CHAPTER 29: Glowing Again

A while ago…

Raymond walked into the room he shared with Alicia, already loosening the tension in his shoulders as he prepared to take his medication and lie down for a short nap. The day had drained him more than usual, and all he wanted was a few minutes of quiet.

He had expected to see Alicia somewhere in the room perhaps studying, scrolling through her phone, or simply lying on her bed.

Instead, the moment he stepped inside, his eyes landed on someone else.

A girl.

She was sitting comfortably on his bed as though she belonged there, one leg crossed over the other, looking entirely too relaxed in a place she had no business being. The very girl he had been deliberately avoiding.

Raymond’s expression hardened instantly.

“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly, his voice carrying clear disinterest.

The girl smiled, unfazed by his tone.

“I came to see you, obviously,” she replied lightly, shifting slightly on the bed as if settling in more comfortably.

Raymond said nothing.

But the look in his eyes spoke volumes.

Still, she continued.

“You ditched me last time,” she said, her voice turning mildly accusatory. “And now I miss you. You haven’t even been replying to my messages.”

“I don’t want to see you again,” Raymond said flatly. “So leave my room.”

His tone made it clear that he had no intention of repeating himself.

The girl studied his face for a moment before slowly standing from the bed. She walked toward him, stopping just close enough to lower her voice.

Before leaving, she spoke slowly, deliberately.

“Your roommate dressed all nice in a short, hot dress,” she said, her lips curling slightly. “Looking like she wanted to go see a man.”

She turned and walked toward the door with a satisfied smile. She didn’t know if her words would affect him, but she certainly hoped they would irritate him.

She had barely taken a few steps out when Raymond grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

“Are you sure of what you’re saying?” he demanded, his voice tight with annoyance.

“Why should I lie?” she replied calmly.

Raymond released her immediately.

Without another word, he stormed out of the room and headed downstairs, fury simmering in his chest.

There was only one person Alicia could have gone to see.

Kevin.

The thought alone irritated him far more than he wanted to admit..

****

Presently…

Raymond carried Alicia over his shoulder as though she weighed nothing.

The students scattered around the hallway couldn’t help staring at the unusual sight.They waited until he was well out of earshot before the remarks started.

Raymond ignored every single one of them.

He climbed the stairs steadily until he reached the third floor. When he finally arrived at their room, he pushed the door open and walked in before shutting it behind him with a loud bang.

“Will you put me down?!” Alicia shouted, clearly irritated.

Raymond lowered her to the floor in front of the bed.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Alicia turned toward him, ready to speak.

But Raymond moved first.

He stepped forward, invading her space so abruptly that she instinctively leaned back slightly. His presence felt overwhelming, as if he intended to press straight through her.

“What were you doing alone with Kevin in his room,” he asked in a low voice, “looking like this?”

Alicia frowned immediately.

“Will you give me some space?” she snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes. “And why can’t I visit my friend?”

Raymond’s expression turned colder at her response.

He didn’t understand why he cared.

He wasn’t supposed to care.

She was just his roommate.

Yet the thought of her going to Kevin’s room dressed like that had stirred something sharp and unpleasant inside him.

And he had no intention of questioning that feeling right now.

Instead, he stepped even closer until there was absolutely no space left between them.

They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Without warning, Raymond moved his hand and grabbed a fistful of Alicia’s hair, tugging firmly.

The action was sudden enough that Alicia didn’t even realize what he had done until she felt the tension pulling at her scalp.

It should have hurt.

But instead, an unfamiliar sensation rushed through her body.

Pleasure.

She refused to acknowledge it.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, though her voice came out lower than she intended.

Her breath brushed against Raymond’s face.

Raymond tugged her hair harder.

Alicia’s eyes nearly rolled back in response, but she forced herself to remain composed. Frustrated, she pushed against his chest.

He didn’t move.

“Don’t push your luck,” he warned.

Alicia shoved him harder this time.

Instead of pushing him away, the force backfired against her. She lost her balance and fell backward onto the bed.

