One Night
One Night 238

c 08.20 Mon,

Chapter 238

Audrey

1 slumped against Edwin, my entire body heavy with exhaustion as we

I out of that forest. Each step felt like painstaking, the icy ground too hard even beneath my wolf paws, and every movement sent a dull ache through my muscles.

Without Edwin’s strong arm wrapped firmly around my waist the moment I shifted back into my human form, I wasn’t sure I would have the strength to continue.

Ahead, I could make out the vehicles waiting for us where the road finally began again, their dark forms silhouetted against the fading twilight. Had we really been in the forest for that long? It felt like minutes and hours and seconds and days all at

once.

As soon as we broke through the treeline, a group of Edwin’s warriors rushed forward and took Fiona and Axel from us. The prisoners looked like mere shadows of their former selves-heads bowed low, shoulders slumped in defeat.

A small part of me twisted with satisfaction at their downfall, especially when I saw them being loaded into a bulletproof van, but I was too drained to dwell on it. I only wanted to collapse, to let this overwhelming fatigue finally consume me.

Edwin eased me into the backseat of a black SUV, and I immediately curled into his side the moment he settled in beside me. His warmth seeped into my bones, and I felt a faint sense of relief as the tension in my body began to uncoil, if only a little.

He wrapped his arms around me, cradling me against his side.

“You did great,” he murmured softly, his lips brushing the top of my head. “I’m so proud of you.”

I offered him a small, tired smile, my eyelids fluttering as I fought to stay awake. My gaze drifted to the window, where an ambulance was just pulling up.

I stiffened, watching as paramedics rushed to load Peter onto a stretcher. Even in my bleary state, the sight of him-pale, vulnerable, limping-sent a sharp jolt of worry through me.

“He’ll be okay, right?” I asked.

Edwin nodded. “He’ll be fine,” he promised. “You healed him. This is just precautionary. They’re making sure there’s nothing we missed.”

There was a pause, a brief flicker of hesitation before he added, “We can follow the ambulance to the hospital, if you want.” His tone was gentle, but there was something else there too-a quiet urgency that tugged at the corners of his words. I glanced up at him and couldn’t help the faint smirk that tugged at my lips, even through the exhaustion.

“I think you want to follow the ambulance more than I do,” I teased, my voice hoarse.

“Guilty,” he admitted, his eyes softening as they met mine. “But can you blame me?”

“No,” I murmured, leaning my head against his shoulder. “I can’t”

As we started after the ambulance, Edwin leaned closer to me, holding me tight against his body as if I might slip away.

“You know,” Edwin began, “with Fiona and Axel out of the way, and now that you’ve fully shifted, Coldclaw shouldn’t be a problem anymore. You’re too strong for them to mess with now

I nodded slowly, but my mind was elsewhere-drifting back to the forest, to that moment when everything had changed. The power that had surged through me, the way my very soul seemed to have expanded, taking on new shapes, new

08:21 Mon, Oct 21

Chapter 239

strengths.

And then there was the howl

That wild, primal sound that had burst from somewhere deep inside of me, filling the air, carrying across miles of wilderness. It had been raw and untamed, something ancient and uncontrollable that I couldn’t quite explain..

“That howl…” I started, uncertain how to put into words the strange feeling that had accompanied it. “It felt like…”

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Edwin’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Like a prophecy?” he suggested. I nodded, and he continued, “The legend says that when the Silver Star fully awakens for the first time, her howl can be heard by the entire world. Maybe you just fulfilled that little piece of lore.”

I furrowed my brow, thinking deeply, and nuzzled further into the warmth of his arms. Surely that was just a legend-there was no way everyone heard that howl.

But as we neared the hospital, I realized that Edwin had been right. The streets were packed with people, the flashing lights of news vans nearly blinding my tired eyes, and helicopters circled above.

A crowd had even gathered near the hospital, straining to catch a glimpse of us.

Of me.

“Oh, Goddess,” I muttered, shrinking back into the seat. “Is this… normal?”

Edwin’s arm tightened protectively around me. “The awakening of the Silver Star is a very big deal. But don’t worry, he assured me, “I won’t let them overwhelm you.”

True to his word, he shielded me from the barrage of cameras and flashing lights as we made our way into the hospital. His body was a wall between me and the reporters, his hand firm against the small of my back as he guided me through the chaos.

Once inside, the cacophony of the outside world faded, thanks to the security officers who practically had to shove the frenzied reporters back onto the street.

“The media will calm down eventually,” Edwin said softly as we walked through the white hospital corridors. “Although you might need to make a public appearance at some point. Just one to ease the frenzy. But don’t worry, I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

I nodded, too exhausted to think much about it.

We found Peter’s room easily enough, and I felt an overwhelming rush of relief when I saw him sitting up in bed, his face far less pale than it had been in the forest. He was dressed in a set of clean clothes, his eyes once again full of that spark that had nearly faded for good.

“Well, well,” Peter drawled, “if it isn’t my heroes. Come to check on little old me?”

Edwin rolled his eyes, but I could see the flicker of relief in his expression. “Just making sure you haven’t convinced the nurses to let you escape yet.”

Peter clutched his chest dramatically. “Me? Never.” His grin was mischievous, but there was a softness in his gaze when it lingered on his brother.

The banter between them eased some of the weight from my chest, It was a reminder that, after everything, we were still

here. We were still us.

Edwin’s tone shifted, his expression becoming more serious. “Peter,” he began, “I’ve been thinking. You’ve been invaluable through this whole Coldclaw mess. I want to make it official. How would you feel about becoming my spymaster?”

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Chapter 238

+5

Peter’s eyebrows shot up, genuine surprise flickering across his face. “Spymaster?” he repeated, almost incredulous. “Are you

serious?”

“Completely,” Edwin nodded. “With the Silver Sta-with Audrey as Luna, Crescent is going to need more protection. A network of spies will be crucial, and I can’t think of anyone better suited for the job” He grinned. “Just try not to get caught next time, yeah?”

Peter’s face split into a wide grin. “I accept with honor, oh great Alpha,” he said, sketching an exaggerated bow from where he sat on the edge of the bed. “What’s my first mission?”

Edwin’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more somber expression. “First, rest. Then… Help me deal with any remaining Coldclaw threats. We can’t let this happen again.”

Before Peter could respond, the door burst open, and a rush of familiar faces spilled into the room-Tina, Betty, Gavin, and Avis, their voices overlapping in a flurry of questions and exclamations as they wrapped me in a tight group hug.

Eliza was among them as well, although she immediately shoved past me and Edwin and went straight to Peter. Neither of us could blame her, of course, and my friends were enough of a cacophony for me to be glad not to have that extra attention.

“We were so worried!” Tina exclaimed, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

“Are you okay?” Avis turned me around as if checking me for injuries.

“Was that really you who howled?” Gavin asked, his eyes wide.

Haughed, the sound nearly choked by the force of all their arms around me. “I’m fine,” I assured them, a little overwhelmed but ultimately grateful for their concern. “Just… tired. And running out of air.”

My friends pulled back, muttering apologies. I noticed Peter’s gaze shift to Betty, his eyes widening slightly. He stood abruptly, looking almost… flustered.

“I, uh… I need to use the restroom,” he muttered, quickly excusing himself and disappearing out of the room.

I exchanged a curious glance with Edwin, eyebrows raised.

But before we had time to wonder about Peter’s sudden departure, two more figures appeared in the doorway, and my breath caught as I recognized them.

Erik and Stella.

Edwin’s parents.

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