The Alpha’s Little Rogue (Alessia)

Chapter 138

Raphael's POV It's day one of my quest to win Daphne over.

Walking with even and determined strikes, I hold the bouquet to my side as I walk into the school.

I pause in front of Daphne's classroom, peeping inside and smiling when I find her cross-legged on the ground as she plays with the kids who haven't been picked up yet.

Hiding the flowers behind my back, I reach for the door and push it up, snagging the attention of Daphne and her students.

She looks confused and then annoyed in the next second. Then that annoyance shifts into horror as she views the flowers that I've m a d e visible.

I try not to let her less-than-encouraging expressions get to me.

Even if her expression was one of disgust, it wouldn't distress me or waver my plans. I don't expect to win her over in a day. Heck, I don't expect to win her over within a month. But one thing is for sure, no matter how hard she tries to get away from me, I'm always going to be back to try to barricade through her walls.

My head refuses to acknowledge how that sentence makes me come off as an overbearing oaf.

"For you," I say once I get to her front. I put the flowers under her nose and give her a bright smile.

She gives me a tight one and a glare that shouldn't look as intimidating as it does when she's sitting on the ground with her legs tucked under her body.

"Miss Daphne, who is he?" A kid with blond curls asks with his head tilted to the side as he surveys me from head to toes.

Daphne opens her mouth but is cut off from whatever she's about to say when another kid starts speaking as well, "Is he your boyfriend?" The girl giggles behind her palm and the other girls in the room follow her cue.

Daphne's eyes widen at that question. "No, he isn't." She lifts to her feet. "He's just a friend," she says tightly, giving me a hard look which has probably made stronger men shrivel up.

"Then why is he holding flowers?" The same girl questions again as she stares at the bouquet in my hand. I like her.

Crouching before the inquisitive child, I smile softly at her.

"Actually, I'm simply Daphne's new friend." The girl's face falls.

"Though I'm trying to be more," I whisper and her face brightens up again making me grin.

That grin falls away as a long pair of legs block my vision of the kids. "Stop that," Daphne berates, her hands on her hips as she looks at me disapprovingly. I suddenly feel

like one of her little stude

Standing up to my full height, I breathe in her scent made more prominent by our proximity. "What?" I ask innocently with a shoulder shrug.

She rolls her eyes. "What are you doing here?" She asks through clenched teeth, looking down at the children who are very invested in our conversation.

"I got you these," I say and stretch

out the hand holding the bouquet. A

round of giggles is heard from the kids bundled together and I smile Even her students think we should

be together and kids are always right. Why can't Daphne just take a hint from them and allow fate to run

its course?

"I don't want it," she murmurs and crosses her hand over her chest like she's stopping herself from reaching for it.

I look over at the kids and then back at her. "Are you really teaching these little kids that they should reject a kind gesture?" I make sure to add a little pout. "You hurt my feelings."

Daphne glances down at the little

kids who are watching this whole

scene unfold then she looks back at me. Her eyes shoot daggers at me as she reaches out and snatches the bouquet from my hand. "Thank you," she grits out.

I smile.

That wasn't the reaction I was hoping to get but at least I got her to accept them.

"You can leave now," she says, walking over to a desk at the other end of the room and dropping the bouquet on it.

I follow her and lean on the side of the desk. "Go out with me."

She closes her eyes and sighs. When she opens them again, she looks defeated and I feel my hope perk up. That's until she opens her mouth and starts talking. "Raphael, I don't want to go out with you. I won't change my mind no matter how hard you try to convince me and I would appreciate it if you could just give it up."

I won't lie and say that her words didn't stab deep into my heart but I'm made of thicker stuff. "I'I see you tomorrow then."

She sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, looking like she's trying to stop herself from strangling me. The little witnesses in the room might have something to do with her holding herself back. "Bye," I say cheerfully, acting like she didn't just rip out my heart with her words.

Tomorrow is going to be better.