Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 251

Aurora’s P.O.V

For a moment, he just looked at me, and I could see the way his gaze softened, like he understood everything I wasn’t saying. His expression held that quiet intensity that always managed to unnerve me because it meant he saw right through me. 

“Aurora,” he said slowly, his voice steady, “a room is just a room. It doesn’t matter where I sleep, as long as I know Riley is okay and that you’re okay. That’s what matters.” 

I swallowed, emotions warring inside me. Why did he always have to say things like that? Things that made my heart clench and my walls crack just a little bit more? I looked away, focusing on the sound of the waves in the distance.

I had thought this would be simple. Just a small conversation, an adjustment—one that would make things easier for both of us. I glanced up at him, watching the way the dim light caught the sharp angles of his face, the quiet patience in his eyes. He was waiting for me to speak. 

"I was thinking," I began softly, hesitating only for a moment before pressing on. "Maybe we could… spend some nights in each other’s rooms. Not every night, just… sometimes." I forced a small smile, trying to ease the weight of what I was asking. "That way, we still have our space, and Riley won’t feel left out either." 

Caleb didn’t react immediately. He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. The silence stretched between us, thick and almost suffocating, until finally, he exhaled and nodded.

"That makes sense," he said, his voice even. "I like that idea." 

Relief washed over me. For some reason, I had expected resistance—not because Caleb wouldn’t want this, but because things between us had always been a delicate balance. And then, just as I was about to relax, he spoke again. 

"But Aurora…" His voice was quieter this time, careful, almost hesitant. I looked at him, and that was when I saw it—the question forming in his eyes before he even said the words. "When are you going to tell Riley?" 

My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t need to ask what he meant. I knew. 

The air between us shifted, the warmth from just seconds ago disappearing like a flame snuffed out too soon. I swallowed, my hands curling into fists against my sides. "Tell Riley what?" I asked, even though we both knew I wasn’t really asking. 

Caleb’s gaze didn’t waver. "That Ashton and the others are your half-siblings." 

I felt my entire body tense, a storm brewing in my chest that I didn’t know how to contain. My heart pounded against my ribs, a quiet but insistent reminder that this moment was inevitable, no matter how much I had tried to avoid it. 

"I—" I started, but no words came. I looked away, my nails digging into my palms. "I don’t know," I admitted finally, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Caleb sat up, his arms dropping to his sides. "Aurora, he deserves to know. You can’t keep this from him forever. And kids his age…are overly curious." 

"I know that," I snapped, sharper than I intended. I forced myself to take a breath, to push down the frustration that wasn’t truly aimed at him. "I know," I repeated, softer this time. "But it’s not that simple, Caleb." 

"Why isn’t it?" He asked, his brows drawing together. "He loves you. He trusts you. Hiding this—" He shook his head. "It’s only going to hurt him in the long run, especially if he accidentally gets to know it from someone else. And we can’t stop the pack from talking…" 

I looked at him then, really looked at him, and the weight of what he was saying pressed down on me like an unbearable force. He was right. And that was the worst part. 

"I’m scared," I admitted, my voice raw. "What if he feels betrayed? What if he thinks I’ve been lying to him this whole time? I didn’t want to keep it from him, but every time I tried to imagine telling him, I just—" I swallowed, my throat tight. "I can’t." 

Caleb sighed, his features softening. He reached out then, his fingers brushing against mine before closing around my hand. His touch was grounding, steady. "Aurora," he murmured, his thumb tracing slow circles against my skin. "It’s alright…I know you want to take your time, but you must feed him information slowly but surely since he is so young. Trust me, he loves you. He’ll understand." 

I felt my eyes sting, but I blinked quickly, refusing to let the tears fall. I wished I had his certainty. I wished I could believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that Riley would look at me the same way after he knew the truth. 

But the truth had a way of changing things. 

I squeezed his hand, holding on as if that alone could keep everything from spiraling out of control. "I’ll tell him," I whispered, though the words felt like glass in my throat. "Just… not yet."