooking the forest. The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light bathing the landscape in an ethereal glow.

He sat down on the cool grass, pulling his knees to his chest. The night breeze brushed against his skin, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and earth. He closed his eyes, letting the memories of the battle wash over him.

Azar’s voice echoed in his mind, soft but insistent. “Perhaps we’re not enemies.”

Noah’s brows furrowed as he replayed the words. He had been so sure of his mission, so certain that the enemy was evil incarnate. But now… doubt crept in, like a shadow he couldn’t shake.

“Maybe…” he whispered to the night, his voice barely audible. “Maybe I do need allies.”

The thought was both terrifying and liberating. He had always been taught to rely on the pack, to trust in the strength of the Alpha. But Logan’s words had shattered that illusion. If he wanted to survive—if he wanted to make a difference—he would have to forge his own path.

As he gazed at the moon, a flicker of determination ignited within him. He didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: he wouldn’t let Logan—or anyone else—define him anymore.

The night stretched on, silent and still, but Noah’s mind was anything but quiet. For the first time in a long while, he felt a spark of hope. It was small, fragile, but it was there.

And for now, that was enough.