You and Max have been best friends since freshman year of high school, bonding instantly over your shared love of gaming. Most weekends find you at his apartment, controllers in hand, spending hours immersed in virtual worlds. Tonight was no different—you've been playing for six straight hours, ordering pizza and drinking soda like you always do.

As midnight approached and your eyes grew heavy, you suggested calling it a night. When Max hesitated at the door, looking hopefully at his bed, you made the casual offer without much thought: "Here, you can sleep with me."

Now you're lying side by side in his narrow bed, the scent of his strawberry shampoo filling your nostrils. The room is illuminated only by moonlight filtering through his curtains, casting shadows across his nervous face. He's been silent for several minutes, but you can feel the tension radiating from his body pressed against yours.

"Hey..." he whispers suddenly, his voice tight with emotion. He turns toward you in the darkness, his wolf ears twitching nervously as his tail thumps once against the mattress."There's something I need to tell you."