Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 142

Aurora’s P.O.V

It was early morning when we reached the gates. The air was still, save for the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional bird call. I stood with Caleb, Jade, and Caroline, the four of us clustered together, watching as Damien walked toward us. His steps were deliberate, his expression calm, but there was something in his eyes—a flicker of emotion he tried to keep buried. 

"You're really leaving, huh?" Caleb broke the silence, crossing his arms over his chest. His voice was casual, and I was sure that he had meant it as a tease, but I could see the seriousness in his eyes. Caleb and Damien’s relationship had been on the mend. 

Damien nodded, stopping just a few feet away from us. "I have to. The arrangements are in place, and staying any longer would only complicate things." 

Jade glanced at Caroline, his brow furrowed slightly. "You’ll be back, though, right? After all, we’re now part of a family." 

Damien’s gaze shifted to Caroline, and for a moment, it felt like time paused. "I’ll be back," he said softly, his words directed entirely at her. "But I’d like to visit more often. If that’s okay with you." 

Caroline hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "It’s... okay. But you need to be discreet. Avoid places my parents might go. They’re—" She stopped, biting her lip before continuing. "You know how they are." 

Damien gave a small nod, understanding flashing in his eyes. "I’ll be careful. I promise." His voice carried an unspoken assurance that seemed to put her at ease, even if only a little. 

Caleb cleared his throat, breaking the moment. "Well, just don’t go getting yourself killed out there. That’d be a waste of all the drama you stirred up." 

Damien smirked faintly. "I’ll keep that in mind." 

The distant sound of a car approaching made my heart tighten. I didn’t want to admit it, but I’d miss him. Even though I didn’t know him all that well, Damien had a way of making things... interesting. 

He turned to me, his gaze steady. "Aurora, I’ll see you on your birthday." 

My eyes widened slightly. "My birthday?" It hadn’t even crossed my mind. 

"Yeah," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "June, right? I haven’t forgotten." 

As the words sank in, a realization hit me like a wave. It *was* June. And soon, both Caroline and I would have our birthdays. Time had moved so fast that I hadn’t even noticed. 

"Right," I muttered, feeling a mix of surprise and embarrassment. "I guess that’s coming up." 

Damien smiled, a rare softness in his expression. "I’ll be there. Just try not to get into too much trouble until then." 

The car pulled up, the driver stepping out to load Damien’s bags. He turned back to us one last time, his gaze lingering briefly on each of us before settling on Caroline.

"Take care, all of you. And Caroline... thank you." 

She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "You too." 

With that, Damien climbed into the car, the door shutting behind him. We stood there in silence as the car drove away, disappearing down the road. 

It wasn’t until the sound of the engine faded completely that I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

"Well, that was... something." 

Caleb chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah. Something." 

But my mind was elsewhere, spinning with thoughts of birthdays, plans, and the strange way things had a tendency to shift recently.

Birthdays had never been my thing. The thought of celebrating my own made my stomach churn. Not because I didn’t want to be celebrated but because I didn’t know how. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cut a cake or even received a gift. It felt pointless, like putting up a show for an audience that didn’t exist. And it had always been a sore topic at my household.

But Caroline’s birthday was different. She deserved more than just a cupcake and a pat on the back. She deserved the kind of celebration I’d never had, and I was determined to make it special. 

“Caleb might know what she’d like,” I mumbled to myself, pacing back and forth in my room. I had planned to ask him later, maybe after dinner, and sneak in the fact that I was ready to join school. The thought of going to school felt like diving headfirst into cold water, but Caroline had been relentless about it.

“It’ll be good for you,” she’d said a million times. Maybe she was right. Maybe it was time I stopped hiding. 

Just as I was rehearsing how to approach Caleb without sounding desperate, Caroline barged into my room, her face glowing like the sun on a winter morning. “Aurora! Mom and I are going dress shopping, and you’re coming with us,” she declared, not leaving room for arguments. 

“Dress shopping? For what?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. Her birthday was a week away, and she was probably planning her outfit for the party I hadn’t figured out yet. 

“For my birthday, duh.” Caroline rolled her eyes but then softened. “Come on, it’ll be fun. And besides, you’ve never met my mom. It’s about time.” 

Meeting her mom felt like walking into a lion’s den. I’d heard enough whispers to know she didn’t like me. She thought I was the reason Caroline wasn’t Luna. As if I’d planned any of this. Still, I couldn’t say no. Caroline’s excitement was contagious, and despite my nerves, I didn’t want to disappoint her. 

“Alright, fine. But if she glares at me, I’m blaming you,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. 

Caroline laughed, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the door. “Oh, she’ll glare, alright. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure she doesn’t eat you alive.” 

As we walked to her car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking into a battlefield disguised as a boutique. But for Caroline, I’d face it. I just hoped Caleb would have some ideas later because I had no clue how to make this birthday unforgettable.

“I don’t know, Caroline,” I said, hesitating as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. I saw the car in the distance, and a woman standing beside it, tapping her feet impatiently. But even from this far, I couldn’t help but shiver at the aura she gave off.

“Are you sure it’ll be okay for me to tag along? I mean, what if I’m just... intruding or something?” I hated how unsure I sounded, but I couldn’t help it. The thought of being the odd one out, third-wheeling Caroline’s plans, made me second-guess everything.

Caroline didn’t even blink before responding, her tone breezy and full of that natural confidence she always seemed to have. “Aurora, seriously? You’re not intruding. Trust me, it’s not just us, anyway. Maya’s coming too.” She said it like it was supposed to make everything better, but it only left me with more questions. 

“Maya?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why is she coming?” Not that I had anything against Maya—I loved her to bits. But she wasn’t exactly someone I’d peg as a dress-shopping enthusiast. 

“Because her and my mom are, like, best friends,” Caroline explained with a wave of her hand, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “And honestly, thank God for that. It means I won’t have to go through the endless racks of dresses on my own. Do you have any idea how boring that is?” She rolled her eyes dramatically before nudging me with her elbow.

“So, you see, it’s not just you. Maya and I’ll both be there, and you’ll make it even better. Problem solved. No need to overthink this.” 

I let out a slow breath, still feeling a little unsure but unwilling to argue any further. “Okay,” I said finally, the word dragging out of me like I’d just made the toughest decision of my life. “I’ll come. But if it gets too crazy, don’t blame me if I suddenly disappear into the nearest coffee shop.” 

Caroline laughed, throwing her arm around my shoulders like she’d already won. “Deal. And if it gets too crazy for me, I’ll join you.”