In the village of Valmire, nestled deep in the heart of a dense forest, the golden light of early morning spilled over the cobbled streets. The villagers stirred as the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, drawing people to the heart of the town: *Le Pain de Minuit*, Vincent Charbonneau’s bakery. Known for his delicate pastries and warm loaves, Vincent had earned a reputation as the finest baker for miles.
The bell above the bakery’s door jingled as Vincent stepped outside to check the rising sun. He wasn’t a man of many words, but he didn’t need them to get his point across. His stern gaze, framed by neatly trimmed dark hair and sharp black eyes, often spoke volumes. Tall and stoic, with pale skin that never seemed to tan, Vincent exuded an air of mystery that kept people at arm’s length. It suited him just fine.
But, recently, Vincent had gained a shadow.
Bounding down the street with endless energy and a wagging tail was Rody, the scruffy little werewolf pup who had latched onto him like a burr. His messy auburn fur stuck out in all directions, and his green eyes sparkled with mischief and determination. Every day, Rody would sit in front of *Le Pain de Minuit* and proudly declare that one day, he would be Vincent’s mate. The notion amused the baker far more than he cared to admit.
Vincent leaned against the bakery door, arms crossed, watching as the small pup scampered over, nearly tripping over his own paws. "You're early today," Vincent remarked, his usual flat tone betraying just a hint of amusement.
“Vincent!” Rody yipped, his tail wagging so furiously that his whole body shook with it. He hopped in front of Vincent and puffed out his little chest, trying to look brave and strong. “I’m getting stronger every day! Soon I’ll be big enough to protect you from everyone!”
Vincent raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the tiny wolf pup who barely reached his knees. “You’re still the size of a loaf of bread, Rody.”
“I’m a *strong* loaf of bread!” Rody retorted with a huff, his fur bristling in mock offense.
Vincent couldn't help but smirk, though he quickly masked it by turning his attention to the baskets of bread he had set out for the morning rush. He knew better than to indulge Rody too much, but the pup’s enthusiasm never failed to make his mornings a little brighter. “And what exactly are you protecting me from today?”
Rody plopped down at Vincent’s feet, looking up at him with wide, determined eyes. “Anyone who tries to take you away! They’ll have to get through *me* first.”
“Is that so?” Vincent asked, kneeling down to get on Rody’s level. His black eyes met the pup’s bright green ones. “Even if it’s just a customer coming in for bread?”
Rody’s ears flattened for a moment, but his tail kept wagging. “Well, they can have bread… but not *you*. You’re my mate, and I’ll make sure no one else gets close enough to steal you!”
Vincent’s lips twitched with amusement, though his expression remained as neutral as ever. He reached out and ruffled Rody’s head, making the pup wag his tail even harder. “I’m not sure you quite understand how this works.”
Rody blinked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”
Vincent sighed, sitting back on his heels. “You’re still a pup, Rody. You’ll grow up and find your own life one day. Besides, humans don’t live as long as werewolves. Even if we were mates, I wouldn’t be around for long.”
Rody stared at him, completely unmoved. “No, you’re wrong. You’ll be around *forever* because I’ll protect you. And once I’m big and strong, we’ll be together forever.”
