One Night
One Night 251

Chapter 251

Audrey

The final numbers were staggering. I had to blink twice just to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, but I wasn’t. We hadn’t just met our fundraising goal for the orphanages-we had nearly doubled it in one night.

I couldn’t believe it. All those weeks of planning, sleepless nights and too-carly mornings had paid off. This was more than I could have hoped for, more than we had ever dreamed possible

“And that’s not even counting the pledges still rolling in,” Edwin announced into the microphone, gesturing toward the donation booth-where there was still a line of people waiting with their wallets open.

The crowd erupted into applause at that. Champagne glasses clinked together, cameras flashed, and somewhere in the back of the room, I caught the unmistakable shrill of Tina’s ear-piercing whistle.

I stifled a giggle as I looked over and saw my friends jumping up and down and making increasingly-ridiculous faces at me, drunkenly trying to make me snort with laughter on camera.

“Of course, tonight would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of my mate, Audrey,” Edwin continued, turning slightly to look at me. “The Silver Star herself was instrumental in organizing every last detail of this event, and I think we can all agree that she did a spectacular job.”

More applause. More cheers. More

cameras

capturing every moment.

I smiled and glanced out at the crowd, my eyes skimming over the sea of finely dressed attendees. There were so many people here, far more than I expected for my first charity event.

Maybe Edwin really had been right when he’d said that we were making a difference here, even if we weren’t barging into Coldclaw and replaceing every last child that had been shipped off at that very moment.

That was when I spotted Luna Steele near the back of the room. Her face had turned an impressive shade of crimson, blotchy patches spreading up her neck, and she tugged on her husband’s sleeve like a child desperate to leave.

Her husband simply sighed, rolling his eyes as he allowed his wife to drag him toward the exit.

“Good riddance,” I thought to Edwin.

Edwin’s shoulders shook with barely contained laughter as he wrapped up his speech. Soon enough, the final round of applause had subsided, and we made our way off the stage, descending into the throng of guests who swarmed us like moths to a flame.

Blissfully, my friends were at the forefront of that throng.

“You two did amazing,” Betty gushed, throwing her arms around me in a hug that smelled faintly of vodka cranberries. Her hair was slightly disheveled from dancing, and her lipstick had faded.

Peter was nowhere to be found, although I knew he was staring at her from wherever he was.

I hugged my friend back tightly. “Thanks for coming tonight,” I whispered into her ear. “And thanks for not getting too drunk.”

Tina suddenly sputtered, “Speak for yourselves. If there’s an open bar at an event, you best bet I’m gonna take advantage of that.” She ended her sentence with a hiccup, causing Gavin to pinch the bridge of his nose in exasperation.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of polite goodbyes, handshakes, and endless rounds of ‘thank you’s, I finally sank into the plush leather seat in the back of our car.

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Chapter 251

My feet throbbed painfully in my heels, and all I wanted was to peel them off and crawl into bed. The thought of laying my head against my mate’s chest and passing out for the night was the only thing keeping me going.

But as our driver pulled away from the venue, I quickly realized something was off. Instead of the familiar route that led us back toward the apartment, we veered left, heading up into the darker, winding roads that led into the suburbs and beyond.

Soon enough, we were surrounded by trees on all sides.

“Where are we going?” I asked, stifling a yawn as I turned to my mate.

Edwin’s lips curled into a mischievous little smirk as he draped one muscular arm around my shoulders and tugged me close. “Don’t worry. You’ll see.”

I was exhausted, but also too curious to tell the driver to turn around. And I was glad I hadn’t, because a few minutes later, we pulled into the gravel parking lot of a small overlook-one I didn’t recognize.

I blinked as the driver put the car in park and stepped out to open the door.

Edwin helped me climb out onto the gravel lot, holding my hand to steady me on my aching feet. The scent of pine and earth filled the cool night air, and I took a deep breath, feeling oddly refreshed after spending the night in a stuffy gala

venue.

And then my eyes adjusted.

“Oh… Wow…”

Below us, the entire city stretched out like a sea of glittering lights. From this height, it looked tiny and strangely peaceful I could even make out the distant silhouette of Grayspring Academy, its shape unmistakable at the center of the little town of Grayspring thanks to my enhanced werewolf sight.

“I used to come here sometimes when I needed to think,” Edwin said softly. “Back when I first met you.”

He led me toward a wooden bench near the edge of the overlook, then shrugged off his suit jacket and gently wrapped it around my shoulders. “I found it by accident one night when I was driving around,” he explained.

We sat together, and I immediately curled into his side, grateful for the warmth of his body. “I don’t blame you. It’s beautiful,” I said softly.

“Especially tonight. Look up,” he whispered, his warm, slightly champagne scented breath tickling my ear as he pointed up at the sky.

I tilted my head back just in time to see the first streak of light cut across the night sky-a brilliant, fiery arc of white against the inky darkness. Then another. And another. Yellow, pink, white, silver, even pale blue.

“A meteor shower?” I gasped, my heart rate picking up. “Did you plan this?”

Edwin shot me another one of those evil little smirks. “If I say I didn’t, would that make it more or less special?”

“That wasn’t an answer,” I chided, lightly smacking him on the arm.

My mate shook his head and laughed. “I may have heard a rumor that there was supposed to be a meteor shower tonight.” “Well I’m glad you decided to enjoy it with me.”

For a while, we just sat in comfortable silence, our eyes fixed on the sky as the meteors continued streaking through the cosmos. I leaned my head on my mate’s shoulder, breathing deeply to inhale the scent of him mixed with the pine trees and cool earth.

To think that there had been a time where we had almost lost this… multiple times, actually.

2/3

Mon,

Chapter 251

Never again.

Q

“What do you think about the future?” Edwin asked after a while glancing at me. “Now that we’ve started making real changes in Crescent…”

I considered his words, my gaze still lingering on the stars.

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“I think…” I chewed the inside of my cheek, choosing my words carefully. “I think we’re going to do great things together. I want to help as many people as I can-not just the kids in the orphanages, but anyone who needs it.”

“If that’s what you really want,” Edwin said quietly, his finger trailing across the sliver of my exposed shoulder peeking out from beneath his jacket. “You’re already well on the way to that, too. But I hope you know that if you don’t feel like this life- the galas, the politicking, the late nights-is for you, then that’s okay too.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m… I’m glad we’re doing this. I’m glad I’m doing this. It feels… right. Terrifying, but right.”

Edwin nodded in silent agreement.

As another meteor streaked across the sky, a silver one this time, I closed my eyes for a moment and made a quick, silent wish. When I opened them again, Edwin was watching me with a curious look in his eyes.

“What did you wish for?” he asked, his lips curving up into a real smile, not just a naughty little smirk.

I shook my head, a smile of my own tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Can’t tell you. It won’t come true if I do.”

“Since when are you superstitious?” Edwin teased, but before I could respond, he leaned down and captured my lips in a soft, tender kiss beneath the falling stars.

And part of my wish came true at that moment.

SEND GIFT