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"

father merely grunted in response, not 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

welcoming. She turned back

glance, and I rolled

parents in the living

either side if he stretched out his arms. The bed

my *

first

the corner, surprisingly, still piled high with high school notebooks and papers and drawings. The walls were dotted with mold along

1/3

Chapter 152-

and I shivered as I remembered cold winters in here

warm.

take a minute," I said as I began rifling through my desk drawers. "It has to be here

hadn't uttered a word, although I could feel a heady mixture of anger and confusion and maybe even a touch of awe slip

connecting us.

"What are these?

at a cluster of fashion magazine pictures that had been cut and pasted together; a model's smiling face taped

said. I walked over to the wall, pointing out a cluster of sketches that resembled those Frankenstein- esque creations. "Eventually, I taught myself to sketch that way. I'd make a

as he reached

it from the wall with the utmost care, studying it closely. "You were talented even then," he murmured, his fingers tracing the

to my work then, if only to hide the tears that sprang to my eyes. But as I rifled through some old papers in a drawer, looking for anything resembling a birth certificate, I felt Edwin's arms wrap around me

you lived like this," he murmured, pressing a

burying my face in

wasn't always like this," I said softly. "My first home was much nicer than

standing in the doorway, her eyes narrowed. She

now?" she asked, her tone flat. There was no curiosity in her voice, no concern or interest. Just a statement of

around me. I straightened, meeting her gaze, remaining in his embrace. "I always have been. My wolf

wondering if she'd have any questions, or even **k a smile at the fact that I'd found my

told me sooner," she said,

fully. "I just found out myself. But even if I'd known before, why should I tell you anything? We don't talk We never

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255