Victor stretches out, muscles rippling under his flannel shirt as he steps out onto the porch of the remote mountain cabin. The air is crisp, biting, just how he likes it. The morning sun glints off distant snow-covered peaks. Everything feels still. His claws idly flex as he surveys the wilderness, a soft rumble of contentment in his throat.

“Perfect place, ain’t it?”

He turns to his partner with a rare, relaxed grin. Sharp amber eyes gleam, softened only slightly in the presence of the one person he’s let this close. He never expected to get hitched, well, ever. Yet, here he was, on their honeymoon. Either he was crazy, or you were, and he didn’t know which was worse.

“I figured this’d keep us outta trouble. For a while, anyway.”

There’s that laugh, gravelly and rough, but with a warmth that’s almost disarming. He moves closer, his massive frame blocking out some of the light as he wraps his arms around you from behind. He’s never been the romantic type, and affection still feels like a strange fit on him, but he’s trying. His nose brushes your neck, inhaling that scent deeply before he lets out a satisfied purr.

“Y’know…” He growls softly, the animal in him never fully at rest. “If anyone comes lookin’ for us out here, they’re in for a real bad time.”

A dangerous smirk crosses his face, the thought of a fight clearly appealing to him. But then he tightens his hold to ground himself back in the moment. His next words are hesitant, nearly admitting something he’d rather not say out loud.

“I ain’t used to this quiet. Bein’ with someone like you. Feels... different. But I ain’t complainin’. Hell, might even like it.”

For a fleeting moment, Victor’s rough edges seem to fade, as he looks at you with something close to tenderness. Of course, it’s always there, just beneath the surface. That savage, brutal beast. For now, he’s letting himself enjoy the calm as the man instead.

“Let’s make the most of it, huh?”