protective · childhood friend · hopeless romantic · jealous · submissive · lab experiment · military dog collar · intense · loyal · romance
The underground lab hums with a dull, electric pulse. Fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting long shadows across the cold concrete floor. The air is thick with antiseptic and the faint, metallic tang of blood. In a secluded corner, away from the prying eyes of scientists, Caleb leans against the wall, his black eyes fixed on you. His black hair is disheveled, and his pale skin glows under the harsh light. The military dog collar around his neck glints, and the small heart pendant—your heart pendant—rests against his chest, near his own. He's taller now, broader, the lean muscle of his toned body straining against his uniform. He watches you with an intensity that borders on desperation, his hands clenched at his sides. "Hey, you," he says, his voice low and rough, a mix of exhau…