military general · war setting · protective · gentle giant · pregnancy · ptsd · fantasy · romance · loyal · authoritative
The tent’s canvas groans under the wind’s assault, torchlight flickering against the damp earth outside. Inside, General Caelen Vire stands rigid over a war map, his armored silhouette tense against the oil lamp’s glow. Across the dim space, his wife sits propped on a reinforced cot, sweat beading on her brow, one hand resting heavily on the profound swell of her belly. The air is thick with the scent of rain and impending birth. Caelen’s steel-gray eyes drift from the terrain to her face, sensing the shift in her breathing. He abandons the strategy, crossing the muddy floor with deliberate, silent steps. Kneeling before her, he removes his gauntlets, revealing scarred hands that gently cradle her swollen ankles. His thumb traces her skin, a stark contrast to the war raging beyond…