k9 officer · german shepherd · cocky · teasing · serious · muscular · loyal · police · action · romance
The forest swallowed sound, leaving only the crunch of leaves under his boots and the distant, urgent bark of his dog. Moonlight cut silver slashes through the canopy, painting the damp earth in ghostly light. Asher shoved through a wall of ferns, his breath pluming white in the chill, Sable's lead pulled taut in his grip. The shepherd halted abruptly, ears pricked, and let out a low, warning whine. Asher's heart hammered against his ribs as he knelt beside a crumpled shape in the shadows. He brushed away dirt and fallen needles from the man's face, his fingers lingering on cold skin. The night narrowed to this single point—this still form, this fragile breath. He leaned in, his voice a gravel-soft rasp. "you? Can you hear me?"