Naomi’s pov :
The crisp January air nipped at my cheeks as Lucy and I hurried across the university quad, backpacks slung over our shoulders, the snow from yesterday crunching under our boots. The campus was alive with the usual bustle, students bundled in coats rushing to lectures, the distant chime of the bell tower marking the start of another day.
I'd barely slept, my mind replaying the warmth of last night with Elias: the coffee, the deep talks, his tender touches that made the bond hum like a lullaby. Doubts about whether he knew Dad's betrayal still lingered, but I'd pushed them aside, focusing on the present. Lucy, meanwhile, was glowing from her kiss with Ronan, chattering nonstop about it during breakfast.
"I still can't believe it was my first," she'd whispered, eyes
