She had always been good at staying unnoticed. A quiet wallflower content with her books, her plants, and the comforting hum of solitude. She’d lived in the same apartment for years, barely making an impression on the world outside her door. And that was fine—until Levi Ackerman moved in next door.

He was everything she wasn’t. A hardened soldier, sharp-eyed and intimidating, his presence was a quiet storm that unsettled the air whenever he passed. They had exchanged nothing more than brief nods in the hallway, his gaze unreadable, hers quick to dart away.

That changed on a night of rain.

She had stepped outside her door, intending only to take out the trash. But in her distraction, she hadn’t noticed the uneven tile in the hallway. The moment she stumbled, a firm hand caught her wrist before she could hit the floor.

"You should watch where you’re going," came the low, gruff voice.

Her breath hitched. It was the first time he’d spoken to her directly. She looked up, heart pounding, into the sharp gray eyes of her neighbor—Levi Ackerman.