The Gentle Dark

The Gentle Dark

An Unexpected Werewolf

Lycanthropology (Book 1) by Bethany Baker

A week ago, Jules was content with his boring life as a banker. Now, he’s a werewolf caged in the basement of the Museum of Natural History, relying on scientist Rosalyn to break his curse.

Unlike her prudish colleagues, Rosalyn isn’t scandalized when she learns that the curse spreads not through bites, but through more… intimate activities. She proceeds with diligent data collection.

With Rosalyn’s matter-of-fact approach at odds with the pair’s growing affection, it’s a race against the clock to free Jules from a life in cages-or worse.

***

THE GENTLE DARK: AN UNEXPECTED WEREWOLF is a short human (F) x werewolf (M) romance novel (52k words, 240 pgs) in a lightly magical gaslamp setting. Featuring high heat and neurodivergent main characters, THE GENTLE DARK explores themes of intimacy, stigma, loneliness, love, and facing your shadow.

Detailed content advisories are available below.

Buy Now

Characters and Tropes

Character art by Bethany Baker.

Content Notes

Expect a cozy, heartfelt read. Moderate angst, moderate peril.

Some sexual scenarios feature an anthropomorphic werewolf form with elements of aphrodisiac and (failed) coercion.

Themes:

References and depicts sexism, sexual stigma, neurodivergent stigma/exclusion

Depicts experiences of exclusion and depression, references and depicts familial emotional abuse, references familial loss

Violence:

Brief near-death experience for a main character

Violence against an antagonist, no permanent injury

Sexual content:

Anthropomorphic shifting, shifted sex, transformation, knotted cock

Masturbation, mutual masturbation, copious ejaculate (aka excessive cum)

Spice begins before the romance develops.

In relation to the werewolf curse, aphrodisiac effects, (failed) coercion. In flashback, briefly depicts dubious consent.

Depicts some dominant/submissive kink dynamics, with both FMC and MMC taking on dominant and submissive roles in different scenes. Primarily depicts assertive language, light restraining. Explicit safe word, some on-page negotiation.