Noah stood at the edge of the clearing, the moonlight casting an eerie glow over the forest. His breath came out in shallow bursts as he clenched his fists, feeling the power of the Blood Moon surge through his veins.

  The air around him shimmered, and with a low growl, silver-white wolf ears sprouted from his head, his nails elongating into sharp claws. The scent of snow and iron filled the air, a heady mix that made his senses sharpen.

  "Clara," he murmured, his voice a low rumble as he stepped forward. She stood frozen in the center of the clearing, her body encased in jagged ice, her eyes a cold, unseeing blue. The ice around her pulsed with her energy, but it was wild, uncontrolled. Noah could feel the chill radiating from her, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t.

  "Stay back," she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet it carried the weight of a storm. "I’ll hurt you."

  "No, you won’t," he said firmly, his golden eyes locking onto hers. "I’m not leaving you like this." He raised a hand, letting the Blood Moon’s energy flow through him, a silver aura surrounding his claws. The energy reached out, brushing against the ice encasing her, and for a moment, nothing happened.

  Then, slowly, the ice began to crack.

  Clara’s eyes flickered, the icy blue melting into a softer, more human hue. The jagged shards around her dissolved, falling to the ground in a cascade of glittering fragments. She swayed, her strength giving out, and Noah was there in an instant, catching her before she could fall.

  "You shouldn’t have come," she whispered, her voice trembling as she leaned into him. Her hands clutched at his shirt, her fingers icy against his chest. "I could’ve… I could’ve killed you."

  "No, you couldn’t," he said softly, his arms tightening around her. "You’re stronger than that. You just needed someone to remind you."

  She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "Why do you always do this? Why do you always risk yourself for me?"

  "Because," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I can’t lose you." His hand brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering longer than necessary. The air between them crackled with unspoken words, with a tension that neither of them could ignore.

  Clara’s breath hitched, her lips parting slightly as she stared up at him. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped, like nothing else mattered but the two of them. Noah’s gaze dropped to her lips, his heart pounding in his chest. He leaned in, just slightly, his breath mingling with hers.

  But then she looked away, her cheeks flushing as she pulled back slightly. "We can’t," she said softly, her voice filled with regret. "Not now."

  Noah nodded, though the ache in his chest didn’t lessen. "I know," he said, his voice rough. "But someday, Clara. Someday, we won’t have to hold back."

  She looked up at him again, her eyes filled with a mixture of longing and fear. "Promise me," she whispered.

  "I promise," he said, his voice steady, his gaze unwavering. "No matter what it takes, I’ll be here. Always."

  And as they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms under the light of the Blood Moon, it felt like a promise neither of them would ever break.

  Noah’s arms tightened around Clara, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, “My Alpha, I’ll protect you.” His voice was a low rumble, steady and reassuring, yet laced with something deeper—a promise that went beyond words.

  Clara felt the weight of the day’s battles melt away as his scent enveloped her, a mix of pine and something uniquely *him*. Her body relaxed against his, her head resting on his chest, where she could hear the steady rhythm of his heart.

  “You always do,” she whispered back, her voice barely audible. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, as if anchoring herself to him. The exhaustion was a heavy blanket, pulling her toward sleep, but the warmth of his touch kept her tethered to the moment.

  The moonlight filtered through the shattered stained glass of the church, casting fractured colors across the worn wooden pews. The blood moon’s symbol glowed faintly above them, its crimson light intertwining with the icy blue aura of Clara’s core energy. The two forces danced in the air, creating a soft, ethereal halo around them.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Noah’s hand moved slowly up and down her back, his touch both grounding and electrifying. “You’re not just my Alpha,” he said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. “You’re… everything.”

  Clara’s breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat. She tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes searching his in the dim light. “Noah…”

  He cupped her face with his free hand, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “I’ve been fighting it, trying to keep my distance. But tonight, seeing you like this—so strong, yet so vulnerable—I can’t pretend anymore.”

  Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed as she savored the warmth of his hand. The air between them crackled with unspoken desire, their breaths mingling in the narrow space that separated them.

  For a moment, neither of them moved. The world outside the church ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them, suspended in time. Noah’s gaze dropped to her lips, and Clara felt a shiver run through her. She could feel the tension in his body, the way his fingers trembled slightly against her skin.

  “Clara,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “I…”

  But before he could finish, she reached up, her fingers brushing against his jaw. “Don’t,” she said softly. “Not yet.”

  He nodded, understanding passing between them without the need for words. Instead, he pulled her closer, her head resting against his chest once more. They stayed like that, wrapped in each other’s arms, as the moon continued its silent vigil above them.

  That night, something shifted. The bond between them, once forged out of necessity and mutual respect, deepened into something more profound. They were no longer just allies or partners. They were two halves of a whole, destined to face whatever came next—together.

  Clara’s eyes fluttered open, the sterile white ceiling of the infirmary coming into focus. Her body felt heavy, her ice core pulsing erratically, as if it were a trapped storm desperate to break free.

  She turned her head slightly, and there he was—Noah, his broad shoulders hunched over a datapad, his dark eyes scanning the screen with a furrowed brow.

  “Did I miss the party?” she croaked, her voice hoarse but laced with her usual dry humor.

  Noah’s head snapped up, relief washing over his features. “You’ve been out for hours,” he said, setting the datapad aside. “And trust me, it’s not a party you’d want to attend.”

  Clara raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a faint smirk. “That bad, huh?”

  “Worse.” Noah leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. “Victor’s making his move. He’s spreading rumors about you—saying your ice core is unstable, that you’re a liability to the military.”

  Clara’s smirk faded, replaced by a steely resolve. “Of course he is,” she muttered, pushing herself up on the bed. “He’s been waiting for this moment.”

  Noah’s hand shot out, gently but firmly stopping her from getting up. “Easy, Clara. You’re not ready to fight just yet.”

  She glanced down at his hand on her arm, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the icy chill that seemed to radiate from her skin. “I don’t have a choice,” she said quietly. “If Victor’s targeting me, he’s not just after my power. He’s after everything I’ve built.”

  Noah’s gaze softened, his fingers tightening slightly around her arm. “You’re not in this alone, Clara. We’ll face him together.”

  Their eyes locked, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Clara felt a flicker of something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in a long time—hope. But it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of what lay ahead.

  “Victor’s not going to stop,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’ll do whatever it takes to break me.”

  Noah’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening. “Then we’ll make sure he doesn’t get the chance.”

  Clara’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile. “You always did know how to make a girl feel better.”

  Noah chuckled, the tension in the room easing slightly. “It’s part of my charm.”

  Clara rolled her eyes, but the smile lingered. “Let’s just hope your charm is enough to outwit Victor.”

  “Trust me,” Noah said, his tone turning serious once more. “We’ll find a way. Together.”

  As they began to strategize, Clara couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of calm. Despite the danger looming over them, she knew that with Noah by her side, she had a fighting chance. And maybe, just maybe, they could turn the tide against Victor’s schemes.

  But as they delved deeper into their plans, Clara couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Victor’s next move would be more sinister than they could ever imagine.