Read Howling for Freedom :: Frozen Rebellion(2/2)

Noah stepped closer, his breath visible in the frigid air as Clara’s ice core spiraled out of control. The room grew colder, the frost creeping up the walls, and his skin prickled with the biting chill. He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath, releasing his unique pheromones—a blend of cedarwood and rust, sharp and grounding.

Clara’s breath hitched as the scent washed over her, warm and steady like a hand reaching out in the dark. Her ice core, once a raging storm, began to settle, the frost receding from the air. She looked up, her ice-blue, slit-pupiled eyes locking onto his. For a moment, neither of them moved, the tension between them thick and unspoken.

“Don’t be afraid,” Noah murmured, his voice low and steady. He reached out, his fingers brushing against hers before gently taking her hand. His touch was warm, a stark contrast to the cold that still lingered in her skin. “I’m here.”

Clara’s lips parted, a small, surprised exhale escaping her. She hadn’t expected the warmth—not from him, not now. Her fingers tightened around his, almost instinctively, as if she were afraid he’d pull away. “I… I wasn’t afraid,” she said, her voice softer than she intended.

Noah’s lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes never leaving hers. “Liar,” he teased, his tone light but laced with something deeper, something that made her heartbeat quicken.

She huffed, a faint blush coloring her cheeks despite the cold. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet, you’re still holding my hand,” he shot back, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in a slow, deliberate motion.

Clara’s breath caught, her gaze flickering down to their joined hands before meeting his again. She opened her mouth to retort, but the words died on her lips as he stepped closer, his free hand lifting to brush a strand of hair from her face.

His touch was feather-light, but it sent a shiver down her spine—one that had nothing to do with the ice core. “Noah,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Clara,” he replied, his voice just as soft, his eyes searching hers.

For a moment, they stood there, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. His gaze dropped to her lips, and she felt her heartbeat stutter, her breath hitching. He leaned in, just slightly, and she found herself doing the same, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

But then, he pulled back, his hand dropping from her face, though he didn’t let go of her hand. “We should… take it slow,” he said, his voice rough but gentle.

Clara blinked, the spell broken, and she nodded, though a part of her couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. “Slow,” she echoed, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside her.

Noah smiled, that same teasing glint in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Clara. I’m not going anywhere.”

She rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched upward, a small, genuine smile breaking through. “Good. Because I’m not letting go.”

His laughter filled the room, warm and rich, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Clara felt a sense of calm—one that had nothing to do with her ice core and everything to do with the man standing beside her.

The room was thick with tension, the air almost unbreathable as the elders of the Council exchanged sharp glances. Victor, the most vocal of them all, leaned forward in his chair, his Alpha presence dominating the space. “An Omega? In the midst of Alpha affairs?” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “This is absurd.”

Noah stood silently, his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight. He could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on him, but he refused to show it. Clara, however, had no intention of letting this slide. She rose from her seat, her movements deliberate, her gaze icy as it swept across the room. “He is my ally,” she declared, her voice sharp and unwavering. “His presence doesn’t require your approval.”

Victor’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Your ally? Or your weakness?” He leaned back, crossing his arms, his eyes challenging. Clara didn’t flinch. She stepped closer to the table, her presence commanding. “If you’re so threatened by someone who isn’t an Alpha, perhaps it’s your own insecurities you should be addressing.”

The room fell silent, the tension crackling like electricity. Victor’s expression darkened, but he said nothing. With a huff, he pushed back his chair and stormed out, the heavy door slamming behind him. The other Council members exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent.

Clara turned to Noah, her demeanor softening. “Thank you,” she said quietly, her eyes meeting his. Noah scratched the back of his neck, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. “I didn’t do much,” he mumbled, his voice low. “You’re the one who stood up to them.”

“You didn’t have to say anything,” Clara replied, her voice gentle but firm. “Your presence here is enough. It’s a statement.” She stepped closer, her hand brushing against his arm in a gesture of reassurance. Noah’s breath hitched at the contact, his heart racing. He glanced down at her hand, then back up at her, his lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out.

Clara’s gaze lingered on him, her eyes searching his face. For a moment, it felt like the rest of the room had faded away, leaving just the two of them.

The air between them was charged, filled with unspoken words and the weight of something neither of them was ready to address. Clara’s fingers twitched, as if she wanted to reach for him, but she pulled her hand back, breaking the spell.

“We should go,” she said, her voice slightly husky. Noah nodded, still feeling the warmth of her touch on his skin. “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. As they walked out of the room, their shoulders brushed, a small, accidental touch that sent a jolt through both of them.

Neither of them mentioned it, but the tension between them was undeniable, a silent promise of something more to come.

The room was dimly lit, the faint glow of the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains. Clara sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers trembling slightly as she pressed them against her chest. The ice core within her pulsed with an unfamiliar rhythm, a strange warmth intertwining with its usual chill. She closed her eyes, focusing on the sensation, and felt it—something new, something *alive*.

“What is this?” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. Her breath hitched as she traced the faint outline of the dual cores forming within her. “Noah’s scent… his energy… it’s changing me.”

Her mind raced back to the earlier encounter—the way his body had brushed against hers, the heat in his gaze, the almost magnetic pull between them. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected *him*.

Across the hall, Noah leaned against the wall, his hand clenched into a fist. His palm burned, the faint outline of a blood-red moon shimmering beneath his skin. He stared at it, his jaw tightening. “What the hell is going on with me?” he muttered, his voice low and gravelly.

He could still feel her—Clara. Her presence lingered in his mind like a ghost, her icy energy mingling with his own. He’d never felt anything like it before, this raw, unrelenting connection. It scared him, but it also thrilled him in a way he couldn’t explain.

“Noah?” Clara’s voice cut through the silence, soft and uncertain. She stood in the doorway, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes searching his. “Are you… okay?”

He straightened, his gaze locking onto hers. “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, his tone laced with a hint of concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied him. “Something’s changed. Inside of me. And I think… I think it’s because of you.”

Noah’s breath caught in his throat. He reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, sending a jolt of electricity through both of them. “Clara,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I feel it too. It’s like… you’re a part of me now.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, neither of them moved. The air between them crackled with tension, unspoken words hanging heavy in the silence.

“Do you think this is dangerous?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What if it’s too much? What if we can’t control it?”

Noah’s hand slid up her arm, his touch gentle but firm. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, his voice steady despite the storm raging inside him. “Together.”

Clara’s lips parted, her breath hitching as she looked up at him. The distance between them was infinitesimal now, their bodies drawn together by an invisible force. Her heart raced, her ice core pulsing in sync with the heat radiating from him.

“Noah,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m scared.”

He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks. “Don’t be,” he murmured, his gaze softening. “I’ve got you. Always.”

Their foreheads touched, and for a moment, the world faded away. The dual cores within Clara flared to life, their energy intertwining with Noah’s own. It was overwhelming, intoxicating, and yet, it felt right.

But before their lips could meet, a sharp knock on the door shattered the moment. They pulled apart, their breaths ragged, their eyes wide with shock.

“Clara! Noah! We need you!” a voice called from the other side, urgent and panicked.

Noah cursed under his breath, his hands dropping from her face. “Duty calls,” he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Clara nodded, her cheeks flushed. “Later,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll talk later.”

As they turned to leave, their fingers brushed against each other, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down both of their spines. The connection between them was undeniable, a force that neither of them could ignore.

And as they walked away, the twin cores within Clara pulsed with a newfound strength, a promise of something greater—something that would change everything.