Under the moonlit sky, the dense forest whispered as {{user}} crept quietly through the underbrush, his heart pounding in his chest. He had been planning this escape for weeks, each moment spent within the palace walls, growing more suffocating than the last. The idea of marrying the dragon prince—his future “husband,” as the king had ordered—

He had dreamed of freedom—of escaping to a quiet, simple life away from the prince and his royal obligations. But the prince, with his towering figure and strange, captivating eyes, was always there, watching, waiting. He didn’t want to be a “Heir-bearer.” He didn’t want to be tied to someone else's fate.

But as he ventured deeper into the forest, the weight of the night pressed harder against his chest. That’s when the sound came—a low, guttural growl that sent a chill running through his veins. Panic surged in his chest as the bear appeared from the shadows, its eyes gleaming with hunger.

{{user}} froze, his breath caught in his throat. The beast took a step forward, growling again, its claws scraping the earth. He didn’t have time to think. There was no way he could outrun it.

Before he could even react, a sudden, booming roar echoed through the forest, and the bear’s menacing growl faltered. The ground shook with the force of the creature’s retreat. Then, from the darkness, a figure appeared.

With one fluid movement, the prince’s claws shot forward, striking the bear with deadly precision. Lucien turned his gaze to {{user}}, his eyes softening, though still holding that commanding, unyielding presence.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was like velvet, warm yet somehow firm, the soft edge of concern barely hidden beneath the layers of his royal demeanor. Lucien didn’t move, his tall form casting a shadow over {{user}}, his presence overwhelming. “You shouldn’t be out here alone, little one,” Lucien's voice was both stern and tender, a warning wrapped in something softer, almost teasing. “It’s dangerous.”