Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 130

Aurora’s P.O.V

The first rays of sunlight seeped into the room, warm and golden, coaxing me out of the remnants of my sleep. As I stirred, I became aware of something firm and steady holding me. Blinking a few times, I slowly tilted my head upwards and found myself staring into Caleb’s eyes. He was already awake, watching me with a gentle expression that made my heart ache in a way I couldn’t quite describe.

"You're awake," he said softly, his voice carrying a warmth that made my chest tighten.

I swallowed, my throat still scratchy from the night before. "Have you been awake this whole time?" I asked, moving myself closer to his warmth.

He nodded, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. "I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to keep watch over you in case you had another nightmare. I didn’t want to take any chances, not after everything that happened."

My breath hitched, and a lump formed in my throat. He had stayed up for me? I reached out instinctively, wrapping my arms around him as tightly as I could.

"Thank you," I murmured against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "You didn’t have to do that."

He pulled me closer, his chin resting lightly on top of my head. "I wanted to," he replied simply, and that was enough to send butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

When I finally loosened my hold on him, my eyes wandered across the room. That’s when I noticed Caroline and Damien, sprawled out on a makeshift bed on the floor. They were tangled up in each other, their limbs a chaotic knot, but their faces were serene, unbothered by the chaos of the world outside.

A smile tugged at my lips, but the images from last night rushed back to me, sharp and unrelenting. I turned back to Caleb, my brows furrowing.

"What happened last night?" I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "I mean... before everything just—changed."

His expression darkened slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might not answer. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"A lot," he said finally. "Too much, actually. But you don’t have to worry about it now. You're safe, and that’s what matters."

I frowned, not entirely satisfied with his answer. Instead, I leaned back into him, letting his warmth chase away the lingering chill in my chest.

"Okay," I said softly, letting the conversation drift for now. "Okay."

My mind drifted back to the game, when Caleb and Damien had been fighting on the field, and then he had disappeared with him and Caroline, telling me to stay back so that he could drive me home.

It had been a risk, following them to the back of the stadium like that, but I couldn’t help it. The ache in my chest was unbearable, like a knot tightening with every passing second. Caroline’s pain wasn’t just hers—it resonated in me, raw and suffocating. I needed to know what was going on. But when I turned the corner, my world tilted.

There she was, crumpled against Caleb, her face buried in his chest as sobs wracked her frame. His arms were around her, steady, comforting. My breath hitched, and before I could stop myself, I was already walking away, my stomach twisting with emotions I couldn’t even begin to name.

I wanted to deny it, to shrug it off and pretend I hadn’t seen anything. But the words spilled out before I could stop them.

“I followed you,” I said, keeping my gaze fixed on the windows. “I saw you and Caroline... behind the stadium.”

There was a pause, and I dared to glance up. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

“Why didn’t you stay back?” he repeated slowly. “Why did you want to follow us?”

“Because I felt it,” I admitted, my voice trembling. “Caroline’s pain, her confusion—it was like my heart was hurting for her. I didn’t understand it, Caleb. But when I reached the place…I saw you holding her…” I trailed off, shame flooding through me. “I didn’t know what to think.”

He stared at me for a moment, his jaw tightening. “Aurora,” he said finally, his tone measured, “did you… mistake the situation for something else?”

I couldn’t answer. My silence hung heavy between us, louder than any words I could have spoken. My shame rooted me to the spot, and I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek.

His sigh was soft but carried the weight of his emotions. He moved closer, lowering his voice.

“You don’t have to be confused or afraid, Aurora. You’re the only one in my heart—always. Caroline is my friend, my family even, but she’s not…” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “She’s not my mate. I don’t have any romantic feeling for her; I never did and I never will.”

I blinked, trying to process his words. “But then—”

“She’s Damien’s mate,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “That’s why she’s hurting. Damien’s the future Alpha of our neighboring pack. She’s afraid of what that means—afraid of leaving us, leaving everything she’s ever known behind. She came to me because she didn’t know how to face it alone.”

I looked at him, the knot in my chest slowly unraveling. “You’re sure?”

His hand found mine, his grip steady and reassuring. “I’m sure, Aurora. You never have to doubt where my heart is. It’s with you. Always.”

I sighed heavily, a wave of relief washing over me as I turned to Caleb. "You know, I understand her well," I started, looking over at the floor where Damien and Caroline lay.

“The fear of having to completely uproot yourself from everything you know, from the comfort and familiarity, just to move somewhere else... somewhere you don’t know a soul except for one person." My hands fidgeted as I spoke, my emotions spilling out.

"It’s terrifying, isn’t it? That kind of dependence, that kind of gamble. All you have is hope that they’ll catch you when you fall."

Caleb stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on me, and I couldn’t tell if he was actually listening or if his mind had wandered somewhere else.

"And, I guess…that’s the thing with Caroline and Damien. He’s the only anchor she would have in that scenario. The thought of being with him—it’s not just about love, Caleb. It’s about trust and risking everything for it. That’s... hard to admit."

I let out a shaky laugh, shaking my head as I tried to pull myself together. "I’m sorry for misunderstanding the situation earlier," I said, forcing myself to meet his eyes.

"I know I’ve been difficult about all of this, but—" I stopped mid-sentence when I noticed his expression. He wasn’t looking at me with annoyance or indifference. Instead, his brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes were filled with something else entirely—concentration. As if he was trying to figure something out.

"Caleb?" I tilted my head, searching his face. "What’s with the look? Did I say something weird?" He didn’t answer right away, and the silence was almost deafening. I tried again. "If you’ve got something to say, now’s the time. Don’t leave me hanging here."

He finally blinked, but his frown didn’t ease. "It’s not that," he said slowly, as if testing the words in his mouth before letting them out. "I’m just... thinking. Do you really feel that way? About the Damien situation, about all of it?"

"Of course, I do," I replied quickly, almost defensive. "Why would I lie about that?"

“I know you’re not lying, I just…thing is…it’s exactly what Caroline said last night, before—everything.”