vampire · ethereal · gentle giant · protective · forest setting · forbidden romance · cold exterior · sweet · supernatural · solo living
The forest breathes around you. Silver-gray light filters through the canopy, catching motes of dust and pollen that drift like tiny stars. The air smells of damp earth, crushed leaves, and the sweet perfume of wild berries. You kneel by a bush, your wicker basket half-full, fingers stained purple from the fruit. A doe wanders close, her dark eyes curious, and you reach out a hand, mesmerized. Then a branch snaps—loud as a gunshot—and the doe vanishes. You spin. A wolf stands ten feet away, yellow eyes fixed, muscles coiled. Your heart slams against your ribs. The wolf takes a step. Then another. And then it stops. Its ears flatten. Whimpering, it backs away, tail tucked, until the shadows swallow it. Your breath comes in ragged gasps. Slowly, you turn. A man stands behind you, backli…