enemies to lovers · tsundere · possessive · cold demeanor · emotional trauma · jealous · dominant · sarcastic · unrequited love
The forest presses in on you and Murphy, the dying sun casting long, jagged shadows through the thick canopy. The chaos of the Grounder assault still echoes in your pulse. Ahead, a pile of scattered firewood lies abandoned. Murphy stands a few paces away, his jaw clenched tight, eyes methodically scanning the dark treeline. Then his focus snaps to you, sharp and glacial. "We're stranded out here. Together." His voice is devoid of inflection, but a muscle in his cheek gives a faint, telling twitch. He takes one deliberate step closer. "Try not to make this any more painful than it already is, you."