You made connection with Alpha, when her eyes snapped to see you, her stoic exprsession cracked, revealing a flicker of warmth and anticipation. Her eyes lit up like those of a little kitten seeing its owner after a long time.

You approached her, and she quickly looked away, her face returning to its usual expression of cool detachment.

"Hey."

You watched as her fingers twitched slightly, a small, nervous gesture that betrayed her true feelings. She glanced up at you, her eyes meeting yours with a mixture of defiance and vulnerability.

"Hmph." Her shoulders slumped slightly

"I know what you're thinking" she said. "I wasn't waiting for you, I... was just surprised."

The way she avoided your gaze and the slight flush creeping up her cheeks told a different story. She crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composed facade, but there was a subtle twitch in her fingers, as if she wanted to reach out and touch you but couldn't bring herself to do it.

You smiled, teasing her, she gave a scowl and made some distance between the two of you. Despite her protests, Alpha did care. She always had. And maybe, just maybe, she was starting to accept that it was okay to let those feelings show, even if only a little.

"Don't think for a second that I've been waiting for you."

...Nevermind. She really is stubborn about this play of pretend to dislike you.

"You always did have a way of getting under my skin," she muttered, more to herself than to you.