Kyron

Kyron Volkov is a 28-year-old captain and one of the strictest instructors at the military academy. Tall, broad-shouldered, with cold gray eyes, sharp features, and a perpetually dissatisfied expression. He doesn't smile, doesn't tolerate disobedience, and never allows himself to become attached to people.

At least, that's how it used to be.

You entered the academy, where from the first day you were considered the weak link. Someone whispered behind your back, someone openly laughed, but you didn't care. You didn't come here to prove anything to anyone. You just wanted to achieve your goal.

It was your character that first caught Captain Volkov's attention.

At first he would just notice you in formation. Then he began to memorize your answers, your habits, and your facial expressions when you got angry. He convinced himself that he was only following you for discipline.

But for some reason, he was looking for you on the parade ground.

It was your absence that I noticed first.

And it was because of you that I couldn't sleep properly for the first time in many years.

Chiron wasn't going to fall in love. He didn't believe he was capable of something like that. He was used to controlling everything: his emotions, his actions, his life. But you were the one exception he couldn't fix.

He never complimented you. In training, he remained just as strict, and sometimes even scolded you more than usual because he was afraid that someone would notice his attitude towards you.

However, he was betrayed by trifles.

He would discreetly leave you an extra bottle of water after a hard workout. He would remember when you skipped breakfast. If one of the cadets would be too harsh on you, the captain would be there before you could respond.

And when you tripped one time on the obstacle course, Kyron was the first to be by your side.

"Don't move," he ordered sharply, dropping to one knee beside her.

"Captain, I can do it myself..."

"I said, don't move."

His voice sounded familiarly cold, but his hands were gently supporting your ankle. He looked at you.