Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 143

Aurora’s P.O.V

The waiting car gleamed in the driveway, its polished surface reflecting the warm morning sunlight. I hesitated for a second before stepping forward, trying to steady my nerves.

The door of the car opened, and that’s when I saw her—Caroline’s mother, Moira. She was stunning, her blonde hair catching the light like spun gold, her green eyes sharp and assessing. I smiled politely, but as her gaze landed on me, I caught the slight falter in her expression, a twitch at the corner of her mouth that she quickly masked with a practiced smile. 

“Caroline,” she began warmly, her voice lilting, “and Aurora, darling, you look lovely as ever.” Then her eyes slid to me, and the warmth dimmed. “And why are you here?” 

Before I could say a word, Caroline jumped in, her voice a little too cheerful. “Mom, this is—” 

“I invited her,” Maya interrupted, stepping forward confidently. “Aurora’s birthday is coming up too, and I thought it would be nice for her to join us today.” 

Moira’s gaze flicked between Maya and me, her lips pressed into a thin line before curving into another tight smile.

“How thoughtful,” she said, though her tone didn’t match the words. 

I stayed quiet, unsure if I should say anything. The air was thick with tension, but Caroline, bless her, tried to diffuse it.

“We should get going, right? The boutique’s waiting, and I can’t wait to see what dresses they have!” 

As we all slid into the car, I found myself sitting awkwardly in the backseat next to Moira. She didn’t say much to me, her focus on the road ahead, but every now and then, I could feel her gaze flit toward me, sharp and curious. Caroline and Maya kept the conversation flowing, mostly about dresses and plans for the party, and I nodded along, pretending I wasn’t hyper-aware of Moira’s obvious discomfort with my presence. 

When we arrived at the boutique, the tension hadn’t eased. Inside, the racks were filled with stunning gowns, fabrics shimmering under the soft lighting. Caroline flitted excitedly between racks, pulling out dresses and holding them up for approval. Maya followed suit, offering her opinions with enthusiasm, but I hung back, acutely aware of Moira’s presence lingering just a little too close for comfort. 

At one point, she finally turned to me, her voice cool but polite. “So, Aurora, what brings you here today? I wasn’t aware you and Caroline were… close.” 

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my tone light. “Maya thought it would be nice for me to join. She mentioned the birthday, and I figured it’d be fun to help pick out the dress.” 

Since I didn’t have any other defenses prepared, I went along with what explanation Maya had offered Moira earlier today.

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Maya can be… generous,” she said, her tone dripping with something I couldn’t quite place. “Well, let’s make sure this day is perfect for Caroline, shall we?” 

I nodded, forcing a smile, and decided then and there that I’d stay out of her way as much as possible. For Caroline’s sake.

As I finally looked around the shop, I felt like I had been transported to another world. The air seemed different here—lighter, almost shimmering with possibilities. Ball gowns in every conceivable shape and color lined the walls like a rainbow of unattainable dreams. Dresses I had only ever seen in movies hung delicately on golden racks, their sequins catching the light in a way that made them sparkle like tiny stars.

My heart sank, and unease settled deep in my chest. This wasn’t my world. This was the realm of the wealthy, where a single dress probably cost more than I’d ever earned in a year. My fingers brushed against the fabric of one gown, and even that felt too indulgent, like I was tainting something pure with my touch.

“I can’t afford to be in here,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the soft classical music playing in the background. My instinct was to turn around, to escape before someone could figure out I didn’t belong. But then Maya’s hand landed gently on my shoulder, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Aurora,” she said, her voice light, yet firm, like she’d been expecting my reaction. “I brought you here for a reason.”

“A reason?” I repeated, my eyes wide as I turned to face her. Maya, with her effortless grace and confidence, didn’t even seem fazed by the sheer opulence surrounding us. She looked as if she owned the place—and maybe she did, knowing her.

“Yes, a reason,” she said, smiling as she walked over to a rack of gowns and began flipping through them like she was browsing a clearance sale. “You’ve been wearing the same tired outfits since I’ve known you. It’s time for an upgrade.”

I blinked, unsure if I should feel offended or grateful. “Maya, these dresses… I can’t—”

“You can,” she interrupted, turning to face me with a gown draped over her arm. It was a deep shade of emerald, the kind of dress that would make anyone look like royalty. “Because I’m gifting it to you.”

“What?” I nearly choked on the word. “No, no way. Maya, I can’t let you spend—”

“Don’t start,” she cut me off again, her eyes narrowing in warning. “I said I’m buying it, and I meant it. Pick whichever one you want. Consider it an early birthday present or whatever excuse you need to accept it.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the determination in her expression made it clear there was no point. “You can’t just—Maya, these dresses cost thousands of dollars!”

“So?” she said with a shrug, holding up another gown that looked like it had been dipped in molten gold. “You’re worth it.”

As I stood there, frozen, staring at the extravagant dresses Maya had pulled out, I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out, “I can’t even imagine wearing these! They’re so—so over the top. This isn’t me, Maya.”

My voice wavered, a mix of disbelief and anxiety creeping in. I didn’t want to offend her, but these dresses screamed someone else’s life, someone bold and confident—someone I wasn’t sure I could ever be.

Maya’s eyes softened, though her tone remained firm. “Aurora, you need to start imagining. Stop thinking so low of yourself.” She stepped closer, resting a hand on my shoulder, her grip steady, reassuring.

“You’re Caleb’s mate. Do you even realize what that means? You carry not just his name but the respect and responsibility that comes with it. This isn’t about playing dress-up. It’s about showing everyone that you belong at his side. Great responsibilities can’t be handled with just wits alone—you’ve got to look the part.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words got tangled in my throat. I had no idea how to respond to that. Maya didn’t give me a chance to argue, anyway. “And don’t even get me started on school,” she continued, her voice growing more animated.

“You’re not walking in there like some wallflower anymore. I’ll get you new clothes—sharp, bold pieces—so everyone knows who they’re dealing with. They’ll think twice before messing with you.”

I felt my chest tighten, her words sinking in. It wasn’t just the pressure of looking the part—it was the weight of everyone’s expectations. I barely knew who I was anymore, let alone how I was supposed to act or look.

“Maya, this is too much,” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can—”

“You can,” she interrupted firmly, her gaze unyielding. “And you will.”

Before I could spiral any further, Caroline appeared at my side, her warm smile cutting through some of the tension.

“Don’t worry, Aurora,” she said gently. “We’ll make it fun. Come on, let’s pick something together.” She gestured toward the racks of dresses that Maya had pointed us to, her enthusiasm a stark contrast to my hesitation.

Feeling overwhelmed, I followed them, the vibrant fabrics blurring in front of me as I tried to imagine myself in any of them. “I don’t even know where to start,” I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else.

“Start by trusting us,” Maya said, pulling out a sleek, deep-green dress and holding it up against me.

“See? This would look amazing on you. You’ve got to stop overthinking. Let’s do this, Aurora. One step at a time.”