Chapter 177 Audrey

I jolted awake, disoriented and stiff from a night of sleeping on the floor.

Blinking against the harsh morning light that was now streaming through the large round window, through which trees were dripping with melted snow and glistening icicles, I realized that we were still in the sewing room. We had gotten so drunk and tired last night that we hadn't even thought of making it back to bed.

Edwin and I had fallen asleep on the floor, tangled up in each other...

And in lengths of fabric, which were now wrapped around our arms and legs.

"Edwin," I mumbled groggily, shaking his shoulder. "Wake up."

He groaned, his eyes fluttering open, and lifted his head from where it had been propped on one forearm. "What... where the hell are we?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his bewildered expression, at the way his hair was sticking up in all directions. "We fell asleep sewing. I said, smoothing the mussed pieces back down.

"Oh, Goddess. My back is going to punish me for this."

We spent the next few minutes extricating ourselves from the mess of fabric, laughing as we went despite our aching heads and backs. The half-finished skirt was in far worse shape than I remembered it being last night, but I couldn't really bring myself to care. All that really mattered was the fact that we had finally, blissfully, made something together.

Even if it looked like nothing more than a drunken mess now that the sun was shining.

"Merry Christmas," I said, wrapping my arms around Edwin's neck and planting a warm kiss against his stubbled cheek.

"Mm. Merry Christmas," he replied, smiling softly. His eyes were warm, still heavy with sleep. "Shall we head downstairs and see what Santa brought?"

Downstairs, we found a pile of presents under the tree. The scent of ci**mon and coffee wafted from the kitchen, where Hadley had prepared a Christmas breakfast.

"Presents first or food?" Edwin asked, eyeing the stack of gifts.

"Presents, obviously," I grinned, already reaching for a box. "I'm not a heathen."

We tore into our gifts like excited children. Edwin, never one to leave someone out, gave Hadley a brand new sweater and matching pair of socks, which the aging housekeeper immediately put on. When Edwin opened the pocket watch I'd gotten him, his eyes widened into saucers, a soft gasp escaping his lips.

across the engraving on the back. The silver glinted in the firelight. "Where did

he liked it. “I found it in an antique store and fixed it

mine, tasting of sleep

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new, top-of-the-line sewing machine, sleek and modern and expensive. The little pocket watch I had gotten him suddenly felt too small and

too much." I breathed, running my hand over the smooth surface

much for thy

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lazed on the couch until the afternoon, resting our sore spines anil dozing to

lopsided snowman in the backyard, laughing as we rolled the massive snowballs and

nose.

a snowball at him, although the warning tug through our bond told me that he could see my fingers itching to

we sipped tea. Edwin taught me how to play chess, his patience never wavering as I struggled to remember how each piece

snuggled up on the couch, watching the fire dance. Edwin's arms were warm around me, and I felt more content than I ever had. Even my summer spent with my friends in Betty's

in his chest. "I need to tell you

my head to look

said that I intended to marry the Silver Star for my pack. But I want you to know, I truly, genuinely love you. I never want to

words, spreading through my entire body. I turned to face him fully, cupping his face. in my hands. "I love you too, Edwin. And I

with a grin, "But if you ever keep something like that from me again, I might have

had a bit of training. And you'll be even scarier once you learn to fight." My eyes widened, my heart

forgive myself for not leaching you the

my lips touching every inch of skin I could reach. "Thank you, Edwin. Thank you for trusting me with

face in his hands, his eyes intense and burning with tiny yellow fires. "No. Thank you for being here for me. For seeing my dark past and not seeing me

night, I decided to fulfill the fantasy I had

arranging myself. When he came back in,

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Chapter 177

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