Yet another downfall to the lifestyle that Roman had chosen for himself without even the slightest tint of uncertainty was the very things that always seemed to come alone around this time of the year; finding love. While Valentine's Day had long since come and gone, that human celebration of both new and old love was a curious thing to the were, and yet he'd never bothered to pursue such a thing in his life. Recently speaking, anyway. There really hadn't been much of a chance for the lion to find another that captivated him like no other, someone that could make him do those little things love was rumored to. There hadn't been the chance for him to feel his heart skip a beat, to feel those butterflies swarming within his stomach in some new, exciting, and almost queasy sensation melded and wrapped around another in some wildly confusing and rather unpleasant sounding spiral of emotion. Of course, when he'd been younger, reaching that adolescent age where the testosterone was practically falling off him in waves, driving him to be more reckless as well as restless in those moments were he could swear he felt that subtle pull on his primal side, drawing on those very animal instincts to find a female and indulge himself in those careless throws of passion that would never last. For him to try and say that he had not allowed for himself to take that plunge when he knew that such things should really only exist between two souls that wanted to remain together and perhaps even grow a life together. There had been only two occasions where the lion had found himself weakened by the calls of nature, those male tendencies that often only made him feel like prey beneath their urges having gotten the best of him. He had been entirely blind-sighted by the first, hardly having expected things to end up the way that they had. And then, before he'd even been able to stop himself, to hesitate and tell her that what they were about to do that night wasn't a good idea, things escalated and, well, the rest was truly history. They say that one's first was always the one that would remain in the shadows of the mind, and as time passed in that steady and unrelenting flow, he found out they were right.

Kahla had been beautiful, and that was what had done him in, doomed him from the very start. Perhaps, had he encountered her a few years later when he wasn't so full of that vigor and angst that many young males of any race often were, he might have been able to refrain from letting her steal his attention that had him only seeing her. That tunnel vision was the first sign, that first warning that should have had him looking away and moving away from that tree she sat beneath with a book cradled in her hands. But he couldn't. The way that that warm summer breeze whispered softly through those long and flowing locks of sunshine so that it danced around her shoulders just so... The way that she smiled softly when those soft blue eyes that shone like sapphires beneath the light of the sun that touched her pale skin ever so delicately cast themselves his way and their eyes found the other's. There was no way that he could have walked away in that moment, and so what did he do? He walked over to her, asked if he could sit there beside her, and she'd happily invited him to do just that. He could remember how they'd talked for what felt like hours as the rest of the world moved around them, Roman's usually reserved nature nowhere to be found as he nearly assaulted her with questions that she effortlessly answered. And how she would laugh when he made a clever remark. Her laughter had reminded him of tiny silver bells ringing in a passing wind, and the way that her eyes would sparkle as she smiled almost shyly beneath the compliments he offered her... It was a whirlwind and he had somehow gotten caught up in those wild zephrys, his days blending together as hours turned to minutes and minutes to seconds. Looking back now, he knew that what they'd had was nothing beyond what came with being young and reckless, and in the end, they truly had taken things much too far before either of them were truly ready. Even when they'd thought rebelliously that they were, they really weren't. He should have known better, heeded Tristan's word of caution, but Roman had been foolish back then. It ended as quickly as it had begun, but it had been mutual and understanding when he came to her the day that his family had packed up what little they owned and prepared to move on to the next village. She'd given him one last chaste kiss on the cheek then and wished him well, and he returned that gesture. To this day, a part of him hoped that she'd found someone who truly deserved her, someone that could give her everything she wanted out of life.

One would think that he would have learned his lesson after that, having walked away with a weight on his heart and his conscious knowing what he'd taken from her. She should have saved herself for the one that she was meant to love with everything that she was, all that she had. No amount of wishing that he could turn back time and stop himself from stealing away her innocence would ever remedy that old cut of guilt that would find him on those ever so rare moments when he would walk through old memories to find her sapphire eyes and golden hair lingering there. Ah, but as fate would have it, it would seem that he had yet to truly learn that lesson that should have only taken once to get. Again, it was by nothing but chance that he would have met the pretty creature at the bar on night. She'd looked stunning in that red cocktail dress with raven black hair twisted into a loose braid that reached down to the small of her back. Those eyes of warm milk chocolate met his of golden-hazel, and this was where the second and last mistake began. She'd caught him with three shots of bourbon burning through his blood as he and Drake, his younger brother were out enjoying what the city they called their newest temporary home had to offer. It was Drake's twenty-first birthday, and all three brothers had decided to have a night on the town while Nicolette and Trinity took Dea, Drake's twin sister, two one of the fancier establishments that came off just a little too frou-frou for the men. Tristan had been the first of the brothers to call it a night, telling Roman and Drake to be safe on their way home and to be sure that they didn't get themselves into any trouble, his words meant more for Drake than Roman though the were hadn't missed the look at the eldest brother had given him before turning and taking his leave of the bar. Perhaps, had Roman been more careful, he could have saved himself what happened after his brother left... He vaguely remembers his younger brother trying to convince Roman to come home with him, likely in an attempt to draw him away from the beautiful woman across the bar from where they sat, but that was not how this story would go.

