Chapter 152 Audrey
My stomach twisted into knots into knots at the sight of that peeling paint, that overgrown lawn, those cracked windows. letting in the cold late-autumn air.
The sight of my childhood home brought back a flood of memories I had tried hard to forget. The house looked even more dilapidated than I remembered, the porch sagging slightly and the windows clouded with grime.
Edwin pulled up to the curb, and we just sat there in silence for several long moments. My throat bobbed painfully as I stared up at that place through the windshield. "We don't have to do this, you know."
The sound of Edwin's voice, smooth as butter, caressed the inside of my head. I turned to look at him and saw a gentle, if not pained, expression. I had warned him that my childhood home was... a mess, although I hadn't dared to send those images through our bond.
I didn't even want to remember them myself, let alone burden him with them.
Drawing in a deep breath, I shook my head and said softly, "It's fine. We just need to grab a couple of things and then we'll leave.
"You sure?" He covered my thigh with his hand. His touch sent a wave of warmth through our bond, trying to soothe my anxiety.
*Positive." I nodded, even though I felt my wolf curl up tightly inside of me as if trying to.. hide.
Edwin nodded, his jaw set. We walked up to the door, dodging weeds that had sprung up through cr**ks in the concrete path
I didn't bother knocking. As we entered, the musty smell of neglect hit me harder than ever scent of stale cigarette smoke, old food, and something unidentifiable made me wrinkle my nose.
with
my
enhanced senses.
The
My parents were in the living room, as usual, my father glued to the TV and my mother absently flipping through a magazine. Neither looked up as we entered.
"Mom, Dad," I called out, my voice wavering slightly as we stood in the doorway. "Tm.. I'm home. This is Edwin, my fated. mate"
even looking up from the flickering screen. My mother gave Edwin a once-over, her lip curling slightly in distaste. Her eyes flicked over me, and I thought I saw them widen slightly-no doubt as she picked up on my new scent-but
but welcoming.
exchanged a glance, and I rolled my
my parents in the living
a closet-Edwin could easily touch each wall on either side if he
my *
first
school notebooks and papers and drawings. The walls were dotted with mold along the top, some spots even sporting holes through
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Chapter 152-
cold winters in here with nothing but that one blanket to keep
warm.
I said as I began rifling through my
still hadn't uttered a word, although I could feel a heady mixture of anger
connecting us.
"What are these?
of fashion magazine pictures that had been cut and pasted together; a model's smiling face taped onto a random
over to the wall, pointing out a cluster of sketches that resembled those Frankenstein- esque creations. "Eventually, I taught myself to sketch that
reached for the sketch.
the wall with the utmost care, studying it closely. "You were talented even then," he murmured, his fingers
only to hide the tears that sprang to my eyes. But as I rifled through
sorry you lived like this," he murmured, pressing
turned in his arms, burying my
I said softly. "My
in the doorway, her eyes narrowed. She
no curiosity in her voice, no concern or
tightened around me. I straightened, meeting her gaze, remaining in his
questions, or even **k a smile at the fact that I'd found my
told me sooner," she said, crossing her
arms, turning to face-her fully. "I just found
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