One Night With My Alpha Professor by Eve Above Story

Chapter 276

Edwin

It was a quiet day at the estate. The first touches of winter were reaching the barren treetops outside, the scent of cold air permeating the house.

I’d needed a little time to myself, so I had made an impromptu weekend trip out here. Audrey had decided to stay at the apartment, claiming that she still had more work to do for the fashion show on Monday. But really, I knew she was just agonizing over tiny details.

Not that I minded a little time alone.

I stood in the exercise room, staring blankly at the punching bag in front of me. Did I really want to do this?

It felt dangerous to get back into boxing, especially without Audrey here to ground me. But since I’d gotten here last night, I couldn’t stop feeling the pull to my boxing gloves. I think that was really why I came, after all.

Like my body was yearning for the sort of release that only the punching bag could give me. And I think even Audrey knew that, which was really why she hadn’t come.

“Alright,” I muttered under my breath, slipping the gloves on and flexing my hands beneath the leather. “Let’s see if I remember how this goes.”

I started with a few hesitant jabs, pulling each punch. The bag barely moved, and inside, I felt my wolf growling annoyedly at my weakness.

Sighing, I took a step back, rolled my shoulders, and let out a slow breath. Memories surfaced, unbidden–the endless hours I’d spent in the gym when I was younger, trying to impress a father who only saw what he wanted to see. A strong son. An obedient son. An angry, cruel son.

A son just like him.

I gritted my teeth, pushing those thoughts away, and landed a harder punch. The bag jolted back. So did I. The sting in my knuckles wasn’t something I had missed much over the years, but it woke something up inside of me.

Before I knew it, one punch was turning into another, and another. The world outside the gym faded away; it was just me and that old punching bag and nothing else.

As the flow came back, I felt it–the energy, the intensity, that spark that had always been there. And with it came the part of me I had buried for so long; the bright–eyed kid who just wanted to fight and impress his father.

Only this time, I didn’t care if I impressed him. I was almost glad that I had never filled the mold he wanted me to fill so badly.

any of the others, and the bag swung back, the chain vibrating with the impact. I stood there, breathing hard, feeling a little more like myself again. That wasn’t so

in the doorway, arms crossed, a

tugging off my gloves. “The hell are

it in you,” he said, sounding a

a short nod as I grabbed my water bottle. “I guess it’s like riding a bike. You never

down my chin, then said, “Did you need

little. “I, uh… Charles told me you were

Chapter 276

figure stepped into view:

Malakai.

to do with my workout. Malakai–the middle brother with a heart of ice. The one who had never stood up against our parents, not even when it might have made a real difference. The brother

you doing here?”

on his feet,

said quietly,

for a moment. “Just to talk. If… if you’ll

He had to have been here at our father’s request–likely trying to convince me and Audrey to ‘forgive‘ our father. Which

if sensing my trepidation, shook his head.

us upstairs to the kitchen. I kicked my sneakers off by the kitchen door as we entered, waving my

said.

kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir

was from fear, indignation, or something

staring at the mug between his

anything from either of your he started, his voice hoarse. “I know

my chair, arms crossed

looking up. “Because… I need you to know why I never did anything. Why I never stood up to them.“” He paused, taking a steadying breath,

especially. The way Mom tormented us…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I stayed in line because

and heavy. I glanced at

still waiting for him to drop some hammer on me–maybe ask for

me, his eyes