One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 207

Audrey

+5

My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest as I paced back and forth in the small bathroom, the click of my high heels echoing too loudly off of the tiled walls. My voice trembled slightly as I read the last paragraph of my presentation out loud one last time: "In conclusion, this piece, titled 'Metamorphosis', represents not just a culmination of my studies-but a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Each piece tells a story, weaving together the threads of my past and present, human and werewolf, to create a tapestry that is uniquely mine. Uniquely... Audrey." The moment I finished reading, I immediately cursed under my breath and stormed over to the bathroom counter, where I angrily slammed my paper down on the marble and reached for my pen. "No, no, no. I need to change this. It's awful, Tina. Awful!"

Tina, perched on the counter beside me, grabbed my hand before I could write anything. "I think it's great, Audrey," she assured me for what felt like the millionth time since we had come in here. "Don't change a thing."

"Hey." She leveled me with a stern glare, silently forcing me to take a deep breath. "You've got this. You'll be fine."

I pursed my lips and looked away. "I hate presentations."

"Don't we all?" Tina laughed.

Huffing, I ran a hand through my hair, careful not to disturb the carefully styled silver streak on display. "I know. It's just... With my mom being in a coma for the last few weeks of preparations... I feel so underprepared," I muttered. "Maybe I should ask for an extension. The judges might give it to me, given the circumstances. Another week..."

Before I could spiral too far, Tina hopped off the counter and placed her hands on my shoulders, turning me to look at her. "Audrey, listen to me. You do not need an extension. Your work is amazing, and you know this presentation inside and out You've been working on it for longer than any of us have." I took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm my nerves. Tina was right, of course; I had been working on this project since last summer. But still, the fear of public speaking coupled with the high stakes of this presentation had my stomach in knots. And it didn't help any that my wolf, still furious with me for pushing our mate away, wasn't here to provide me support. Ever since Edwin and I had last spoken outside the hospital a few weeks ago, she had gone fully dormant, only surfacing to let out the occasional growl or snide remark. Shide rema could have to

Come

have used her strength today, her su mirror apart. Lets just focus on

sure

in the mirror, taking in the outfit I had painstakingly created myself. The charcoal gray trousers hugged my hips perfectly, paired with a crisp white blouse that I had embroidered with delicate silver thread along the collar and cuffs. I had

my dark hair fell in soft waves around my shoulders. "You're sure it's not too much... silver?" I

"Silver is, like your whole thing

99%

I

of who I was, regardless of how I felt about being the Silver Star. It wouldn't feel right to hide that part of myself when I was presenting a thesis about metamorphoses

Edwin had promised me a date. The thought sent a flutter of excitement through my stomach, momentarily overshadowing my nerves about the presentation. We hadn't seen each other in weeks, not since that day we got coffee. Edwin had given me the space I needed since then so I could focus on my project, which I appreciated, but that space also made me feel like a lovesick schoolgirl again. "You're thinking

She

can't believe I'm actually nervous about a date with the man

even

of the time apart. You know, you two just need to get in bed together and have some crazy sex, and then you'll be

I couldn't deny the truth in her words. Despite everything, I lusted after Edwin every

"I mean, every night

1-

smirk widening. "Thanks, but I don't need the

"Sorry, I'm just on edge and talking too

now is not the time to be thinking about sex. You need to focus on

She was right. I needed to compartmentalize. Edwin and our relationship

Klein?" As if on cue, a voice called from outside