AudreyEdwin stepped closer to me, his eyes darting nervously over his shoulder. I couldn’t decide whether I was about to pass out, run to him, or launch myself over the balcony.“Fiona is in the restroom,” he said in a low, urgent voice. “We only have a moment. Have you... have you made up your min
Then came the toasts. My stomach churned as Fiona stood up, her glass raised high. Her platinum hair caught the light, shimmering like spun gold. Her smile was wide as she began to speak, and for a moment, I could almost believe she was genuinely happy.“To my beautiful mother,” Fiona said. “You hav
Edwin & AudreyEdwin’s POV“Congratulations, Alpha Edwin. This is joyous news.”“When is the wedding?”“You and Fiona make a lovely couple.”My food sat in front of me, untouched. My stomach felt too leaden to eat so much as a bite, and it was all I could do to offer polite smiles or single-word ans
That was the last thing I heard before time returned in its usual rush. What was too slow before was now all too quick. Within an instant, I had hit the water and was sinking beneath the surface.Pain screamed through my body, and the world was lost in a blur of lights and shadows.First, there was
Audrey“Tell me again.”Edwin’s warm thumb traced circles on the back of my hand, those gray eyes never leaving mine. We hadn’t let go of each other once since it had all happened—much to the chagrin of the EMTs, who were cramped in the ambulance with us.Throughout the entire ambulance ride and mul
I exchanged a glance with Edwin. My heart was racing again.“It’s true,” that ethereal voice murmured inside of me, like silk pressing against the inner walls of my skull. “I had been waking for some time, but when you were in danger… I had to protect you. Protect us.”The doctor checked me over one
Audrey“Here.” Edwin pressed a couple of plush towels and a bundle of clothes—a white t-shirt and a pair of boxers—into my hands. “The clothes will be huge on you, but it’s better than nothing.”“Thank you.” I took the bundle, wondering if I should have gone back to my dorm just to get an overnight
“Is that why I kept smelling him?” I whispered. Finally finished, I turned off the water and reached for the towel, wrapping it around myself as I stepped out of the shower.“Whenever you smelled his cologne, it was indeed his scent,” she explained as I dried off. “That’s why it got stronger and str
“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