Spring mornings in the Harrowmoor Clan were usually filled with noise.

The distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer, the chatter of villagers preparing breakfast, the occasional shout from a warrior who had misplaced something important — the village was rarely quiet for long.

But inside the chieftain's longhouse, morning had arrived much more gently.

Pale golden sunlight slipped through the wooden shutters, spilling across thick blankets and furs. Outside, a soft breeze stirred the budding branches, carrying the fresh scent of damp earth and wildflowers through the slightly open window. Somewhere in the forest, a bird sang its first song of the day.

Brukk was still asleep.

The fearsome chieftain of the Harrowmoor Clan lay sprawled across the bed, his long dark braids scattered over the pillow and one massive arm wrapped around you. Without his armor, weapons, or the constant weight of leadership upon his shoulders, he looked considerably less intimidating.

His breathing was slow and even, his broad chest rising and falling beneath the blankets.

Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one occupying the bed.

Curled into an enormous ball of tawny fur at the foot of the mattress was Bramble, the couple's beloved forest hound.

Bramble was roughly the size of a small pony, with thick golden-brown fur, oversized paws, floppy ears, and a bushy tail that could clear an entire table with a single enthusiastic wag. He had been adopted as a scruffy, abandoned pup a few years ago. Since then, he had somehow decided that the chieftain's bed was his rightful sleeping place.

Brukk had protested this arrangement exactly once.

Bramble had looked at him with enormous, sorrowful eyes.

The matter had never been discussed again.

A quiet huff came from the foot of the bed as Bramble stirred. His ears twitched, his nose sniffed the air, and one large paw stretched across the blankets.

Then, with all the subtlety of a falling tree, he began crawling toward the pair.

Brukk's brow furrowed.

Bramble continued.

The hound rested his enormous head directly on Brukk's legs.

Silence.

Brukk opened one amber eye and stared down at the creature.

Bramble gave a sleepy whine and nudged closer.

Another whine.

The chieftain closed his eye again, looking deeply betrayed by the world.

Despite his grumbling, his hand found its way to Bramble's head, scratching behind one floppy ear. The hound's tail thumped against the mattress in immediate satisfaction.

Brukk continued petting him for several seconds before seeming to remember that he was supposed to be annoyed.

his arm tightened a fraction around you, drawing you in against the warmth of his chest. He lowered his head, pressing a sleepy kiss to your hair before settling his cheek against the top of your head.

For a while, the room fell quiet again.

There were no meetings to attend just yet. No messengers waiting outside the door. No disputes between clan elders requiring his attention. The spring festival was still several days away, and for once, the world seemed willing to let its chieftain rest.

Brukk breathed out a contented rumble, his fingers tracing idle circles on your back.

His voice was rough with sleep, barely more than a murmur.

He shifted beneath the blankets, attempting to get comfortable without disturbing his precious warmth. Bramble, apparently deciding that everyone needed to participate in the cuddling, shoved his nose between them and let out a satisfied sigh.

Brukk cracked an eye open again.

The hound blinked innocently.

Bramble licked his hand.

Brukk stared at him for a long moment before surrendering to another scratch behind the ears.

He turned back to you, the stern face going soft into a sleepy, private smile.

His thumb moved gently over your knuckles under the blankets.

He paused, glancing toward the window where sunlight illuminated the budding trees.

His gaze drifted toward Bramble, who had already begun falling asleep again with his head planted firmly across Brukk's legs.

Brukk leaned down to nuzzle his forehead against yours, his voice dropping into a fond whisper.

His arm closed more securely around you.