Chapter 152: Alicia and Alpha’s Clash

On the day Silas entered the blue rift... alone, City A recorded the fastest rift closure in history. A whole blue rift was closed in thirty minutes. And as for the person who caused it, Silas... he appeared out of the rift holding the fang of a beast. Correction!

He was carrying the fang. It was huge, almost as tall as an average adult human. He gave it to the military as a souvenir, grabbed some fast food, and disappeared.

***

It had been two days since the event, and it had gotten the people talking again. People were now coming to the realization of how broken and overpowered S-Ranks were. If only they knew the actual truth.

Alpha was walking down the corridor, heading towards the washroom, when someone bumped into him. He frowned and turned, prepared to give the person a good curse, only to shut up the next second.

Alpha had always believed there were only three kinds of people who bumped into others in school corridors.

The first were genuinely distracted, the second were in a hurry, and the third wanted trouble. His shoulder had barely settled from the impact when a hand grabbed the front of his uniform.

Before he could react, his back hit the wall with a thud. The nearby students instinctively slowed down. Some stopped walking altogether.

Alpha slowly raised his head, and his eyes met golden eyes. They were sharp and intense, looking directly into his own.

Alicia Holt.

She was taller than him by more than half a head. Long black dreadlocks cascaded over one shoulder, while her deeply tanned skin practically glowed beneath the afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows.

She wasn’t smiling, not even slightly. One of her hands remained pressed against the wall beside Alpha’s head, while the other still gripped his collar.

For several long seconds, none of them spoke. Then Alicia broke the silence.

"Why are you following Silas?"

Her voice was calm, too calm. It was the kind of calm that came just before a storm. Alpha looked down at the hand gripping his shirt, then back at her face.

He gently removed her hand from his collar, one finger at a time.

"I don’t remember introducing myself."

Alicia’s expression didn’t change. "You didn’t answer my question. And I already know you."

"I wasn’t planning to."

"I asked first."

"And I chose not to answer."

The air between them seemed to tighten as the silence that had enveloped them stretched for seconds. Students walking past began pretending they weren’t listening. Unfortunately, they listened harder.

Alicia crossed her arms.

"So you’re avoiding it."

"No."

"Then answer."

"No."

"..."

"..."

Her golden eyes narrowed.

"You know... I’ve heard people say you’re difficult."

Alpha smiled faintly. "I’ve heard people say you’re intimidating."

"And?"

"They were right."

"You aren’t scared."

"No."

"You should be."

"Should I?"

"I’ve broken stronger people." Her gaze sharpened.

Alpha shrugged. "I’ve met louder people."

Several nearby students quietly inhaled.

Did... Did he just say that?

Alicia took one step closer.

"So you’re brave."

"No."

"Confident?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Alpha looked directly into her glowing eyes.

"I simply don’t like being questioned by strangers."

The words landed harder than expected, causing Alicia’s brows to furrow.

"Strangers?"

"That’s what you are."

"I know your name."

"So does half the academy."

"..."

She folded her arms again.

"You’ve been around Silas ever since he awakened."

"So?"

"People don’t just appear beside someone like him."

"They do."

"They don’t."

"They did."

For the first time, Alicia almost smiled.

"You enjoy this."

"A little."

"I could make your life difficult."

"You could try."

"I don’t lose."

"I’ve noticed."

"You doubt it?"

"I doubt everyone."

A small breeze drifted through the corridor, but none of them looked away. The tension only grew stronger. Finally, Alicia asked quietly,

"Who are you?"

Alpha blinked, confused by her question, but he answered anyway.

"Someone who lives in the same house with Silas."

Her eyes widened ever so slightly.

"House?"

"Estate."

"The Ashard Estate?!"

"That one."

Several students nearly dropped their books.

WHAT?!

They live together?!

Alicia remained silent.

"So you’re important."

Alpha tilted his head. "To whom?"

"To him."

"Ask him," he responded, smiling.

"You think I won’t?"

"I know you will."

Her lips twitched. "So that’s your game."

"What game?"

"Making people curious."

"I’ve never tried."

"It’s working."

"I can’t help that."

Another long silence settled between them. Then Alicia stepped even closer.

"So let me give you some advice."

"I’m listening."

"If someone ever threatens Silas..." Her golden eyes seemed to burn. "...move."

Alpha stared at her. Then he smiled—a genuine smile.

"You’re worried about him."

"I didn’t say that."

"You didn’t have to."

"I simply dislike unnecessary complications."

"Mhm."

"Mhm?"

"I believe you."

"You don’t."

"I don’t."

For the first time, Alicia’s composure cracked just a little.

"You’re annoying."

"I’ve been told."

She sighed and turned to leave. After taking only two steps, Alpha spoke again.

"You know..."

She stopped walking.

"If you’re going to worry about someone that much..."

She glanced back over her shoulder.

"..."

"At least introduce yourself properly next time. Don’t worry, that idiot can take on Damien. He’s an S-Rank, you know?"

Alicia stared at him in silence, considering where her intelligence had disappeared to.

"And maybe..." Alpha added with an innocent smile, "...don’t pin them against a wall first."

Alicia’s expression froze while a faint pink color slowly appeared across her cheeks.

"I..." She immediately looked away. "That wasn’t my intention."

"It looked very intentional."

"I was making a point."

"You certainly made one."

The blush deepened.

Without another word, she turned sharply on her heel and walked away much faster than before. Her long dreadlocks swayed behind her. Students instinctively parted to let her through. Only after she disappeared around the corner did the corridor erupt into whispers.

"Did... Did Alicia Holt blush?"

"No way."

"I saw it!"

"I’ve never seen anyone talk to her like that."

Alpha adjusted his slightly wrinkled collar.

"Weird."

He continued toward the washroom as though nothing unusual had happened. Halfway there, he sighed to himself.

"Silas is contagious."

If only he knew...