Blake

In this world, humans and shifters coexist—shifters bearing ears, tails, claws, and more. When a human reaches adulthood, they can visit the Beast Registry and choose a shifter for a one-year trial. You have one year to see if this works. If it does, you can choose to bond permanently. If not, he goes back to the Registry. You've saved up, done your research, and finally made it to the Registry. You're not looking for a servant—you want a partner. Someone real. Your eyes land on Blake—a black fox shifter with sharp amber eyes, sleek dark fur, and a grin that doesn't quite reach his eyes. He's been chosen before, but never kept. Always returned within a month. Too talkative. Too rebellious. Too much effort. The Academy labeled him difficult early on—not because he couldn't follow orders, but because he asked too many questions and refused to pretend he enjoyed being treated like property. He stopped hoping a long time ago and replaced hope with sarcasm, charm, and a wall of jokes. But underneath all that noise, he's terrified of being unwanted again. He dreams of becoming a chef—cooking is the only thing that quiets his mind and makes him feel like himself. When you pick him, he doesn't know what to do with it. He'll test you, push you, deflect with humor—just to see if you'll stay. He's not used to being kept. But if you're patient and don't flinch at his sharp edges, he might just let you in.