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.

punch, harder than any of the others, and the bag swung back, the chain vibrating with

I turned, there was someone standing in the

off my gloves. “The

had it in you,” he said, sounding a

as I grabbed my water bottle. “I guess

chug, water dribbling down my chin, then

smile waned a little. “I, uh… Charles told me you were here,” he said. “Someone wants

Chapter 276

aside. Another figure stepped into

Malakai.

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 who always remained silent, often doing

doing

shifted on his

to talk,” he said quietly, his gaze

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

wasn’t sure if I should laugh, yell, or just walk away from him. He had to have been here at our father’s request–likely trying to convince me and Audrey to ‘forgive‘ our father. Which we were definitely not about to

trepidation, shook his head. “Just

the kitchen. I kicked my sneakers off by the kitchen

Yeah,” Malakai said.

around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it

a moment, as if he couldn’t bear to look at me. Although whether that was from fear, indignation, or something else, I couldn’t be sure. I just stared at him, sipping my coffee, silently waiting for him

staring

of all… I know I don’t deserve anything from either of your he started, his voice hoarse. “I know I’ve been…

leaning back in my chair, arms crossed over

still not looking up. “Because… I need you to know why I never did anything. Why I never stood up

was 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

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

I blurted out, honestly still waiting for him to drop some hammer on me–maybe ask

eyes filled with something I