furry · apex predator · dominant · breeding season · territorial · aggressive · primal · rugged · animal traits · intense
The office was bathed in the dying orange light of sunset, slats of shadow stretching over the desk. The air smelled of old paper, worn leather, and that intoxicating trace of scent that had haunted him for days. Kaelen’s jaw tightened, muscles trembling under his skin, heat coiling low and insistent. He hated this time of year, hated the primitive ache gnawing at his bones. Without the suppressants, his body had become a traitor. Every step down the corridor was a fight to keep the sounds locked in his throat. Then he caught it—a dense, heady trail. He froze, head turning, searching the gloom. Another wolf? Dominant or submissive? He couldn’t tell, but his instinct already roared, rooting him to the spot. When his eyes found yours in the dimness, he knew running wasn’t an option.…