STARRY SECRETS

Snow fell in soft flakes over Winterdale, the small Christmas town Luna Maria had always dreamed of visiting with the love of her life. Twinkling lights wrapped every rooftop, carol music drifted through the air, and the scent of cinnamon cocoa made the cold night feel warm. But Luna’s heart felt nothing like Christmas. She had spent an hour preparing a surprise for her boyfriend — gingerbread cookies shaped like hearts, a red scarf she knitted, and a small box with his initials engraved. Ethan Gray. Her boyfriend of two years. Her future… or so she thought. Luna pushed the lodge door open quietly, hoping to catch Ethan smiling, or maybe complaining about the cold. Instead, she caught something else entirely. Her breath froze. Ethan was inside… kissing another girl, her back pressed against the Christmas tree, fairy lights flickering against their bodies like the holiday was blessing their betrayal. Luna stood there, completely numb, the cold reaching deeper than her bones. Ethan jerked away when he finally noticed her. “L–Luna?” he stammered, guilt spreading over his face. She couldn’t speak. Not even one word. The girl giggled as if Luna was the joke of the season. Luna dropped the gift box. It hit the floor softly, but the sound shattered her heart louder than anything. Without waiting for explanations or lies, Luna turned and walked into the snowy night, letting the cold hide her tears. Her hands shook as she wandered through the decorated streets, the festive lights blurring with her tears. She didn’t know where she was walking — she just knew she needed to breathe. She reached for her phone and dialed the only person she trusted. Aria Vale. Her best friend since childhood. “Luna? Are you okay? You sound… weird.” Luna’s voice cracked. “Can I… please stay at your lodge tonight?” “Of course! I’m with my dad at our winter cabin for the holidays. I’ll send him to pick you up. You sound frozen.” “No, Aria—” But the call ended. Aria had already made up her mind. The wind grew harsher. Luna wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. Snowflakes melted into her lashes. A sleek black SUV pulled up beside her. The tinted window lowered, and her breath caught at the sight of the man behind the wheel. Dominic Vale. Tall. Commanding. Sharp-jawed with silver at his temples. A man who carried winter like it bowed for him alone. Aria’s father. And the last person Luna wanted to see her crying. He stepped out, his heavy coat brushing against the falling snow. His deep voice cut through the cold. “Luna Maria?” She lowered her head, ashamed. “I… I didn’t want to disturb you. I’m fine—” “No, you’re not.” His gaze scanned her shivering form. “Get in. You’re freezing.” The authority in his tone wasn’t harsh — it was protective. Warm. Unexpected. Luna obeyed, sliding into the SUV as heat wrapped around her chilled body. Dominic shut the door gently and walked around to the driver’s side. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Dominic said quietly, “Aria told me. Ethan Bray is a fool.” Hearing Ethan’s name again made her chest squeeze painfully. She stared at her hands, fighting the tears she still hadn’t let fall. Dominic’s voice softened, just a little. “You don’t have to talk. Just breathe. You’re safe now.” Safe. With Aria’s father. The man she should never even be near emotionally. But here he was — the first warmth she had felt all night. And she hated that it mattered.