Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 254

Jade’s P.O.V

For a moment, nothing. Then, a hesitant rustling, followed by the soft sound of footsteps against the wooden floor. A girl emerged from the shadows, meeting my eyes hesitantly. I took in her delicate features, the way she clutched the fabric of her sweater as if it would shield her from whatever fate she thought awaited her. Recognition settled in. Maggie. One of the new girls. Aurora’s half-sibling. The rigidness in my shoulders eased, though I remained guarded. 

"Maggie?" I exhaled, watching her closely. "What the hell are you doing out here at this time of night?" My voice was softer now, but there was still a weight behind my words. 

She hesitated, shifting on her feet before finally speaking. "I—I found this spot a couple of days ago while walking back to our compound." Her voice wavered slightly, but she held my gaze. "It’s peaceful here. I like it." 

I studied her for a moment, watching the way she glanced around, as if expecting someone to leap from the darkness. She wasn’t lying. The gazebo was peaceful, nestled between towering trees, a haven untouched by the chaos of pack life. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck before finally nodding. 

"Yeah," I admitted, my tone softer now. "It is." 

She looked surprised that I agreed. Most people in the pack avoided wandering around alone at night, but I understood the appeal of silence, of a place to breathe. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, though she still looked unsure of where this conversation was going. 

"I’m Jade, by the way," I said, watching for her reaction. 

A small, tentative smile flickered across her face. "I know," she murmured. "Everyone talks about you." 

I arched a brow at that, not entirely sure I wanted to know what was being said. But for now, I let it go. I had been ready to deal with a threat, and instead, I found a scared girl looking for a quiet escape. I could relate to that more than I cared to admit.

I watched as Maggie spoke, her voice carrying a soft uncertainty, the kind that made me feel like she had been holding back for a while. “I noticed you among Aurora’s friends,” she admitted, her gaze flickering toward me before shifting away, as if she wasn’t sure she should even be saying this. “But I never really got the chance to meet any of you personally. I guess… I’m still adjusting.” Her fingers toyed with the hem of her sleeve, a nervous habit that made her seem smaller, like she didn’t quite belong yet. It made something in me ache. 

I hated that she felt this way—like she was on the outside looking in, waiting for someone to notice. I had seen her around, always lingering near Aurora but never quite stepping into the group fully, like she wasn’t sure if she was welcome. And the worst part was, none of us had really done anything to change that. Maybe we had just assumed she was fine, that she didn’t need anyone reaching out. But hearing it from her, seeing the way she hesitated, made me realize how wrong that assumption was. 

I gave her a small smile, trying to make her feel at ease. “You know,” I started, shifting slightly so I was fully facing her, “you should come have breakfast with us.” The words came naturally, like they had been waiting for me to say them all along. “That way, you’ll get to see Aurora more often, and you’ll meet the rest of us too.” 

Maggie’s eyes widened just a fraction, as if she hadn’t expected that. And then, slowly, the corners of her lips lifted into a genuine smile. “Really? You’d want that?” 

“Of course,” I said without hesitation. “You’re Aurora’s friend, and that makes you one of us. Besides, the more the merrier, right?” 

She let out a small laugh, a lightness in her expression that hadn’t been there before. “That actually sounds… really nice.” Then, as if gathering her courage, she looked up at me again.

I watched as Maggie hesitated, her fingers twisting the hem of her oversized sweater, her gaze flickering to me and then away just as quickly. There was a quiet tremor in her voice, uncertainty laced in the way she spoke, like she was afraid I’d reject her.

“Would you… maybe want to be my friend?” she asked, her words barely above a whisper. Hope clashed with fear in her wide eyes, as if she was bracing herself for the worst. And I knew why. After everything she had been through—trapped, isolated with that monster Lucas—it wasn’t easy for her to reach out. It wasn’t easy for her to trust.

Something twisted in my gut, guilt creeping in even though I wasn’t the one who hurt her. But I had seen the damage. The way she flinched at sudden movements. The way she hesitated before speaking, like she was weighing the consequences of her words. She had spent so much time alone, drowning in fear, and now she was standing in front of me, asking for something that should have been simple but, for her, felt monumental. I couldn’t say no.

“Yeah,” I said, offering her a small, reassuring smile. “Of course, Maggie. I’ll be your friend. And if you ever need anything, you can come to me, alright?”

Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face before something softer took its place. Relief. Gratitude. Like she hadn’t really expected me to say yes. “Really?” she breathed, and I could hear the quiet disbelief in her tone.

I nodded. “Really.”

Maggie let out a shaky breath, nodding back as she smiled—a real smile, small but genuine.

“Thank you, Jade,” she said, and for the first time, her voice didn’t sound so unsure. “I—I should head back to my room.”

I didn’t stop her. She needed space, and I understood that. So I just watched as she turned away, her footsteps soft against the grass, her shoulders not as tense as before. And as she walked down the road, disappearing into the shadows, I felt something unfamiliar settle in my chest. Warm. Steady. A feeling I hadn’t expected, but one I didn’t mind. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something good.