One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 206 Audrey

The scent of cherry blossoms and fresh coffee filled my lungs as I burst out into the spring air. I sta***gfuls of the stuff to help calm my nerves.

Why was I being like this? He was my mate, and I loved him; I should have been thrilled to see him after a month apart.

But seeing Edwin again brought up a lot of conflicting emotions that I hadn't even realized I'd been pushing down over the past month. On one hand, the break we took was sorely needed. And yet, on the other hand, I missed him dearly.

My eyes landed on a nearby fountain, its water sparkling in the sunlight. I made my way over and leaned against the cool stone edge, closing my eyes and focusing on the sound of the water trickling over the ridges.

"This is st**id," my wolf suddenly growled, breaking her month-long silence. "He loves us. We love him. Why are we doing this?"

I sighed and pursed my lips. "You know why," I thought back. "He broke a promise. He took away our autonomy, treated us like we were made of glass." "He was trying to protect us," my wolf argued.

"I know," I admitted. "But it hurt. Everyone treats me like I'm some fragile, precious thing because I'm the Silver Star. I felt like I was drowning. Maybe it was selfish to call things off temporarily, but I needed to breathe."

My wolf went silent again, but her anger was palpable even in her absence. She'd been like this over the past month; quiet and upset. I couldn't blame her, seeing as how I was separating us from our mate. But I felt as if I had little other choice. It was either this or cause even more emotional turmoil for the both of us by not taking the space we both needed. I needed to pass my final semester and get to know myself in this new body before I jumped into being the Silver Star and training for skills I didn't even know I possessed.

Not that

"Audrey?"

any

of that made much sense, even to me.

I looked up, startled, to see Edwin walking toward me. My heart ski**ed at the sight of him, especially as a gentle breeze tousled his dark hair.

"Are you okay?" he asked, stopping a few feet away.

I put on a brave face and forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit tired. I was up late last night working on my thesis." I gestured vaguely toward the street, where various food trucks lined the curb. "I was thinking about grabbing a coffee from one of the food trucks nearby."

knees go weak. "Mind if I walk with you? I could use

a moment. Despite everything, I did still love him. Our break was never meant to be contentious; I

brief internal debate, I nodded.

in the cool breeze. The silence between us was heavy,

lattes, please," he said to the vendor as he pulled out his

don't

Chapter 206

+5)

my hand, the brush of our fingers sending a jolt through me. He paused, his fingers still on my hand; I could feel him there, his presence down the bond, as his eyes

though trying not to smile at my contact. My

continued walking, sipping our coffees quietly as we strolled along the sidewalk. Edwin cleared his throat and gestured up at the pink petals swaying in the breeze above our heads. "The cherry blossoms are beautiful this time of year, aren't

his gaze up at the pink trees. "Spring here is always lovely," I

as lovely as

at him. But I could feel him looking at me, his gray eyes boring

after a

surge of relief at the change of subject. "My grades are

smile, and the sight made my heart flutter anew. "I'm certain you'll pass

my cheeks heat up. "That would be nice, but as far as I know, Betty is

She works

have been valedictorian had it not been for my grades slipping, but I didn't say that out loud. Besides, I really

you're doing

at

sighed. "I'm... alright. Peter and I haven't been able to track down Fiona yet. She escaped into Coldclaw territory, and it's notoriously difficult to

fully face him. "I meant how you're doing, Edwin. Not Fiona or

silent for a moment, his gray eyes searching my face. Finally, he said,

respond, Edwin reached out and gently plucked a cherry blossom petal from my hair. His fingers brushed against my cheek, and I felt my face flush. "Are you

help myself. With trembling fingers, I touched his hand, holding it against my face for a moment. His palm was warm and comforting against my skin. "I was never angry, Edwin. I