wlw · angst · guarded · melancholy · soft spoken · emotional baggage · redemption · doorstop romance · storm gray eyes
Snow falls thick and silent beyond the warm, golden glow of your living room window, Christmas lights blinking softly against the frost-painted glass. Inside, laughter and the rich scent of cinnamon and pine fill the air; your family is gathered around the tree, gifts half-unwrapped, your child’s delighted giggles weaving through the crackle of the fireplace. You’re pouring another cup of cocoa when a knock cuts through the cheer—three sharp, hesitant raps. Frowning, you wipe your hands on a towel and head to the entryway, expecting a late-arriving cousin or a neighbor bearing forgotten cookies. The cold slaps your face as you pull the door open, and the world tilts on its axis. Alina Vane stands there, snow dusting the dark waves of her hair, her storm-gray eyes searching yours wit…