The crash echoed through the storeroom, followed by the softer thuds of fabric hitting the floor. When the dust settled, all I could see was a mountain of colorful textiles where Max had been standing.“M-Max?” I called out tentatively, taking a shaky step forward. “Are… Are you okay?”A muffled gro
EdwinThe only sound in my quiet office was that of my pen scratching softly on paper. I sat hunched over my desk, my eyes bleary from grading piles upon piles of essays and exams that I had gotten behind on over the past few weeks.“You can’t keep doing this all on your own. The stress is affecting
“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Charles,” I finally said after a moment, picking up my pen again. “Let her go to the masquerade. I’ll handle this myself.”Charles nodded. “Of course, Alpha. Is there anything else you need?”I pursed my lips for a moment, thinking, before I nodded. “Act
AudreyThe morning sun was shining brightly through the window as I stepped into my studio, eager to put the finishing touches on my masquerade gown. The excitement that had been building for weeks was reaching its peak—tomorrow night was the big event, and I couldn’t wait to attend the masquerade w
Gavin nodded enthusiastically. “Count me in. I could use a new tie.”…An hour later, we were pushing open the door to a tiny, cluttered shop tucked away on a side street downtown—honestly, I was surprised I had never noticed it before. The bell above the door jingled cheerfully as we entered, and t
Audrey“That’s all for this week. Have a nice weekend, and enjoy the Equinox.”Edwin shut off the PowerPoint presentation with a curt nod, and the lecture hall began to bustle with activity as students excitedly gathered their things. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my bag and rose from my chair, ma
In awe of the grandeur of the ballroom, Tina and I made our way to a nearby refreshment table to start. A server offered us flutes of champagne, which we accepted gratefully.“To a night of mystery,” Tina said with a smirk, raising her glass.I clinked my glass against hers. “And to the best date a
EdwinI adjusted my mask for what felt like the hundredth time that night, trying to ignore the discomfort of the rough edge against my skin. The brown colored contacts I had put in to disguise my natural gray eye color were making my eyes burn, and my freshly shaven face was itching incessantly. I
“I think you’re going to change so many lives,” I said to Eliza. “Those kids are so lucky to have you.” Eliza looked down, her cheeks pink. “Thank you, Audrey. Really.” Tina piped up next. “And my LGBT counseling department is finally off the ground! ” She paused, leaning into my mother, who was
Audrey After a long flight, we finally touched down in Italy. The sunlight streaming in through the plane window was a promising golden hue, and just the sight of it made me feel like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. “I might need a nap when we get to the villa,” Edwin yawned, shaking
And as I watched, I felt a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother stood on my other side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. A lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t even speak. None of us c
Audrey Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through t
“There’s always time,” I whispered, grabbing the wrist of his free hand and pulling it close to peer at his watch. The movement caused him to topple forward, and he caught himself on his other palm, caging me against the hard wood of the vanity. “But maybe not enough time to waste right now.” Edwi
Audrey Before I could even answer his question, Edwin rushed past me and locked the door. When he turned back to me, he was grinning from ear to ear. The sight of that mischievous look on his face made my breath hitch. Once, it had been like pulling teeth to get the man to smile. And now here he
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade—there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that. “Goddess, Edwin,” I laugh
Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos. I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with c
“Uh… Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would be nice.” A few minutes later, the three of us sat around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir up more shit. It burned a little going down, but I sipped it anyway. Malakai look