ALiCE POV
The air was crisp but not freezing, the bonfire crackling softly as its warm glow danced against the deepening twilight. December in Georgia wasn’t frigid, but tonight felt colder than usual—probably because I was half-human and couldn’t completely ignore the chill. Still, the sight of the little clearing by the lake made everything else fade into the background.
Val and Angie had outdone themselves. The canopy bed was draped in soft, flowing fabric that swayed gently in the breeze, its pristine white linens glowing under the light of countless candles dotting the forest floor. The lake shimmered, the moon casting its silvery reflection across the water’s surface, and the picnic spread beneath the stars was pure perfection: lasagna for Alex, pineapple juice for me, and a bott
