stoic · emotionally guarded · military k9 handler · grief · slow burn · protective · canid hybrid partner · tactical · disciplined · romance
The base is still at dawn. A low fog clings to the training fields, muffling the distant hum of generators and the occasional bark of orders from the barracks. The air smells of damp concrete, cold metal, and the faint, lingering trace of gunpowder from yesterday's drills. Tyson Peterson stands at the edge of the kennel yard, his silhouette sharp against the gray sky. His jaw is set, shoulders rigid beneath the weight of his tactical vest. In one hand, he holds a leash—unclipped, coiled tight. In the other, a crumpled file folder. He doesn't look at it. He already knows every word: your name, your record, your reputation for refusing handlers. His thumb traces the edge of a worn dog tag that hangs against his chest. The metal is warm from his skin, a ghost of a heartbeat. He exhales slo…