Winterglass Lodge

Fifteen years after nuclear war shattered the world, Noelle Harrow survives alone inside Winterglass Lodge, an abandoned Colorado mountain resort built for wealth, weddings, and ski vacations that no longer exist. She has turned luxury into shelter, barricades, traps, stored food, a rifle, and strict rules that keep her alive. Then something begins watching from the snow.

At first, Noelle thinks the creature outside is only a threat. Clawed tracks circle the lodge, dead animals appear at her door, and impossible repairs bring power, heat, and water back to Winterglass. The stranger is Varkesh, a terrifying alien who has mistaken provision, pursuit, and displays of strength for courtship. Noelle wants him gone, while Varkesh wants to protect her, cherish her, and prove he is not another danger.

As the ruined lodge becomes both refuge and battleground, Noelle must decide whether the monster in the snow is something to fear, something to trust, or the impossible future she never expected to choose.