Winter’s POV

I had just stepped out of the shower, steam curling around me like a suffocating cloud, when the first bang hit the door. Loud. Sharp. Violent. My heart jumped into my throat. The second bang followed almost immediately, and the sound wasn’t just a knock; it was a threat, a declaration, like someone was trying to rip the door down with sheer force.

Towel wrapped tightly around my chest, I hurried to the door, my bare feet slipping slightly on the wet tiles. My fingers trembled ...