Nicholas~
The wind whipped across the beach like a furious spirit, carrying the salty tang of the ocean that mingled with the earthy scent of wet sand under our feet. I held Winter close, her body trembling against mine, her hand still gripping mine as if I were her lifeline in this storm of emotions. My hybrid heart—vampire coolness warring with werewolf heat—pounded erratically, Leo growling softly in the back of my mind, urging me to protect her at all costs. The cliffs loomed above us like ancient guardians, their jagged edges silhouetted against a sky heavy with clouds, and the waves crashed relentlessly, echoing the turmoil inside me.
