One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 251 Audrey

The

final numbers were staggering. I had to blink twice just to make sure I wasn't seeing things, but I wasn't. We hadn't just met our fundraising goal for the orphanages-we had nearly doubled it in one night. I couldn't believe it. All those weeks of planning, sleepless nights and too-carly mornings had paid off. This was more than I could have hoped for, more than we had ever dreamed possible

"And that's not even counting the pledges still rolling in," Edwin announced into the microphone, gesturing toward the donation booth-where there was still a line of people waiting with their wallets open. The crowd erupted into applause at that. Champagne glasses clinked together, cameras flashed, and somewhere in the back of the room, I caught the unmistakable shrill of Tina's ear-piercing whistle. I stifled a giggle as I looked over and saw my friends jumping up and down and making increasingly-ridiculous faces at me, drunkenly trying to make me snort with laughter on camera.

"Of course, tonight would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of my mate, Audrey," Edwin continued, turning slightly to look at me. "The Silver Star herself was instrumental in organizing every last detail of this event, and I think we can all agree that she did a spectacular job. More applause. More cheers. More

cameras

capturing every moment.

I smiled and glanced out at the crowd, my eyes skimming over the sea of finely dressed attendees. There were so many people here, far more than I expected for my first charity event.

Maybe Edwin really had been right when he'd said that we were making a difference here, even if we weren't barging into Coldclaw and finding every last child that had been shipped off at that very moment.

That

was when I spotted Luna Steele near the back of the room. Her face had turned an impressive shade of crimson, blotchy patches spreading up her neck, and she tugged on her husband's sleeve like a child desperate to leave.

Her husband simply sighed, rolling his eyes as he allowed his wife to drag him toward the exit.

"Good riddance," I thought to Edwin.

Edwin's shoulders shook with barely contained laughter as he wrapped up his speech. Soon enough, the final round of applause had subsided, and we made our way off the stage, descending into the throng of guests who swarmed us like moths to a flame. Blissfully, my friends were at the forefront of that throng.

"You two did amazing," Betty gushed, throwing her arms around me in a hug that smelled faintly of vodka cranberries. Her hair was slightly disheveled from dancing, and her lipstick had faded.

T

knew he was

tightly. "Thanks for coming tonight," I whispered into her ear. "And thanks for not getting too

of his nose in exasperation. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of polite goodbyes, handshakes, and endless rounds of

81%

heels, and all I wanted was to peel them off and crawl into bed. The thought of laying my head against my mate's chest and passing out for

route that led us back toward the apartment, we veered left, heading up into the darker, winding roads that led into the suburbs and beyond. Soon enough, we were surrounded by trees on all sides. are we I a

a mischievous little smirk as he draped one muscular arm around my shoulders and tugged me close. "Don't

also too curious to tell the driver to turn around. And I was glad I hadn't, because a few

as the driver put the car in

venue.

my hand to steady me on my aching feet. The scent of pine and earth filled the cool night air, and I took a deep breath, feeling oddly refreshed

could even make out the distant silhouette of Grayspring Academy, its shape unmistakable at the center of

here sometimes when I needed to think," Edwin said

suit jacket and gently wrapped it around my shoulders. "I found it by accident one night when I was driving around," he explained. We sat together, and I

Look

breath tickling my ear as he pointed

streak of light cut across the night sky-a brilliant, fiery arc of white against the inky darkness. Then another. And another.

I gasped, my heart rate picking up.

"If I say I didn't, would that make

I chided,

"I may have heard a rumor that there was supposed

mate's shoulder, breathing deeply to inhale the scent of him mixed with the pine trees and cool

213

2/3

Mon,

Chapter 251

Never again.