One Night With My Alpha Professor

Audrey

The following days passed in a blur.

As expected, the media immediately got ahold of my visit to the children’s cancer ward. Before I could even blink, every newspaper was covered in headlines about the Silver Star healing all of those kids. Every news channel was reporting on nothing but that night, and every online gossip forum was discussing it like it was the most exciting thing to have ever happened.

“I warned you that this might happen,” Edwin teased when, on the third day, we couldn’t even leave the apartment due to the paparazzi and reporters camped outside. “First you let out that ear-splitting howl, and then you decide to immediately heal a bunch of kids with cancer on your very first night.”

I managed an impish little smile as I pulled the curtain shut, hiding our view of the news vans and cameras. They were like sharks circling us, waiting for the right moment to strike.

“And I’d do it all over again,” I retorted with a wink.

Edwin chuckled and guided me away from the window. “You really will have to make a public appearance soon if you want

but—” the frenzy to die down a little. I’m sorry it has to be this

way,

I held up my hand before he could finish. “I already told you that I’ve accepted my identity as the Silver Star. This is part of that identity, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

My mate’s shoulders slumped a little, but it was a gesture of relief and not disappointment.

“Now,” I said, striding over to the sewing room and flinging open the door, “if I’m going to make a public appearance, I’m going to need a dress, won’t I?”

The dress was perfect. It was beyond perfect-it was everything I had hoped for and then some.

The black fabric was flecked with a silvery shimmer, the long sleeves coming down to sharp points at the back of my wrists A sheer silver drape was attached to the shoulders, flowing like a waterfall down my arms until it ultimately connected gracefully with my ring fingers.

I’d opted for an ankle length, just long enough for the silken fabric to gently flow around my legs when I moved but not long enough to cover my shoes, which were a pair of sleek metallic silver boots with an almost scaly texture.

And then there was,the finishing touch, carefully lowered over my head by Avis’s small hands. A pearlescent overlayer, which covered my bodice and came down to my ankles with splits down the sides.

The piece was comprised of tiny silver links-chainmail.

It was a nod to the moment that that silver arrow had shattered against my skin rather than piercing it.

The silver in my

veins was not only the life force that allowed me to heal others, but it was also the armor that protected me. It was the silvery mithril that coated my skin when I needed it the most. It was the ear-splitting scream that had once erupted from my lips and dazed those who endangered me-Linda and that guy from the club.

And it was the howl that had scattered the rogues and sent Fiona and Axel to their knees.

“Avis, you really outdid yourself,” I murmured, reverently as I touched the fine silver links. “I feel like I’m wearing armor.” Avis giggled and took a step back, turning me this way and that to admire her work. “Not that you need armor, of course.”

Tina smirked. “But it’s hot as hell,” she quipped.

91

It really was. When I turned to look in the mirror, my eyes widened in awe. Earlier, Edwin had brought in a stylist to help me with my hair and makeup, and this was the first glance I got at the finished look.

My eyelids were painted with shimmering gold eyeshadow, reminiscent of Edwin’s glowing golden eyes. My silver streak had been braided intricately and coiled around my head like a crown. My lips were a stark red, making my pale skin appear even more ethereal and otherworldly.

Even my wolf purred with satisfaction at the sight.

Down the bond, I felt Edwin send me a nudge. He was in the other room, getting dressed himself, but he could hear our conversation and was getting nosy.

“Ah ah ah,” I cooed, shoving away his attempt to view the room from my eyes in order to get a glimpse of me, “you can wait, Mr. Brooks.” $2,

Edwin’s low growl of annoyance was enough to make me smirk at myself in the mirror.

I smoothed down my dress one last time, picking an invisible piece of lint off of my shoulder. I truly did feel like the embodiment of not only the Silver Star, but also the Luna of Crescent. I didn’t feel like a girl in college anymore.

That would take some getting used to. But I wasn’t afraid of the ‘getting used to’ phase lately.

If anything, I was excited about it.

Not that it made my upcoming speech any less nerve-wracking. I shuddered at the thought of having to speak in front of all those cameras and people.

“Hey, just remember my public speaking pointers,” Betty, noticing my shiver, offered. “Look over everyone’s heads, pause between every sentence…”

“And keep my shoulders pulled back,” I finished for her, shooting my friend a wry smile in the mirror. “I know. Easier said than done.”

Gavin, who was leaning against the window frame, shrugged one shoulder. “People will love you even if you puke on stage” he remarked. “You literally healed an entire cancer ward full of children.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that simple, and you know it. Even the greatest acts of philanthropy can still be overshadowed by an undesirable public persona.”

“Goddess, you really are starting to sound like a Luna,” Avis laughed. “Just relax, Audrey. Be yourself.”

Nodding, I took a deep breath. My friends were right, and ‘being myself’ was sort of the thing I had worked so hard to accomplish throughout this whole process. If I didn’t hold onto my own values, then all those months I spent mourning the potential loss of ‘Audrey’ would have been utterly in vain.

E

Before anyone could say anything else, the door swung open, creaking on its hinges. Edwin stepped into Avis’s tailoring studio, dressed in a blue-black suit and a silver tie. Even his shirt was black, making the tie stand out even more.

Despite myself, I felt my breath catch when I looked at him standing there. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get used to the sight of him, if I was being honest-even if our souls had spent all of our past lives together.

“Audrey, you look like a painting,” he breathed, crossing the room to meet me. His large hands came up to cup my face, and he opted for kissing the bite mark on my shoulder instead of my face, for fear of smearing my makeup. I wouldn’t have cared if he had ruined it, though.

I shivered at the sensation of his teeth grazing the mark.

3

“Ugh. Get a room, you two, Tina groaned, hopping down off the table she was sitting on. “Come on, guys. Let’s give the lovers a moment alone.” She paused as she swept past and gave my arm a squeeze. “Good luck out there, Audrey.”

“Thank you.” I offered my friends a smile before they left the room.

Once we were alone, Edwin returned his attention to me. His eyes were flecked with gold as they trailed up and down my body, his fingers brushing the chainmail covering my bodice.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Can you wear this for me later?” he whispered, tugging on the links. “Just the chainmail, I mean.”

I felt my heart stutter a little at the thought, but smacked him in the arm. “Save your pining for after my speech, Alpha,” I scolded. “Then we can talk about who’s wearing what to bed.”

Edwin simply smirked before pressing a warm kiss to my forehead. “You’re going to do great,” he assured me.

I took a deep breath as he laced his fingers with mine. “I’m not the best public speaker.”

“You don’t have to be.” My mate tugged me close against his side, and together we began making our way toward the door. “And besides, I’ll be right there beside you.”

I tilted my head to look up at him. “Always?”

He smiled and nodded, opening the door for me. “Always, my love. In this life and the next.”