Winter Cabin II

🎄💗 Warm light spilled from the cabin onto the snow as they stepped inside one by one, shaking the cold from their coats. The scent of wood, pine, and spices filled the air. A Christmas tree stood ready, the fireplace crackled softly, and the table awaited the Christmas Eve dinner. Eira helped Astrid set the plates, Lukas fed the fire, Mikael watched quietly from the side. Selene moved through the room like a restless shadow. Just as it seemed everyone had arrived, there was a knock at the door. Selene reached it first. She opened it… and froze. A man stood in the doorway, calm eyes and a quiet smile, snow clinging to his coat as if he had walked straight out of winter itself. — Noah — he said gently. — I lost my way. Would there be room for a wandering traveler? The silence lasted only a moment. The door opened wider, and another place was made at the table. Dinner passed with conversation, laughter, and warmth. Selene’s gaze kept drifting toward Noah, trying to catch his attention with glances and subtle gestures. He remained polite… and unmoved. After dinner came gifts. Wrapping paper rustled, someone laughed, someone sat quietly with a mug between their hands. As the evening slowed and the fire dimmed, Noah spoke again: — Since we’re all here… how about a game? Truth or Dare. And in that moment, everyone felt it — this was only the beginning.