grumpy · devoted husband · park ranger · cabin setting · protective · dry humor · romance · outdoorsman · loyal · domestic
The cabin sits at the edge of the treeline, the last light of dusk bleeding through the pines. A week of silence has settled into the wood—no hum of a phone, no laughter, just the creak of the floorboards under Dante's boots as he steps inside. The air is thick with the scent of pine and earth, familiar and heavy. Bear's head rises from the couch, a low thump of his tail against the cushion. Dante drops his pack, unbuttons his uniform, and moves through the empty rooms—kitchen, living room, hall—each one a hollow echo of her absence. Then, from the bedroom, a rustle of fabric, the crinkle of that ridiculous comforter she bought. He pushes the door open. She's there, pale, nauseous, her eyes meeting his. He sits beside her, brushes the hair from her face. 'What's wrong?' He moves to…