“Argh!” she cried as she landed with a small bounce.

The movement caused her dress to ride up her thighs, exposing more skin than she intended.

Raymond’s gaze dropped instantly.

And he couldn’t look away.

Alicia noticed immediately.

“Stop giving me that look, pervert!” she snapped while quickly trying to adjust her dress.

“And who is this pervert?” Raymond asked calmly.

He leaned forward, placing one knee on the bed as he hovered above her.

Alicia attempted to push him away, but Raymond was faster. He caught both of her wrists and pinned them above her head with one hand.

Their faces were now dangerously close.

Alicia stared at him wide-eyed.

Raymond slowly leaned closer, his gaze fixed on her lips.

For a moment, it truly looked as though he was about to kiss her.

Alicia’s eyes fluttered halfway closed in anticipation.

But instead of kissing her, Raymond lowered his head to her neck.

He inhaled deeply.

Alicia stiffened in surprise.

“Raymond..” she protested weakly.

He ignored her.

She smelled incredible.

Not just pleasant, something deeper. Something strangely inviting.

Before he could stop himself, he buried his face further against her neck.

Then he licked her skin.

Alicia jolted slightly.

Raymond seemed completely absorbed in what he was doing. Alicia, on the other hand, was slowly losing control of her own reactions.

Her eyes drifted shut without her realizing it.

Raymond wanted more.

The image of her walking into Kevin’s room wearing a dress that revealed her cleavage flashed through his mind again.

The thought fueled something possessive inside him.

His lips moved from her neck downward, leaving a trail of warm kisses and soft bites before reaching the curve of her cleavage.

Alicia had never experienced anything like this before.

Having a man between her breasts, kissing her like that, it sent strange waves of sensation through her entire body.

Raymond released her wrists, his hand sliding down to rest on her thigh.

Alicia couldn’t stop the soft sigh that escaped her lips.

Raymond heard it.

And it only encouraged him further.

His wolf, which had been restless earlier, suddenly felt calm. Almost satisfied.

But eventually Raymond lifted his head.

He looked directly into her eyes.

The moment he stopped, Alicia’s eyes flew open.

Her chest was rising and falling rapidly.

And that was when Raymond saw it.

Her eyes.

They had turned purple.

For a moment, he simply stared.

Then he abruptly pulled away and stepped off the bed.

Alicia remained lying there, trying to steady her breathing. Slowly, she sat up, brushing her hair back as she struggled to calm herself.

“What just happened?” she asked quietly.

Raymond had already begun walking toward the bathroom when her voice stopped him.

His head snapped slightly in her direction.

“Let’s pretend it didn’t happen,” he said.

Then he added stiffly, “And stop seeing Kevin.”

The last part slipped out before he could stop himself.

He didn’t like seeing them together.

He didn’t know why, but it irritated him.

Alicia’s eyes flashed with anger.

“And who do you think you are?” she demanded. “You don’t get to tell me who I can see.”

The purple glow in her eyes flickered again.

Then Alicia suddenly glanced toward Raymond’s bed.

A memory surfaced.

The brunette girl.

She had left that girl in the room earlier before storming out.

Alicia closed her eyes briefly, disappointment settling in her chest.

Of course.

Maybe he had been with that girl before she came in.

The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Raymond watched her silently, confusion flickering across his face.

Then he spoke.

“Your eyes are glowing again.”

Alicia blinked.

“What?”

Raymond’s expression was completely serious.

And in that moment, she knew he wasn’t joking.

Her eyes widened.

Without another word, she jumped to her feet and rushed toward the bathroom.

Raymond barely had time to react before she shoved him aside and pushed the door open.

Inside the bathroom, Alicia rushed to the mirror.

Her reflection stared back at her.

Her eyes were glowing.

The purple seemed even brighter than before.

Alicia’s stomach twisted with worry.

She had never understood why her eyes changed like this.

But now Raymond had seen it too.

Should she talk to her mother about it?

The thought lingered uneasily in her mind as she continued staring at her reflection, anxiety slowly building in her chest.