Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 255

Aurora’s P.O.V

Almost two months had passed, yet the weight of everything that had happened still pressed heavily on me. The Harmona incident had left wounds that hadn’t even begun to scab over, and I knew Caleb felt the same. Every time Lucas or Harmona’s names were mentioned, every time I closed my eyes for too long, I could still feel the suffocating presence of that nightmare lurking just behind my ribs. So when Alpha Camden called Caleb, Ashton, and me into his office to discuss something related to a witch, I felt my stomach tighten with unease.

As we stepped inside, the scent of aged wood and parchment filled the air, the Alpha’s office always carrying an air of authority. But today, there was something else—a presence I immediately recognized as unfamiliar magic. My eyes landed on a woman sitting comfortably in one of the chairs opposite Alpha Camden’s desk. She was in her mid-thirties, with warm, smiling eyes and an aura that didn’t seem threatening at first glance. But still, my guard shot up. Caleb must’ve felt the same because I saw his shoulders stiffen beside me.

"Ashton, Aurora, Caleb," Alpha Camden greeted, his tone measured, as if already anticipating our wariness. "I want you to meet Alice."

The woman—Alice—stood up with a bright smile, her energy completely at odds with the heavy tension thickening the room. "Hi, darlings! You don’t have to look so serious, I promise I don’t bite," she said with a light laugh, but neither Caleb nor I so much as cracked a smile. I could feel my pulse ticking faster in my throat. A witch. Another witch. My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Alpha Camden exhaled, clearly sensing the way the three of us remained on edge. "I know what you’re thinking. But Alice is not Harmona." His voice was firm but understanding. "She comes from a highly respected coven. One well-known among supernaturals. If anything, she’s been in such high demand that it took me this long to get her here."

Alice tilted her head slightly, her eyes studying us. There was no challenge in her gaze, no malice. Just curiosity. "I understand your hesitation," she said, her voice softer this time. "Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of encounters with witches who misuse their magic, and I have no patience for it either. I teach young witches how to wield their power responsibly, which is exactly why Camden reached out to me."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. But after everything we had been through, trust wasn’t something I could hand out so easily. "And we’re just supposed to take your word for it?" I found myself asking, my voice coming out sharper than I intended. Caleb didn’t say anything, but the way his jaw locked told me he was thinking the same thing.

Alice didn’t flinch. Instead, she let out a breath and gave me a knowing smile, as if she’d dealt with this kind of skepticism a hundred times before. "No, not just my word," she admitted. "I’d rather prove it to you."

Her response threw me off. I expected defensiveness, maybe even frustration, but instead, she seemed patient. Ashton, who had been the quietest of us all, finally spoke. "How exactly do you plan to do that?"

Alice grinned. "By sticking around. Helping where I can. And by making sure you see for yourselves that I’m nothing like whoever hurt you." Her words were light, but there was an understanding in them, a quiet acknowledgment that she knew we had been burned before.

I swallowed hard, feeling the slightest crack in my resolve. I wasn’t ready to trust her. I wasn’t ready to welcome another witch into our lives, not after the hell Harmona put us through. But as I glanced at Alpha Camden, who had never once put us in unnecessary danger, I realized he wouldn’t have brought Alice here if he wasn’t certain.

That didn’t mean I had to like it.

Caleb exhaled sharply beside me. "We’ll see," he muttered.

Alice simply smiled. "That’s all I ask."

I stood there, my arms crossed tightly over my chest, watching as Alice faced us with a determined yet cautious expression. There was something in her eyes—a quiet resignation, perhaps—like she had already prepared herself for our doubts, our distrust. Her voice was steady, though, as she finally spoke. 

“I know everything that happened with Harmona,” she said, her gaze flickering between Ashton and me before settling somewhere in the distance. “And I know that because of that, you have no reason to trust me. You don’t have to like me either. I wouldn’t expect you to. But all I ask is that you give me a chance.” She let out a slow breath, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “A chance to teach you how to use your magic. A chance to help you find your powers.” 

Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. I could feel Ashton’s hesitation beside me, the way his posture stiffened ever so slightly. And I couldn’t blame him. Every part of me was screaming to be cautious, to not let my guard down so easily. But there was also another part of me—one that longed to understand, to control the magic that had stirred inside me ever since everything had changed. 

I swallowed hard before speaking. “Can the adults be present? And my friends?” My voice didn’t waver, though my heart pounded a little faster in my chest. I needed reassurance. If I was going to take this risk, I didn’t want to do it alone. 

Alpha Camden didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” he said firmly. His dark eyes met mine, unwavering.

“The sessions will take place in the woods. Either Luna Maya or I will be there at all times, along with plenty of guards. You won’t be alone.” His tone left no room for argument, and for a moment, I felt the weight on my chest lighten just a little. 

I turned to Ashton, searching his face for any sign of what he was thinking. He met my gaze, and though there was still uncertainty in his eyes, I saw something else, too—a resolve that mirrored my own. This wasn’t just about trust. It was about survival. About power. About finally taking control of something that had felt so uncontrollable for so long. 

He exhaled sharply, then gave a small nod. “Alright,” he said, his voice firm. “We’ll do it.” 

And just like that, the decision was made. But even as I agreed, a lingering sense of unease curled in my stomach. Because trusting Alice wasn’t going to be easy. And stepping into this unknown—learning the magic that had always felt like a mystery to me—was an even bigger leap. 

But I had already lost so much. If there was even the smallest chance that this could help me, help us, then I had no choice but to take it.