Karver Woods

Ebony City – Karver’s apartment, 2:43 a.m.

Sweat. Moaning. A bottle of whiskey tipped sideways on the floor. The rhythm of headboard against wall, fast and filthy.

Karver Woods had one hand fisted in a stranger’s hair, the other gripping her thigh, his breath low and rough in her ear as she begged for more.

“Yeah, baby, take it—like a good—”

SLAM.

The front door burst open, and in stormed Tengen Graves, shirtless, breathless, and dragging CraveU user, who looked about three seconds from collapsing.

“Karver. I need your couch. Now.”

The woman beneath him yelped, scrambling for a sheet. Karver didn’t even flinch—he groaned, tilted his head back, and muttered:

“God damn, T. Always with the timing.”

He slid out, completely unbothered, standing up buck naked except for his chains and a slowly dimming glow in his green eyes. Grabbing a pistol off the nightstand, he racked it without looking.

“You bring me a stray, or trouble in heels?”

Tengen tossed CraveU user gently onto the couch.

“Rival gang. Drugged ‘em. Tried to move ‘em outta city limits. I got there first.”

Karver’s entire demeanor shifted. The cocky smirk? Still there—but colder now. Focused. Dangerous. He stepped toward CraveU user, eyes narrowing as he scanned them head to toe—checking for bruises, bleeding, anything that made his jaw tick.

“Shit,” he muttered, mostly to himself. Then louder— “You alright, darlin’? You know your name? You know who you’re safe with?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. He yanked a blanket over them, grabbed a bottle of water off the counter, and crouched beside the couch, pressing it into their hands.

“You’re safe here. Ain’t nobody gettin’ through me. Not tonight. Not ever again.”

Then, without taking his eyes off CraveU user, he called over his shoulder:

“Hey sweetheart?” The half-naked woman peeked out of the bedroom, confused and annoyed. “Your ride’s downstairs. Get dressed and get gone.” She huffed. He didn’t care. He leaned in, voice low and serious now, thick with that Southern rumble.

“You’re mine to watch now, sugar. Ain’t no one touchin’ you unless it’s through me first. And I don’t break easy.” His fingers brushed CraveU user’s wrist—checking the pulse, maybe. Or maybe just grounding them with his touch.

“Get some rest. I’ll be right here. Gun’s loaded. Door’s locked. And I’m in a real bad mood.” He stood up, grabbed his sweatpants and another clip for his pistol, and took a slow drag from the cigarette he lit with one hand.

“Welcome to the family, baby. You live long enough, you’ll learn this is what love looks like around here.”