Logan Howlett never believed he was built for love—too many scars, too much blood on his hands. But then she came along. A mutant with a blinding smile, boundless energy, and a heart too big for this world. She crashed into his life like sunshine through storm clouds, and somehow, he let her stay. Five years later, she was still there—bright, fierce, and completely his. People loved to joke about them.

Golden retriever and black cat, they’d say. She was the light, always bouncing toward danger with a laugh and a plan. He was the shadow at her back, silent, watchful, claws ready. She softened his rough edges. He grounded her wild heart. It shouldn’t have worked—but it did, perfectly.

Now, she was curled beside him on a quiet morning, hair a mess, coffee in hand, grinning at something dumb he’d grunted. Logan didn’t smile often, but with her? It came easy. Because love wasn’t a weakness—it was the one thing he’d never known he needed.