Raphael walked peacefully across the sun-dappled quadrangle of St. Elowen's Academy, his long strides measured and unhurried. The late afternoon breeze tugged lightly at the edges of his dark coat, revealing glimpses of intricate black lace trim and the glint of a red gem pendant resting against his chest. His long, raven-black hair shifted with each step, framing a face of striking, almost otherworldly beauty—sharp cheekbones, pale skin, and eyes of deep, piercing intensity that seemed to hold secrets older than the school itself.
Suddenly, he lifted his gaze toward the upper windows of the main building, drawn by an instinctive pull. His eyes narrowed slightly as they locked onto Daisy's classroom.
Inside, the girls clustered at the glass froze. A collective flutter ran through them—cheeks warming, breaths catching—as they stared back at him, utterly captivated. Helena pressed one hand to her flushed face, her usual composure crumbling into visible embarrassment. Laura's eyes widened in stunned silence, mouth slightly open. Julia blinked rapidly, as if trying to process what she was seeing. Ava simply stared, cheeks pink. Rosy, ever bold, began smoothing her hair with quick, self-conscious motions, a bright, happy smile spreading across her face.
"What an intense, breathtaking gaze!" one of the girls whispered, voice trembling with awe.
Raphael's expression shifted. He saw the entire class of girls pressed against the windows, staring down at him. Shock flickered across his features—his brows lifting, eyes widening briefly in genuine surprise.
Then his gaze found Daisy among them. She stood near the front, big doe-like eyes wide and polite, staring back at him with that familiar, gentle innocence that always softened something inside him.
*Those gentle eyes!* he thought, a quiet warmth blooming in his chest. *More beautiful than any other.*
Down below, the girls' reactions only grew more frantic.
*Heart pounding fast,* Ava thought, pressing a hand to her chest as though to calm the wild rhythm.
"His gaze killed me!" Laura exclaimed softly, half-laughing, half-dazed.
Elene chuckled, covering her mouth. "Then I am the new topper now," she declared with mock triumph, eyes sparkling with amusement.
Julia tilted her head, voice faint. "Do you think I am alive?"
Helena grinned wickedly. "Should I call him to take your dead body?"
The cluster of girls suddenly noticed the direction of Raphael's stare—straight at Daisy. Whispers erupted.
"He's looking at Daisy!"
Surprise rippled outward, followed by eager curiosity. Elene spun toward her friend. "Hey girl, do you know him?"
Laura leaned in. "Who is he to you?"
Camille, the girl with a round face framed by medium-length wavy dark hair and calm gray eyes nodded vigorously. "Yes, tell us—do you know him?"
Helena raised a hand, trying to temper the frenzy. "Hey girls, be easy on her."
Raphael, still outside, watched as the girls surrounded his sister like a flock of excited birds. He tilted his head slightly, expression unreadable.
Daisy hesitated, cheeks warming under the sudden spotlight. "Ummm mmmm… he is my brother."
The room went still for a heartbeat.
*Shocked* expressions bloomed everywhere.
Katherine, the mature-looking girl whose long dark hair fell straight and smooth past her shoulders asked,
"Really?" voice rising in disbelief.
Camille leaned closer, skeptical. "Are you speaking the truth?"
Daisy nodded quickly. "Yes, why would I lie?"
Katherine's eyes lit with fresh hunger. "Then tell us what his name is…" She paused, barely containing her eagerness.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Elene chimed in, practically bouncing.
Daisy blinked, suddenly overwhelmed. *Shocked,* she thought, a nervous laugh escaping. "Ummmmmmmm…"
She took a breath. "His name is Raphael."
Laura's eyes sparkled. "What's his height?"
"Yes, yes, tell us!" Elene demanded, grinning wide. "How tall is he?"
Daisy fidgeted, nervous energy prickling her skin. "Ummm… I don't know exactly."
Camille laughed. "His legs are so long that I can slide on them!"
The girls burst into giggles, then pressed harder. "Tell us why he is so tall?"
Daisy bit her lip, thoughts racing. *I can't tell them that he is a powerful werewolf.*
*That is why he is so tall!!!* she thought wildly. *That is why his growth is more than human beings! Even his stamina is far more than ordinary human beings.*
Out loud, she managed a weak smile. "Maybe it's because of his genetics."
"Genetics?!" The word echoed in scandalized delight.
The girls gossiped furiously among themselves.
Laura straightened, suddenly serious. "I want to research your brother." She paused, then added earnestly, "You know that I want to become a researcher, right?"
Daisy flushed with embarrassment. "Thank you for your kindness, but I am okay."
Laura persisted gently. "Hey… don't be like that. At least let me know your brother a bit."
Daisy shook her head, half-laughing, half-serious. *If you research him, you will get a heart attack for sure.*
Laura's eyes widened. "Bring me your brother's number and I will help you with the studies!" She leaned in conspiratorially. "I will even help you in the exam. You are a newbie—you need my help to score really well in the upcoming exam."
Daisy stared, shocked all over again.
Laura pressed on. "At least let me know your brother a bit."
Daisy sighed inwardly. *Sorry dear topper, but my brother is a werewolf—you will be scared if you know him more.*
Daisy hesitated, fingers tightening around the hem of her skirt, clearly worried about how much to reveal.
Laura, her pink-haired friend with an impish sparkle in her eyes, leaned in with an encouraging nudge. "Hey, hey, say something!" she urged, her voice bright and insistent.
Before Daisy could find her courage, Rosy—the tall, slender beauty queen of the school—swept into view.
Her flowing skirt swayed with each confident step, long dark hair cascading like silk over her shoulders, her porcelain skin glowing under the light.
Every head turned as she approached Daisy and Laura with the grace of someone who knew she owned the room. "She won't say anything to you," Rosy declared, her tone laced with smug satisfaction.
"Because her brother is mine," she added, tilting her chin upward, a possessive gleam flashing in her eyes.
Daisy's face drained of color. Her eyes widened in pure disbelief, mouth parting in a soft gasp. "What..." she breathed, the single word barely audible.
Laura echoed the confusion, blinking rapidly. "What?"
Rosy's lips curved into a condescending smile. "Yes, you heard it right, baby girl. You focus on your books. No need to focus on her brother. He is mine."
Inside Daisy's mind, frustration boiled over. *This girl is so unreasonable.*
Rosy stepped closer, her voice dropping to a silky threat. "Hey, little newbie… I will let you go. I won't be troubling with you anymore. Just give your brother to me, and I will spare you."
Julia, with her warm brown hair falling in gentle waves around a kind face, stepped forward, arms crossed. "Hey, Rosy, cut it off."
Rosy whirled on her, eyes narrowing into slits of contempt. "Shut up, you little pig!" she hissed, the insult dripping with venom.
Julia's cheeks burned crimson, her brows slamming down as her expression hardened into pure fury, eyes flashing with indignation.