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.

harder than 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

I turned, there was someone standing in the doorway, arms crossed, a

I said, tugging off my gloves. “The hell

in you,” he said, sounding a

short nod as I grabbed my water bottle. “I guess it’s like riding a bike. You

water dribbling down my chin, then

you were here,” he said. “Someone wants to talk

Chapter 276

could answer, Peter stepped aside. Another figure stepped into view: taller and stockier, but unmistakably

Malakai.

middle brother with a heart of ice. The one who had never stood up against our parents, not even when it

you doing here?” I finally

his

said quietly, his

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

just walk away from him. He had to have been here at our father’s request–likely trying to convince me and

shook his head. “Just hear

to follow us upstairs to the kitchen. I kicked my sneakers off by the kitchen

Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would

in our hands. I kept it bitter,

from fear, indignation, or something else,

settle on staring at the

deserve anything from either of your he started, his voice hoarse. “I know I’ve been… a bastard. A coward.

back in my chair, arms crossed

I never did anything. Why I never stood up to them.“” He paused, taking a steadying breath, and finally looked

fear, Edwin,” he continued. “Plain and simple. I was terrified of them–of Dad, especially. The way Mom tormented us…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “I stayed in line because I was afraid of what happened to you happening to me. But I know it

between us, raw and heavy. I glanced at Peter, who just lifted

him to drop some hammer on me–maybe ask for money or

me, his eyes filled