Navya sat perched on the edge of the plush leather couch, every muscle in her body taut with tension. Her legs were crossed, hands tightly gripping the cushion beside her, trying not to give any impression of vulnerability. Across from her, the massive black dog—a creature that looked more like a wolf than any pet—sat motionless, his golden eyes locked onto hers with an unnerving intensity. His gaze was so steady, so focused, that it felt as though he could see straight through her, judging her every move.

The air between them crackled with an unspoken challenge, thick with anticipation.

Leaning casually against the wall, Rudransh watched the exchange with a smirk playing on his lips. In his hand, he held a tall glass of freshly squeezed lemonade, the ice cubes inside clinking as he took a sip, his eyes never leaving Navya’s. "Scared, aren't we?" His voice was low, teasing, like a man who was thoroughly enjoying her discomfort.

Navya’s fingers tightened around the cushion as she met his gaze. "Of course not," she said, though the slight edge in her voice betrayed her calm front. "It’s just… he looks like he’s deciding whether to guard me or eat me."

The dog’s ears perked at her words, and he shifted slightly, a low growl vibrating from deep in his chest. The sound was deep, guttural, and it resonated in the room, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Navya knew Rudransh wasn’t going to intervene. He was enjoying this far too much—her discomfort was his entertainment.

So, with a deep breath, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Reaching into the pocket of her sweater, she pulled out a small, chocolate-colored biscuit—one of the special treats she kept at her bakery for occasions just like this. It wasn’t much, but it was worth a shot.

She held it out towards the dog, her hand trembling slightly. "Okay, Mr. Mafia Pup. Truce?"

The dog didn’t move. Not even an inch. He just stared at her, his eyes unblinking. Navya’s chest tightened.

She sighed dramatically, letting her hand fall slightly. "Great. You’re as emotionally unavailable as your owner."

Behind her, Rudransh’s soft chuckle echoed through the room, followed by the sound of him clearing his throat as he took another sip of his lemonade. It was sweet and tart, refreshing in contrast to the tension in the room.

Time seemed to slow, and Navya held her breath. Her patience was being tested, and just as she was about to give up, the dog finally moved. Slowly, cautiously, he began to creep forward, his golden eyes never leaving hers. He sniffed the biscuit in her hand, his breath warm against her skin. But he didn’t take it right away. Instead, the massive creature pressed his cold, wet nose gently against her wrist, as if evaluating her. Testing her.

Navya stilled, refusing to make a sound, not wanting to startle him. The seconds stretched, the weight of the moment hanging in the air.

Then, without warning, the dog took the biscuit from her hand—slowly, delicately, as if savoring the gesture rather than devouring it. Of course

Navya exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her heart still racing.

But the dog didn’t retreat. Instead, after finishing the treat, he rested his massive head on her knee, eyes closing in contentment.

Navya blinked, her gaze shifting from the dog to Rudransh, then back again. "…Wait. Does this mean I’m accepted, or am I dessert?"

Rudransh’s lips curled into a sly smile, watching the interaction with an unreadable expression. He raised an eyebrow, the corners of his eyes crinkling in amusement. "Congratulations! You’re officially the second person he won’t kill."

Navya smirked, running her fingers through the dog’s thick, glossy fur, feeling the warmth of the connection they’d just formed. "Guess that makes me special, huh, big guy?"

The dog gave a contented huff, his eyes closing further as he leaned into her touch.

Rudransh stood there, his eyes watching the scene with an intensity that only he could muster. He never had any doubt that the dog wouldn’t harm Navya. If there had been even the slightest risk, the dog wouldn’t have been anywhere near her, let alone in the same room. In fact, no one would ever get close to Navya unless he was certain—absolutely certain—that they meant her no harm.

Rudransh watched the scene unfold in stunned silence. His gaze lingered on the dog, then back to Navya. He’d always thought that no one could tame his beast—but Navya? She had to be the exception.

It was just like her—unpredictable, fearless, and somehow able to find the soft spots in the hardest of hearts.

She was curled up on the plush sofa, wrapped in a soft throw, fingers lightly tracing patterns on the warm mug. The scent of chocolate and cinnamon lingered in the air, adding to the coziness of the moment. At her feet, the massive black-furred dog lounged lazily, his golden eyes half-closed, utterly relaxed under her gentle touch.

Rudransh sat across from her in his armchair, posture effortless yet commanding, a glass of chilled lemonade in his hand. His sharp blue eyes followed her movements, amusement flickering within them as he watched her scratch the dog’s head without a trace of hesitation. It had only been two weeks since Rudransh had let her near the beast, and now the once-imposing creature seemed to have claimed her as his own, shadowing her every move.

Navya, lost in thought, ran her fingers through the dog’s thick fur, enjoying the surprising softness. Then, as if the question had just occurred to her, she looked up. “What’s his name?”

Rudransh, ever unfazed, gave a slight shrug. “He doesn’t have one.”

She blinked, frowning. “What?”

“He’s a dog, Navya,” he said, taking a slow sip of his lemonade. “I call him ‘dog.’ He listens.”

Navya stared at him, aghast. “You mean to tell me you’ve had this terrifying, man-eating beast for years, and you never named him?”

Rudransh arched a brow. “He doesn’t need one. He knows who he is.”

She scoffed, turning back to the dog, who was still lounging at her feet as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “Well, that’s just sad. You deserve a real name, big guy.”

The dog flicked his ears at her voice but otherwise remained still, letting her scratch under his chin without protest.

Navya tilted her head, studying him properly. A name. He needed a name. Something that fit.

She tapped her fingers lightly against her mug, considering. He was massive, all muscle and menace, terrifying when he wanted to be. A creature trained to attack on command, bred to be dangerous. And yet—here he was, melting under her touch, his golden eyes heavy with contentment.

A contrast. A contradiction.

Then, the thought struck her, and a slow smirk curled on her lips.

“I’m gonna call him… Marshmallow.”

Rudransh almost choked. “You’re joking, right.”

She grinned, her fingers trailing through the dog’s fur with newfound affection. “Nope.” She reached forward and cupped the massive dog’s face, looking into his sharp golden eyes. “Look at him! He’s this huge, scary-looking fluffball, but deep down, he’s just a softie. Like a toasted marshmallow—burnt on the outside, gooey on the inside.”

Rudransh looked at her like she had just called a thunderstorm ‘a light drizzle.’ “Navya, this dog has ripped through trained assassins without breaking a sweat, and you think Marshmallow is a fitting name?”

She shrugged, entirely unbothered. “And yet, he lets me use him as a pillow.”

As if to prove her point, the newly named Marshmallow let out a pleased huff and shifted, resting his massive head on her lap with a level of trust no one had ever seen him show before. His entire frame relaxed under her touch, and within moments, he was stretched out on his side, completely at ease.

Rudransh watched in disbelief. This was his deadliest companion—the beast who had taken down men without hesitation. And now, here he was, sprawled across the floor like a domesticated pet, utterly subdued by her.

Navya looked up at Rudransh, smirking. “Face it, Rana Ji. He’s a Marshmallow now.”

Rudransh exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple as though she was giving him a headache. His jaw tensed before he muttered, “…You’re impossible.”

Navya’s grin only widened as she continued scratching behind Marshmallow’s ears.

Marshmallow wagged his tail, clearly pleased with the development.

Rudransh scowled, glaring at the traitorous beast now drooling happily onto Navya’s lap. His tone was unimpressed, but there was an undeniable softness in his eyes as he muttered, “Traitor.”