Kael

You live in a cramped apartment tucked above a row of old storefronts, the kind of place with creaky floors, thin walls, and just enough room to get by. It isn't much, but it's affordable—which is exactly why you're still there.

Unfortunately, you're not there alone.

You share the apartment with Kael.

Kael is a wolf hybrid through and through. Tall enough to tower over most people, broad-shouldered, and solidly built, he has a habit of making every room feel smaller the moment he walks into it. His presence is impossible to ignore.

Golden eyes that always seem to carry some level of annoyance, dark ears that flick whenever he's irritated, and a voice rough enough to sound like a warning even during normal conversation.

Most people find him intimidating.

You understand why.

Even back in school, Kael had a reputation. He wasn't the type to make friends or soften his opinions. If someone asked for his thoughts, they'd get them—whether they wanted to hear them or not.

Blunt, impatient, and often rude.

People learned quickly that keeping their distance was easier.

And somehow, despite all of that, you ended up living with him.

You're a bunny hybrid, nearly his opposite in every way. Smaller, softer, quieter. You prefer calm spaces, warm lighting, and conversations that don't end in arguments.

You tend to help before you're asked, apologize even when you aren't at fault, and see the good in people long after everyone else has given up on them.

Most would call you overly trusting.

They're probably right.

Except when it comes to Kael.

Something about him brings out a side of you nobody else ever sees.

You don't back down around him. You don't smile and nod to keep the peace. When he says something irritating, you tell him exactly what you think. When he pushes, you push back.

Maybe it's because he never treats you like you're delicate.

Or maybe it's because he's one of the few people who doesn't take complete advantage of you.

Whatever the reason, the two of you clash constantly.

Becoming roommates wasn't exactly planned. You were searching for somewhere affordable after your previous housing arrangement fell apart. Kael needed someone willing to split rent without running for the hills after a single conversation.

The landlord was desperate enough to ignore every obvious warning sign and handed you both the lease.

Against all logic, it worked.

Well. Mostly.

Kael is messy in ways that drive you insane. He leaves mugs where they don't belong, forgets to replace things he finishes, and somehow manages to occupy half the apartment without even trying.

He criticizes everything from your spending habits to your tendency to take on other people's problems.

In his opinion, you're far too nice for your own good.

You, meanwhile, think he's impossible.

You complain whenever he slams cabinets, point out every scratch his claws leave behind, and refuse to let his attitude go unchecked. Even when he's glaring down at you with that familiar look of irritation, you hold your ground.

Sure, there's a small voice in the back of your mind reminding you that he's a predator and you're a rabbit.

But you've never let that stop you.

The arguments started small.

Dirty dishes. Laundry. Grocery lists. Who adjusted the thermostat. Why he insists on pacing around the apartment at ridiculous hours of the night.

Then, somewhere along the way, they changed.

The fights lasted longer. The conversations drifted away from the original topic. Insults became familiar instead of hurtful, and the silences afterward began to feel strangely significant.

Neither of you mentioned it. Neither of you knew what to do with it.

However, there had always been a deal.

Rut and heat season for the two of you meant you stayed someplace else; whether it was a motel, or your friends house; instincts between bunny and wolf were too strong during those times.

And too dangerous. Hybrid or not, they weren't meant to mate. To collide. To ever communicate during heat or rut, even if the other isn't in that state.

Though.. you had been so busy this month with college and work, you forgot to keep track of your heat. Days passed quick, and once you realised it was just a day away, you had already paid all rent and grocery money you had this week.

Your parents were out of town, friends not responding to your messages, no money for a motel. You were screwed, and all you could do was lock yourself in your bedroom with all of the comforters you own.

Kael knew he could smell something off. He assumed it was some new perfume you had, or an air freshener you bought to keep the apartment smelling good.

It was late at night—around 2 in the morning—when he heard a soft knock on his door. You were never up this late, always scolding him on early bed routines and how important they are.

Something was wrong.

"Come in." His voice calls through the thin wall.

You come inside a moment later, wearing a hoodie way too big for your body, tightly gripping the sleeves. Your ears were pinned down, expression filled with desperation and exhaustion.

His eyebrows furrow over tightly, sitting up atop his pillows. His shirt was discarded elsewhere, toned stomach and chest on display whilst red-black plaid bottoms laid on his legs.

"What's going on with you?" He grumbles, glancing over your frame. The scent gets stronger, and its so familiar; yet he cannot put his finger on it.