Chapter 185 Edwin

After comforting Audrey for a little while, I eventually left her and made my way through the quiet house. I didn't want to let her go, but I had a promise to keep, after all.

I found Peter standing on the second-floor balcony, leaning against the railing and staring out into the night. The orange ember of a cigarette glowed in his mouth, and I watched as he flicked it over the railing and the ash got caught up in the wind below.

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"How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke?"

My brother startled at the sound of my voice, shoulders stiffening, but didn't respond, didn't even turn to look at me. I stood there in the doorway for a moment after that, debating whether it was a silent order to leave him the hell alone or that he simply didn't care if I was here.

Finally, I cleared my throat. "Mind if I join you? Standing, I mean. Not smoking."

Peter shrugged without turning around. "Free country."

I stepped up beside him, mimicking his posture. We stood there in silence for what felt like an eternity, the cold night air biting at our skin. The tops of the snow-capped pine trees swayed in the wind, sending little flurries of white powder raining down on the ground below.

I loved winters here. It was so peaceful, so quiet. If I reached my hand out, I could touch one of the towering pines, feel its bark against my hand. And I did. I ran my palm across the rough surface, feeling its coldness against my skin.

"I'm sorry," I said at long last, breaking the silence. "For attacking you earlier."

Peter huffed. "You've still got a knack for fighting, even though you haven't done it in over a decade."

I knew that the comment was meant to be a compliment, but it made me flinch.

"Well," I said, "I am sorry. I was jealous and angry about what Dad did, and I took it out on you.”

Peter took a long drag of his cigarette, held it, then let it out, his breath forming a cloud in the cold air. "Yeah, well, I can be pretty abrasive too. I probably didn't help matters by taking Audrey off on her own like that."

I glanced at him, surprised by the admission. "Still, I shouldn't have reacted that way."

you shouldn't have, Peter agreed with an infuriating smirk. But then, after a pause, his expression turned serious and he added, "But I get it. Truthfully, I'm...

taken aback.

also the Silver Star. And the way Audrey looks at you, with so much love.... It's unlike anything

of my brothers saw me as just

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But even if I did, there's no guarantee we'd truly click. Look at our parents-fated

that. Our parents' relationship was hardly a shining example of mate-bond bliss. They had never liked each other, not even in the beginning. But in their generation, once you found your fated mate, you didn't sever the bond. It was practically unheard of then, seen only as a

hate him, you know," Peter said suddenly, spewing out another cloud of cigarette smoke like venom. "Our father. He's a b**d who tears this family apart. The way he treated

of a shock; I was pretty certain that even Malakai and Axel, in their own way, despised our father.

Eliza

"Maybe there is something we can

to look at me, eyebrow quirked. "Oh? Enlighten

I said simply. "At the very least, the three of us-you, me, and Eliza. Even if our parents suck and Malakai and Axel are lost causes, we have each other. We shouldn't be fighting." Peter stared at me for a long moment, then let out a short laugh. Look at you, all

smiled ruefully. "It wasn't my

took one last drag of his cigarette and put the butt out on the stone railing. "I should have known. She's too good for any of us, that one." "She is," I agreed, turning fully

the good old Brooks family antics." We fell into silence again, but this time it was more comfortable. The tension that had been between us for so long seemed to be dissipating, even if

up. "You know, I could help you and Audrey,

"How!"

the first time so she can protect herself. I understand the difficulties and have some methods that could really help

I pushed that jealousy aside. This was about Audrey, about helping

firmly, that smirk of his playing at his lips once again. "Just so long as you don't freak out if I have to touch her

giving him a light smack on the arm. "Don't

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