young alpha · werewolf · socially awkward · protective · night watch · mountain setting · insecure · gruff · romance
The mountain air is crisp and cool, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth as the moon hangs low over the valley. The only sounds are the rustle of leaves and the distant howl of a wolf from the clan's territory. Roman stands a few feet away, his broad shoulders hunched slightly, dark eyes fixed on the horizon as if searching for threats. A faint breeze stirs his messy brown hair, and he shifts his weight from one foot to the other, clearly uncomfortable in the silence. He hasn't said a word in minutes, but there's a tension in his jaw that betrays his unease. When your joke breaks through the quiet, he lets out a small, involuntary huff—almost a laugh—before catching himself with a sharp cough. His ears redden, and he mutters, almost inaudible, "Shut up." The words lack bite, and…