Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 114

Caleb’s P.O.V

The moment we stepped out of the clearing behind the school and rushed toward the stadium, I could feel my heartbeat hammering in fear, worry for Aurora’s safety pulsating through my veins. Panic began to claw at me, an overwhelming need to find her taking control.

Caroline was close behind me, her urgency matching my own. People were crowding around, all engrossed in the ongoing award ceremony, unaware of the turmoil churning inside me.

My eyes darted through the stadium, scanning the faces in the sea of people, yet there was no sign of Aurora.

My pulse quickened further, a strange dread curling up in the pit of my stomach. I tried to reach out to her, feeling for the bond that had tied us together since the moment I marked her, but—nothing. It was like a wall had been erected between us, shutting me out completely. Her scent, usually so vibrant and comforting, had vanished from the air, leaving a hollow void in its place.

"Did you say something to her before we went to talk to Damien?" Caroline’s voice cut through my thoughts, a worried edge lacing her words as she caught up beside me. She was breathing heavily, glancing around, her own face painted with concern.

I froze for a moment, a flash of memory hitting me hard. I’d told Aurora to wait by the car. I’d told her I’d be back soon to take her home, and assured her that it wouldn’t take long. I hadn’t even considered that she might decide to follow me. I shook my head, trying to keep the panic at bay.

"I... I told her to wait. I didn’t think she’d follow me," I muttered, my voice tight, strained. "I thought she’d stay at the parking lot. I just wanted to sort things out with Damien and get her home safely."

Caroline caught the note of panic in my voice and placed a firm hand on my shoulder, attempting to steady me.

"She wouldn’t just disappear," she said, her voice calm but insistent. "Maybe she got held up somewhere? Or ran into someone familiar?"

But that gnawing feeling in my chest was only growing stronger, louder, a siren blaring in the back of my mind. The bond felt unnatural, severed, like someone had slammed a door in my face. I clenched my jaw, trying harder, reaching out with every ounce of my strength, calling for her through the link that should have connected us, but still—nothing. Silence.

"No, Care. It’s different," I replied, my voice filled with urgency. "I can’t feel her. She’s not just gone, she’s… blocked me out." I swallowed, a cold chill sweeping through me as I admitted it out loud. "It’s like she doesn’t want me to find her."

Caroline’s face fell, her worry deepening. "Why would she shut you out?" she asked, searching my face. "Did something happen before you left her? Did you two fight?"

I shook my head, raking my hand through my hair in frustration. "No. At least… I don’t think so. I mean, I told her to stay by the car and that’s it. I wanted her to stay safe. She knows that." I felt a pang of guilt twist in my chest. Has my protectiveness come off the wrong way? Had I made her feel unwanted…like I didn’t want to involve her in my life?

But that wasn’t the case! I just wanted her to stay away from Damien!

"I don’t understand," I murmured, more to myself than to her. "She was right there. She knew I’d come back for her. This doesn’t make any sense."

"Maybe she didn’t realize you’d take so long," Caroline said softly, her tone gentle yet probing. "Or maybe… she thought she needed to find you?"

The thought hit me hard, sinking into my mind like a stone. What if she had gone looking for me? What if, instead of waiting like I’d asked, she’d felt compelled to follow? And what if she had seen or heard something that gave her the wrong idea? The guilt tightened its hold, flooding me with fresh determination.

"I can’t just stand here. I have to find her," I said, my voice raw, desperate.

Caroline opened her mouth to respond, but instead, a sharp gasp tore from her lips. Her face contorted in pain, and she clutched her head as if trying to hold herself together. My heart jumped into my throat.

"Caroline!" I reached out instinctively, gripping her shoulders, trying to steady her. "What’s going on? Are you okay? Talk to me."

She looked up, her face pale and strained, as if she was struggling to hold back a scream. "It’s... it’s like my head... it feels like it’s being crushed from the inside out. I don’t understand," she managed to whisper, her voice trembling. She winced again, her fingers digging into her temples.

"Then you need to get to the pack healer, now," I urged, trying to guide her toward the stadium exit. "This isn't normal, Caroline. You shouldn’t be dealing with this on your own—"

But she pulled back, shaking her head, her eyes squeezed shut as if fighting the agony in her mind. "No... no, it’s not me, Caleb," she said softly, her voice tight with pain but filled with a strange certainty.

"What do you mean, it’s not you?" I asked, confusion slicing through my worry. "Caroline, you’re the one in pain right now. You’re—"

"It’s not me," she interrupted, her eyes finally opening to meet mine, and there was something dark, almost haunted in her gaze. "It’s not my pain. It’s hers. It’s Aurora’s. I... I know it." Her words hung heavy between us, and I felt a shiver crawl up my spine as the reality of her connection with Aurora became painfully, disturbingly clear.

I stared at Caroline, my mind scrambling to make sense of what was happening. "Caroline, please. You’re talking like you’re...connected to her or something. How do you feel Aurora’s pain?” I asked, the confusion seeping through my voice as I tried to keep up with whatever was unfolding around us.

She was acting off, her focus distant, as if she were tuning into some frequency I couldn't hear, and it was starting to unnerve me. I felt useless, just standing here, watching her sense things I couldn’t.

Her eyes flicked to mine, urgent, her expression almost pained. “I don’t have time to explain, Caleb. It’s complicated, but I need you to trust me. Aurora’s in trouble. We have to hurry to the parking lot—now!” She grabbed my arm, her grip strong and determined, but it was the look in her eyes that propelled me into action.

Without another word, I bent down, scooped Caroline up in my arms, and started rushing towards the parking lot. Every instinct screamed at me to move faster, to get to Aurora. But something about Caroline’s tone, the way she looked at me, made my pulse quicken even more.

"Are you sure she's there? How do you know that?" I panted as I rounded the corner, practically sprinting to the exit, hoping that no one noticed us.

“Yes! Caleb, just trust me, please,” she whispered, her voice nearly breaking as her eyes darted ahead, focusing on the parking lot.

“We’re almost there. Just a little farther.” I tried to push out the questions spinning in my head. There would be time later to ask how she knew, why she was so certain. Right now, I have to get to Aurora.

As we burst through the doors into the parking lot, my footsteps slowed, and I felt Caroline’s grip tighten on my shoulder. My blood turned to ice at the sight before me. There, lying on the cold ground, was Aurora—and Damien. He was leaning over her, his mouth pressed against hers in a way that made my stomach twist. I froze, my heart hammering in my chest as the reality of the scene settled in.

“What…what the hell is going on?” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. Caroline slid out of my arms, her face a mixture of shock and something else I couldn’t quite place. I turned to face Damien, the anger and confusion rising.

Was this some kind of sick payback? I didn’t know, but my wolf howled in my head, thirsty for blood.