Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 170

Aurora’s P.O.V

I let go of Caleb’s embrace, my face a mask of eerie calm. Every detail he revealed sank into me, one after another, like stones dropping into a bottomless well. Inside, my mind was in turmoil, spiraling between shock, pain, and a strange, unexpected sense of relief. I said nothing at first, letting him finish, even when it felt like his words were clawing at old wounds I thought I’d buried. Caroline’s panic… it had brought everything to the surface. It had given me the truth I didn’t know I needed, even though it burned to hear it.  

Caleb’s breathing was even, his gaze searching mine, I drew in a steady breath. “When the sun rises tomorrow,” I said quietly, my voice measured. “I’ll apologize to Caroline.” 

His brows furrowed immediately. “Apologize? Aurora, what do you mean?” 

“I mean exactly what I said, Caleb. I’ll apologize. For what happened. For what she went through even when I had no clue about it. Because… I don’t want this to go on any longer. I don’t have the strength for it anymore.” My voice cracked, just slightly, but I forced it steady again.

“And maybe she doesn’t either.” 

“But that’s—” 

“She doesn’t need to know,” I interrupted, my tone firm now. “Not about my father. Not about why my mother betrayed him. She doesn’t need that part of the truth, Caleb. It wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t fix anything.” I felt his eyes on me, heavy and searching, but I refused to meet them. “It’s better this way. For all of us. Maybe some mysteries are meant to be left unsolved.” 

He leaned forward, his voice dropping as he pressed, “Aurora, are you really sure about this? Are you really sure you want to end this all? What if—”

“Yes, I do,” I cut him off again, sharper this time. My hands clenched into fists in my lap, nails biting into my palms.

“When the sun rises tomorrow, I’ll apologize to her, and then… this is over. It has to be. I don’t want to carry this anymore. I can’t.” 

There was a long silence. Caleb stared at me, his expression unreadable, and for a moment I wondered if he’d try to argue. Part of me almost hoped he would. But instead, he sighed and leaned back, his voice low. “You’ve thought this through, haven’t you?” 

I nodded, finally meeting his eyes. “Yes.” 

Even if my heart was screaming otherwise.

I felt like the weight of the world had been pressing against my chest for so long that I forgot what it meant to breathe freely. Clinging to the past—every scar, every betrayal, every fleeting moment of happiness—had only brought more chaos to my doorstep. And worse, it kept hurting the people I cared about. I couldn’t let it happen anymore.

The realization hit me like a slap, harsh but necessary. All I wanted now was peace. Just peace. Not revenge, not answers, not the twisted comfort of revisiting old wounds. I wanted to leave it all behind, to carve out a future where my life wasn’t dictated by shadows of the past.

“You’re different today,” Caleb’s voice cut through my thoughts as we walked back from the terrace. He wasn’t smiling, but there was a lightness in his expression that hadn’t been there in weeks.

“It’s good to see that... whatever this was, it hasn’t broken you. If anything, you seem... stronger.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. I wanted to laugh, to tell him that “strong” was the last thing I felt, but there was no point.

“I’ve just decided,” I said, my voice steady even though my insides were a mess, “that holding on to the past isn’t worth it. It keeps pulling me down, dragging everyone around me into the same pit. I can’t do it anymore. I won’t.”

He nodded, his gaze searching mine as if he was trying to make sure I really meant it. “You deserve peace, Aurora. More than anyone I know.” Then, after a pause, he added. “Can I escort you back to your room? I mean, just to be sure you’re okay.”

I shook my head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of my lips. “Thanks, but I want to be alone for now.”

Caleb hesitated, then stepped aside. “Alright. Just... if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

“Always,” I murmured before turning down the hall. I walked slowly, each step echoing in the quiet. My room was just ahead, the door slightly ajar, but instead of going inside, I found myself veering to the right. I didn’t question it. My feet carried me to Riley’s room as if they knew what I needed better than my mind did.

The door creaked softly as I pushed it open. Riley was asleep, curled up in his bed, his chest rising and falling in a peaceful rhythm that I envied. The bedside lamp cast a warm glow over the room, highlighting the coloring books scattered across his study table, crayons lying in a chaotic rainbow heap. I stepped inside, careful not to wake him, and stood there for a moment, watching him.

He looked so small, so untouched by the burdens that felt insurmountable to me. I walked over to the table and started gathering the coloring books and crayons, stacking them neatly. It wasn’t much, but it felt like the least I could do—for him, for myself. I sat down on the edge of the bed and rested my head in my hands. For the first time in forever, I let the silence be enough.

My mind ran wild, as it always did at night, replaying everything that had brought us here. The chaos, the loss, the heartache. And yet, amidst all of it, Riley had been my constant. My only normal. My anchor.

Sighing, I tiptoed over and pulled back the blanket gently, sliding in beside him. His warmth was immediate, comforting in a way nothing else could be.

"You okay, bud?" I whispered, even though I knew he wouldn’t answer. He was deep in his dreams, oblivious to the storm raging outside these walls and inside my mind.

I wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. He stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent, and I couldn’t help but smile. "You don’t even know, do you?" I muttered softly, resting my cheek against the top of his head.

"How much you mean to me. How much I’d do to keep you safe." My voice broke on the last word, but he didn’t stir. I didn’t expect him to. I was used to having these conversations in the quiet, speaking words I couldn’t say during the day.

"You’re all I’ve got now," I continued, barely above a whisper. "It doesn’t matter that we’re half-siblings. Doesn’t matter what anyone says about that. I’ve been here for you since the day you were born. I changed your diapers, fed you, stayed up all night when you were sick. You don’t call me 'Mom,' but let’s be real, I’m the closest thing you’ve ever had to one. And no truth can take that away from us, Riley."

My fingers brushed through his hair, the soft strands slipping between them as I let out a shaky breath.

"I just... I wish things could stay like this forever. Just us. Just normal. No more running, no more looking over my shoulder. You deserve better than this life, Riley. Hell, I don’t even know if I can keep giving you what you need, but I’m gonna try. I’ll always try. You hear me, kiddo?"

There was no answer, of course, but the steady rhythm of his breathing was enough. It was calming, soothing in a way that made my own heart slow down. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let my eyes close. Riley shifted slightly, pressing closer, and I held him tighter, letting the exhaustion of the day finally take over.

No nightmares came. Just the sound of Riley’s breathing and the soft hum of silence. For now, that was enough. For now, he was enough.