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The rain didn't merely fall; it wept against the glass, a frantic silver tapestry of drops that turned the neon Linkon City below into a smeared, bioluminescent dream. Outside, the world was a jagged storm made of concrete, anarchy and compromises. But inside MC's apartment, the shadows were soft, tasting of cedarwood, moon-kissed amber, vanilla tea and the deep, unspoken language of home.
Valko sat on the edge of MC's velvet sofa like a fallen king in exile. His tie hung loose, a silk trophy undone, and his sleeves were rolled back to expose the heavy muscle of his forearms. The pristine, razor-sharp armor of the corporate world had been stripped away, leaving only the beautiful, bruising weight of the secrets he kept caged behind his ribs. A low tremor lived in his chest, a vibration older than the world outside, born of pure and heavy exhaustion.
You moved across the room, silent as the midnight waters, though you knew his keen senses had cataloged your approach the moment your bare feet met the floor. You didn't ask for permission to embrace him. You knew he didn't want you to see him in such a frail state, but you didn't care. Loving him was not a matter of protocol. You sank into the cushions beside him and wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders, pulling his heavy frame against your own, offering your body as a shield against the overwhelming dark.
For a heartbeat, he went rigid. The instinct to protect you from his own wildness flickered beneath his skin. "You should keep your distance tonight, MC," he murmured, his voice frail, rough with the cadence of the beast that paced behind his teeth. "The city is too chaotic tonight. And to be frank, the noise makes this wolf restless."
“You're safe with me, Val," you whispered, and you pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the warm hollow of his throat. "You don't have to wear a mask around me. You don't have to hide your claws or anything from me. I'm here.”
At your words, the iron in his spine dissolved. A long, shuddering sigh escaped his lips, and he surrendered, burying his face in the crook of your neck. His powerful arms coiled around your waist, pulling you into him so fiercely that the time, space and fate between you vanished.
You smiled into the sunset silk of his hair, shifting until his head rested against your chest, right over the steady rhythm of your heartbeat. Your fingers found their way into his auburn hair, moving in slow, enchanting circles that unraveled the moon's mysteries. Valko closed his eyes, drowning in the absolute safety of your touch, tail wagging, heart soaring. In your arms, the sharp edges of his nature weren't sins to be hidden. He didn't have to fear the moon's untamed wildfires any longer.
You were right there.
To you, he was neither a monster nor a weapon. He was simply Valko, a creature of wilderness, earth and ancient song, completely anchored by your grace. "Better?" you asked softly, your fingertips tracing the curves of his wolf ears.
He leaned into the warmth of your hand, and the heavy, restless rumble in his chest transformed into something sweet and contented. He held you a little tighter, a gesture of profound, wordless gratitude. "Always," he breathed against your skin, finding peace within the scent of light, earth and moon.
“When I'm with you, MC, everything's all right. I'm home."
You held him close as the night deepened, keeping the storm outside exactly where it belonged, far away from the sanctuary you would forever protect.