General and I

WHEN THE NIGHT BREATHES

The evening wind swept through the camp like a whisper soft, heavy with the scent of pine and the hum of laughter in the distance. The party had already begun when General Damien Cole returned to his quarters.

He tossed his jacket on the couch, unbuttoning his cuffs as Mason stepped in.

“Sir,” Mason began, standing upright, “the recruits’ day competition ended successfully. Sergeant Louis announced a social gathering tonight something of a morale event. Group A came first.”

Damien didn’t lift his gaze from the documents in his hand. “Group A?”

“Yes, sir. The Parker girl’s unit.”

A dry smile ghosted across Damien’s face. “Of course,” he muttered. Then, quieter, “And Group D?”

“Second to the last sir.”

Damien leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping on the armrest. “Leah Sanders’ team.”

“Yes, sir.”

He didn’t know why that name tugged at him each time he heard it why his mind replayed her trembling voice, her red eyes, that unguarded vulnerability she carried like a second skin.

“Well, she sure is resilient,” he murmured, more to himself than to Mason. “A fragile frame but a spirit that refuses to bend.”

Mason blinked, unsure whether to respond.

Damien rose from his seat, buttoning his collar again. “Get my cloth ready. I’ll be attending the party.”

Mason’s brows flicked up in mild surprise, but he masked it quickly. “Right away, sir.”

As soon as he left, Damien stood before the mirror. The reflection staring back at him was sharp and composed, but his thoughts were far from military precision. He wasn’t going there to celebrate. He was going there because something or other, someone had occupied a space in his mind he couldn’t explain.

Across the camp, in the women’s dormitory, chaos reigned.

Ann Parker stood before the mirror, a queen in her pink gown. Every detail was flawless — from her curled hair to the shimmer on her eyelids. The silk dress hugged her frame like it had been crafted for her alone. She smiled at her reflection, satisfied.

“Tonight,” she said softly to her reflection, “Damien won’t be able to ignore me.”

Her two minions giggled, nodding eagerly.

On the lower bunk, Leah watched quietly. She had just finished her shower and was lying still, her towel clutched close, observing the frenzy of beauty before her. Ann’s laughter grated against her nerves, but she said nothing.

Natasha appeared beside her with a grin. “You’re not planning to stay here all night, are you?”

Leah shrugged. “I don’t exactly have a gown or heels lying around, Tash. I didn’t come here to party.”

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Natasha said, already rummaging through her trunk. “You’re coming with me, and we’re going to make this work.”

She pulled out a sleek black gown elegant but simple and tossed it toward Leah. “Here. Try this.”

Leah held it up. “This? I’ll drown in it. You forget, I’m not exactly… built like you.”

Natasha winked. “I’m a genius, remember? I’ll make it fit.”

Within minutes, Natasha was pinning and folding the dress until it hugged Leah’s small frame perfectly. The gown shimmered faintly under the dim light, the color deepening her pale glow. The neckline dipped into a soft V, revealing a small black birthmark on her collarbone striking and delicate, like an inked flower.

Natasha stepped back, eyes wide. “Oh, wow.”

Leah frowned. “What?”

“You’re beautiful,” Natasha said simply. “Like… hauntingly beautiful. You don’t even need makeup.”

Leah gave a small, unsure laugh. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Am not. Just here.” Natasha reached for a tube of gloss, dabbing it gently on Leah’s lips. “There. You don’t need anything else.”

Leah let her hair down, and it fell in soft waves past her waist long, full, and untamed. For a moment, even she didn’t recognize the girl staring back in the cracked mirror.

“Maybe this isn’t such a bad idea,” Natasha said, slipping into her own red dress. “Come on, let’s not be late.”

The camp’s central hall had been transformed. Lanterns swayed from ropes, laughter rippled through the crowd, and a live band played softly in the corner. The scent of grilled meat and whiskey lingered in the air.

Leah and Natasha arrived just as the night was finding its rhythm.

As they approached the entrance, Leah bumped into someone hard.

“Oh! I’m so sorry,” she said quickly, steadying herself.

A deep voice replied, smooth and calm, “No harm done.”

