Hate, Love, and Revenge

Catching Feelings

Michelle

My heart was pounding rapidly in my chest as Raymond held me close, his arms wrapping around me in a reassuring embrace. I could feel my cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and a fluttering of nervousness. I finally snapped out of my own drifting thoughts and looked up at him, trying to steady my breathing. "I'm alright, Raymond. You just startled me a bit," I told him softly, hoping he wouldn't notice the slight tremor in my voice.

He stood me up straight, ensuring I had my bounce before releasing me. With a gentle yet firm touch, he checked my posture, ensuring I was steady and confident. Once satisfied, he stepped back slightly, gazing at me with a hint of curiosity. "Now that I know you're just fine," he said, his voice calm yet inquisitive, "what are you doing here in my suite?" I felt a flicker of nervousness inside me. Was he upset with me for showing up unannounced? My heart pounded a little as I hesitated. "I'm sorry, Raymond, for coming here without warning," I admitted softly, "but I wanted to surprise you with breakfast as a token of my appreciation. I didn't mean to see you so exposed." I looked down, feeling a mix of embarrassment and hope that he would understand my intentions.

"It's fine, Michelle. We’re both are adults, and there’s no reason to feel embarrassed about anything," Raymond said calmly, offering me a reassuring smile. "Let me get dressed quickly so we can sit down and enjoy some breakfast together." I nodded silently and hurried back downstairs, my mind still swirling from our conversation. I found myself waiting nervously in the kitchen, glancing over the familiar countertops and appliances.

Meanwhile, Nama was lost in her own thoughts, suddenly voicing, "Alpha is so sexy." Her words caught me off guard, and I quickly tried to push the distraction aside. But Nama’s comment lingered, making it even more difficult for me to concentrate. Images of Raymond filled my mind—his muscular physique, the way his lips might taste, the strength in his arms. Visualizing these details made my pulse race, and I cursed myself silently for the distraction.

I was just about to shake off the thoughts when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. My gaze snapped to the stairs as Raymond appeared, a warm smile on his face. "Whatever you made smells absolutely delicious," Raymond said, his voice warmly appreciative as he stepped into the kitchen. The aroma of breakfast greeted us, grounding me once more in the present, even as my mind continued to replay the vivid images.

We sat down at the small kitchen table, and I watched him intently as he carefully took his first bite of the meal before I finally began to eat myself. He took a moment to savor the flavors and then remarked, "This food is fantastic. I haven't had a woman cook for me in my own place in such a long time. Thank you." His words were warm and genuine.

I nodded appreciatively and replied, "You have done so much for me that I wanted to do something special for you in return." We sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the quiet moment until we both finished our breakfast. After a while, Raymond broke the silence, asking, "Do you have any plans for this weekend?" I shook my head and responded, "No, Raymond, I don't." He then smiled and said, "How about you spend the weekend with me? I have some errands I need to take care of, and perhaps you could help me get those things done," he asked

I definitely don't mind being around Raymond, since I don't have any plans for the day, and I really don't want to go back home just yet. The thought of returning to the usual routine and facing my mother again felt overwhelming, so I welcomed the opportunity to spend more time with him. "I would love to accompany you," I said with a smile. "Where are we going?" I asked eagerly.

"We will be heading to the human city for supplies," he replied, his tone casual but purposeful. The rest of Saturday, along with Sunday and Monday, was spent with Raymond as we made our way back and forth from the human city, running errands, picking up necessities, and exploring little shops along the way. Those moments, just the two of us, felt comforting and relaxed —a rare chance to enjoy simple companionship without the weight of responsibilities.

Despite these pleasant days, I knew deep down that this peaceful bubble wouldn't last forever. Eventually, I would have to return home and face my mother, the inevitable confrontation looming over my thoughts. Nonetheless, I cherished these fleeting moments of freedom and company, grateful for the time Raymond and I shared.

After the workday on Monday concluded, Raymond extended an invitation for dinner once again, much like he had done throughout the entire weekend. I explained to him that I needed to return home because all my belongings were there, and it had been a couple of days since my mother and sister had seen me. After we finished our dinner, Raymond kindly offered to walk me home. However, I told him it wasn't necessary, and we parted ways with a friendly good night as I made my way back home.

The walk was relatively short, but I couldn't shake the nervousness that lingered throughout the entire journey home. It was just past 7 pm, so there's no reason the chain should be on, providing me with a bit of relief. As I finally sank onto the couch, I immediately noticed the lights were on all around the house, indicating someone was likely home. I reached into my pocket to grab my keys, unlocked the door, and slowly pushed it open with caution, making as little noise as possible. Carefully, I stepped inside, trying to avoid drawing any attention to myself.

I found myself second-guessing my reasons for returning here. A sense of uncertainty washed over me, and I wondered if it might be better to head back to the pack house for the night instead. Moving quietly, as I walked upstairs, approaching my room to hear the voices nearby. My instinct was to move swiftly, aiming to reach my room door without delay, but I was abruptly halted just as my head nearly touched the doorknob. Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind: "Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in," Brandy said with a sly tone.

"Where have you been all this time? Mother is furious with you," she said, a malicious smile twisting her lips. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of anger and mischief. "I've been around," I replied calmly, trying to mask my unease.

Just then, Brandy burst out loudly as she could, her voice ringing out hurting my ears. "Oh, mother! Michelle is back!" I heard loud footsteps approaching quickly, each step heavy with frustration. My mother’s face grew red with anger as she yelled, "Where the hell have you been? First, you hit your sister, then you get fired from your job, then you go missing all weekend, and on top of that, you never gave me my money!"

The hallway descended into a heavy, tense silence following her furious words, with everyone anxiously waiting to see how I would respond. Nama was visibly getting angry, which caused my blood to boil with frustration. I took a deep breath and declared, "I didn't get fired from work, and Brandy deserves that punch and so much more." Brandy immediately shot back, "You're a liar. I talked to your boss, and he fired you." Before I could respond, my mother interjected sharply, "Calm down, Brandy. How dare you disrespect me in my own house after everything I have done for you? You're a selfish brat," mother spat with so much hatred that it made the air feel heavy.