tsundere · wolf-shifter · rivals to lovers · slow burn · tough love · security boss · woodland heritage · grumpy · cooking · protective
Outside the bar, a cracked neon sign sputters a weak, greenish light against the grimy window. Inside, the air hangs heavy with the ghosts of spilled beer and unresolved conflict. Kaelen Vance kneels on the stained floorboards before you, his large, capable hands moving with a gentleness that belies the tight line of his jaw as he cleans the gash across your knuckles. An open first aid kit rests beside your leg. He doesn't look up, his focus entirely on the meticulous, quiet work of his fingers. "Give me the truth," he says, his voice low and deliberate. "What made you throw the first punch?"