From the doorway, Hadley grinned, a cup of hot cocoa steaming between his hands. “It’s nice to finally see someone put Mr. Brooks in his place,” he chuckled.As night fell, Edwin and I settled in front of the fireplace, our work finally done. We sipped on cocoa mixed with Baileys and munched on too
AudreyAfter our training session, I was breathless but exhilarated. My muscles ached pleasantly, a reminder of the progress I had made so far. Edwin had finally taught me some basic punches, and I was eager to learn even more.“You did a good job today, Audrey,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow
After breakfast, we decided to take a walk through the town. The streets were bustling with post-Christmas shoppers, and I found myself enjoying the lively atmosphere. Colorful decorations still hung from lampposts and shop windows, giving the town a festive feel.“Good morning, Alpha! Luna!” an eld
AudreyI twirled in front of the full-length mirror, admiring the outfit Edwin had made for me over the past couple of days. The skirt swished around my ankles, the fabric soft and flowing. It was a vast improvement over our drunken attempt on Christmas Eve.“Edwin, it’s perfect,” I breathed, runnin
“I’ll be okay, Edwin. I’m the future Luna of this pack, after all. I should learn how to handle stuff like this. I’m not afraid of a few people.”Edwin smirked, his fingers raking through my silver streak that was on proud display everywhere we went these days. “Now, now,” he cooed. “You’re not the
AudreyI felt a shiver run through me as those cold gray eyes assessed me. Appraised me. Flicked up and down me like I was a prize mare.Not even so much as a ‘hello’.Before I could respond to his less-than-welcoming greeting, a blur of motion caught my eye.“Eddie!” Eliza squeaked again, bounding
“Another,” Peter groaned when he saw me looking. “And one for her, too. She’ll need it.”Eliza’s eyes flicked up first at me, then over my shoulder. She poured two more shots, paused to consider, then poured a third for herself.While Eliza, Peter, and I drank, I noticed Malakai and Axel keeping the
AudreyPeter choked on his drink.Beside me, Eliza stiffened, her eyes wide with shock, her fingers tightening around her fork. Edwin’s parents remained unnaturally still, but his father’s eyes flashed dangerously, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon. Across the table, Malakai and Axel exchan
“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