Bryan's POV
I made my way toward the dining lounge, unable to stop thinking about her.
Little Lima had grown into a breathtaking young woman.
The shy little girl I once knew had blossomed into someone even more beautiful than I had imagined.
And I wasn't about to let anyone else have her.
As I held her earlier, I couldn't help but notice how unbelievably soft her skin was.
Even the brief brush of our hands lingered in my mind.
God...
Those delicate fingers.
Everything about her had me captivated.
I knew I'd see her again in the dining lounge.
I didn't care whether Lycan hated me or not.
The only thing that mattered was getting close to Lima.
I'm sure she barely remembers me.
After all, she was only a child the last time we met.
She's seventeen now.
A lot has changed.
I know about her history with John Maya, but honestly...
Who gives a damn about that pathetic excuse for a man?
As soon as I reached the dining lounge, my eyes found her instantly.
I leaned casually against the doorframe, taking a moment to admire her from afar.
She looked around the room.
The second her eyes met mine, I refused to look away.
She held my gaze for only a moment before quickly looking elsewhere.
A smile tugged at my lips.
Still shy...
How adorable.
That smile disappeared the moment I saw John walking toward her.
Lima immediately looked uneasy, and the atmosphere around her shifted.
For a second, I thought he was going to approach her.
Instead, he walked past and wrapped his arms around the girl standing behind her.
I narrowed my eyes.
Ava...
Isn't she...?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Looks like this winter camp is going to be more entertaining than I expected.
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips before I walked over to Lima.
She had already taken a seat at one of the long dining tables.
"Hey, beautiful," I greeted, about to sit beside her.
Before I could pull out the chair...
Lycan beat me to it.
My jaw tightened.
So did my fists.
I swallowed my irritation and forced a smile.
"Talk to you later, Lima."
Without waiting for a response, I took the seat directly across from her.
From there, I had the perfect view.
"What was that for?" I heard Lima ask Lycan.
I smirked the moment our eyes met.
His cold glare was enough to tell me exactly what he was thinking.
"So... you're already flirting before the first day is even over?" he said to her sharply.
I clenched my fists beneath the table.
Who the hell did he think he was?
He had no right to speak to her like that.
Lycan looked at me again.
A slow, knowing smirk spread across his face.
As if he could read every thought in my head.
He knows.
I'm sure he knows exactly how I feel about Lima.
And something tells me...
That bastard is going to make things difficult for me.
"Everyone, finish your meals," Mrs. Lorenzo announced, drawing everyone's attention. "We'll be heading to the campfire shortly."
This was my first time attending Winter Camp.
I'd heard Mrs. Lorenzo had been organizing it for the past twenty-two years.
Every year, people from different countries came together here.
And honestly...
I'm glad I decided to come this year.
Because I finally found her again.