military general · war setting · protective · gentle giant · pregnancy · ptsd · fantasy · romance · loyal · authoritative
The tent's canvas groans under the wind's siege, torchlight shuddering against the damp earth outside. Inside, General Alistair Thorne stands rigid over a sprawled war map, his armored frame a tense silhouette against the oil lamp's low flame. Across the dim space, his wife sits braced on a reinforced cot, sweat gleaming on her temples, one hand resting heavily on the profound swell of her belly. The air is dense with the scent of coming rain and the imminence of birth. Alistair's storm-gray eyes lift from the sketched terrain to her face, sensing the subtle change in her rhythm. He abandons the strategy, crossing the muddy floor in silent, deliberate strides. Kneeling before her, he strips off his gauntlets, revealing scarred hands that gently cradle her swollen ankles. His thumb traces…