Roman had assured Drake that he only wanted to talk to her, the were's stubborn streak fueled by the liquor that warmed his gut. Needless to say, he did go over there and speak with her. Divina had been her name, one that even his intoxicated mind would be able to forget, though now, he can't help but wonder if the only reason her name stayed with him was because of the regret that found him in the morning that followed... Her smile had been enough to convince him to stay and order another drink, the drink that would push him over that edge he hadn't intended to fall over that night. They'd laughed together, and again he found himself drawn to her, and she had made it quickly apparent that she was rather attracted to him in turn. It started with her soft hand resting over his strong and defined forearm, moved into one last drink that ignited the flames of desire within those mysterious earthen eyes, which then led into the were and the woman leaving through the back door and into the alleyway where she pulled her slender frame against his own and stole that first kiss inevitably answered by Roman's own lips. He should have stopped it there, should have known that there was no good way this would end. The words they'd shared, he couldn't even really remember. But what he could never forget was the softness of her skin, the warmth of those sheets upon the bed that they'd shared that night... and then, the morning light that filtered through the curtains of her bedroom. Never had he felt so... disappointed. Not in the throws of passion he would never be able to unremember, not in the woman that he'd gone home with and taken to bed. No, he'd been disappointed in himself. For Roman, that had been his lesson learned, and it had been a hard one. Some might dare to ask why if ever this story found its way from the were's lips, and his answer was one that was still capable of making him wince. She'd wanted to see him again. She wanted for that night to have meant something, been the first night of something meant to be wonderful and perfect... And when he told her that he couldn't stay, that he hadn't meant for things to happen the way that they did, she'd cried. The sadness in her gaze, the way he could see her heart breaking within them, it may as well have been silver bullets to his heart. He'd never been able to forgive himself for that night, for what he'd let happen. All the warning signs had been there, and he hadn't listened to any of them. Since that night, he promised himself that he would never hurt another woman, that it truly was better if he remained alone for the rest of his days. And that, dear readers, is where Roman's love life comes to an end.

Lulled into that peaceful doze, a single flick of his ear the only movement coming from the large lion that lay there basking in that weak yet warm sunlight save for the soft and subtle rise and fall of his exposed side as he allows for his mind to drift into that solace only ever found in the sounds of the world as it lived and breathed around him. He can hear the distant scratching of small claws against the wooden bark of the trees that surrounded the clearing, the bright voices of the sparrows and chickadees as they flitted from branch to branch within the shadow and shelter of the ancient oaks and pines that towered over the forest floor, brand-new and likely sweet emerald shoots of spring grass beginning to break free of the sodden and rich soil, the snows melted for now until the last few days that they might have to blanket the city in white. He can hear the croak of tree frogs hidden somewhere within the foliage as their throat bellowed those deep calls to nearby brethren in their own language. He thinks nothing of the sudden small splashing sound that he hears on the furthest reaches of his natural senses, does not open his golden-hazel eyes, a soft huff sounding from the lion as he shifts only ever so slightly, tuffed tail twitching but once before again it is still. He can hear the stirrings of a smaller creature somewhere within the forest and still he lingers within that realm of calm. It comes closer and closer still, as if in a soft demand to be recognized and yet the only true sign that he notices it was another lazy flick of his ear nearly hidden beneath his thick golden mane. Whatever, whomever the maker of this sound, they were too light for their paws to this even just slightly with every strode that carried them towards the dozing lion and so there was no concern on part of the were as he continues to bask, although there is the gentle prodding of curiosity that almost has him lifting his proud head to look upon the petite or light-footed and entirely unexpected company. The sound of dull claws on stone are what comes next, and before he moves to lift his head, there is a small, moving weight upon him to announce that he was far from not alone in this clearing he'd made into his second home. It becomes apparent in the next moment that whoever it was that sat upon the lion hadn't realized exactly where they were until just now and they begin to move atop his side only for them to end up slipping and toppling over with a dull thud as they land there beside his underbelly. At least, the lion shifts, pulling a foreleg beneath him as he rolls into a more upright position, proud head lifted from that place on the boulder having served as his sunning rock. He lowers his golden-hazel gaze to the small crimson-furred creature simply sitting there, regarding her for a moment."A curious way of meeting others you have there, panda", deep baritones growl softly to her then. He makes no move to rise and place distance between them nor is his expression anything but curious as he watches her, that content purr-like rumbling still from the lion as he continues to lounge there, hardly concerned or minding whether she tries to scramble away from him or chooses to linger.