Some monsters are born of a curse... others are born of choice.In the village of Tinsel Lake, legends whisper of a beast with golden horns who prowls the surrounding forests. No one has seen him fully-until one frozen morning changes everything.Thalos, bound by a centuries-old curse set in motion by the love-and betrayal-of Selena, has lived a life of exile, trapped in a form neither fully man nor beast. He longs for connection, but the villagers' fear is swift and unforgiving.As he navigates the delicate balance between human and monster, Thalos becomes an unseen protector, a guardian whose kindness is felt but rarely understood. Yet even as he forges a place in this world, the shadow of Selena's curse lingers, and the mountain holds secrets that may challenge everything he has fought to build.A short story of love, loss, and the choices that define us.Book 1 of the Minotaur Holiday.