She looked up and met the stranger’s gaze. He was tall commanding but not harsh his features sharper than the usual soldiers she’d seen. He smiled faintly, and something in that smile made her pulse skip.

“Are you a soldier here?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said, a little breathless. “One of the new recruits.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes lingering a moment too long. “Interesting. You don’t look like you belong here.”

Natasha stepped in, lightly touching Leah’s arm. “Come on, Leah.”

The man gave a courteous nod. “Enjoy the evening, miss.”

And just like that, he was gone leaving Leah oddly unsettled.

Natasha leaned close as they walked in. “Do you even know who that was?”

Leah blinked. “No?”

“That’s General Zachary Trent ,General Zach. He’s one of the youngest ranking officers next to Damien. And one of the richest men in the country.”

Leah’s mouth fell open slightly. “I… just bumped into that?”

Natasha grinned. “Welcome to camp royalty.”

Inside, the music grew louder. Recruits danced, laughed, and cheered a rare sight in such a strict environment. Leah stood near the edge of the crowd, watching quietly. For once, she allowed herself to breathe, to just exist without orders, without fear.

Her gaze drifted toward the far end of the hall a section cordoned off for higher ranks. There, Ann Parker glowed in pink silk, surrounded by admirers, her laughter loud and practiced.

Natasha followed Leah’s gaze. “She’s been waiting for him all night, you know.”

“For who?”

“The General,” Natasha whispered.

And as if summoned by her words, the room fell into silence.

Damien Cole had arrived.

He entered with quiet authority no need for announcements. The air seemed to shift around him. His tall frame carried a calm that was more dangerous than noise. Mason followed close behind, and officers straightened instinctively as he passed.

Leah’s breath caught without reason. He wasn’t even looking at her not yet but she felt his presence like gravity.

Ann rose immediately, her eyes gleaming. “General!” she called, stepping forward with a confidence that bordered on hunger.

Damien barely glanced her way. “Evening, Miss Parker,” he said politely before turning toward the other officers.

The rejection was subtle, but it burned.

Ann clenched her fists behind her back, forcing a smile as she retreated to her seat. Her eyes followed Damien’s every move until she noticed something else.

He wasn’t watching her.

His gaze was elsewhere.

It took her a moment to find where.

Across the room, near the far corner, stood Leah in her simple black gown, her hair like silk under the lanterns. She wasn’t laughing or drawing attention. She was just there quiet, still, radiant without trying.

Damien’s eyes lingered too long.

Ann’s lips parted slightly, fury bubbling beneath her calm. And she wasn’t the only one who noticed.

Zach, lounging by the bar, followed Damien’s line of sight. His smirk deepened. So that’s who caught the General’s eye. The same recruit who’d bumped into him minutes ago.

He raised his glass in silent amusement. Interesting, he thought. Let’s see what’s so special about you.

Damien finally tore his gaze away, exhaling quietly as Mason leaned closer.

“Sir, would you like to join the officers at the VIP section?”

“In a moment,” Damien replied, though his eyes betrayed him they flickered once more toward the corner where Leah stood.

Something about her presence disarmed him. The same girl who’d once stood before him trembling in fear now looked… different. Not confident, but composed. Like someone who’d stopped running from her shadows.

He didn’t understand why that mattered to him why her silence spoke louder than anyone’s praise.

Mason cleared his throat gently. “Sir?”

Damien blinked, recollecting himself. “Yes. Let’s go.”

As he walked toward the VIP lounge, the crowd subtly parted. Zach was the first to greet him, raising a glass with a grin.

“Cole,” he said warmly. “Didn’t think you’d show up tonight.”

“Neither did I,” Damien replied evenly.

“Guess the recruits are finally giving you something interesting to watch, huh?” Zach’s tone was light, but his eyes carried something else curiosity, maybe envy.

Damien’s only response was a small, unreadable smile.

As they shook hands, Zach’s attention flicked again toward Leah. Damien noticed and their gazes locked briefly, a silent exchange of awareness and unspoken rivalry.

For Zach, it was a challenge.

For Damien, a warning.

The night had only just begun.