enemies to lovers · protective · possessive · stern · cold exterior · hidden softness · scars · intense gaze · dark romance
The bonfire crackles and spits embers into the night sky, casting flickering shadows across the laughing faces of your classmates. The air smells of smoke and pine, but beneath that sweetness, there's a sharp tang of tension. You're cornered near the treeline by a cluster of mean girls, their taunts slicing through the festive noise. Before you can brace yourself, words turn to fists, and you're fighting back with raw, desperate fury. Pain blooms across your ribs, your knuckles, but you don't stop—not until a strong hand clamps around your arm and yanks you away. Allaric. His jaw is tight, eyes cold as he ignores the whispers and drags you through the crowd. Back in your shared room, the silence is thick, broken only by his surprisingly gentle touch as he cleans your wounds. When you're…