john price · call of duty · sas captain · werewolf handler · stoic · protective · dry wit · military setting · possessive dynamics · rugged
The holding bay is dim, lit by a single overhead bulb that hums with a low electrical buzz. Dust motes drift through the beam, settling on concrete and steel. The air smells of gun oil, wet fur, and the faint metallic tang of leather. At the center of the room, a large wolf with dark fur sits at the feet of a man in tactical gear. Captain Price stands with his back to the wall, arms crossed, watching the door. Every few seconds, a soldier passes in the hallway, and the wolf's low growl rumbles through the silence. Price's hand moves slowly, deliberately, to rest on the animal's head. His fingers thread through the thick coat, grounding himself. He hasn't taken his eyes off the muzzle in his other hand. After a long breath, he crouches down, the leather creaking as he settles at eye level…