Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 256

Aurora’s P.O.V

The next morning, the air was crisp with the lingering chill of dawn as I walked side by side with Ashton, Maggie, and Avery, heading toward the woods behind the packhouse. The nerves twisting in my stomach weren’t just mine—I could feel the same anxious energy radiating from the others. This was our first session of magic, a moment that had been building up for days. Yet, we weren’t alone. Guards surrounded the area, their sharp eyes scanning the trees, ensuring our safety. It was a silent but clear reminder that Alpha Camden was going to make sure that history didn’t repeat itself. 

Caleb walked slightly ahead, his usual stoic expression in place, but I caught the way his shoulders were just a little tense. Jade walked beside him, his fingers twitching at his sides. Caroline and Luna Maya followed closely, their presence adding an undeniable weight to the moment. Luna Maya’s face was unreadable, but there was something in her gaze—something watchful, like she was waiting to see what we would become. But her presence was more reassuring than I would like to let on.

As we reached the clearing, the sight before us made my breath hitch. Alice was already there, seated cross-legged on a mat, completely at ease in the middle of this isolated spot. Several other mats were arranged in a circle around her, the ground beneath them still damp with morning dew. She looked up as we approached, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. 

"Right on time," she said, her voice carrying in the quiet of the woods. "Take a seat, all of you." 

For a moment, none of us moved. There was an unspoken hesitation, a shared uncertainty about what was to come. Then, Ashton exhaled sharply and stepped forward, settling onto one of the mats. Maggie followed, biting her lip, and Avery took the spot next to her, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. I hesitated before finally sitting down, crossing my legs beneath me. 

Alice’s gaze flickered over each of us before she leaned forward slightly. "Before we begin, let’s start with something simple—introductions. I want each of you to tell me who you are, beyond just your name. Magic is deeply tied to identity, to the essence of who we are. So, let’s start there." 

“My name is Alice Stevenson,” she said, her tone measured, firm, yet strangely comforting. “I am a full witch, thirty-four years of age, and I hail from the Dahlia Coven.” 

Her introduction was simple, but it held power. Dahlia Coven. The name alone sent a ripple through me. Their witches were known for their discipline, their knowledge, and their unrelenting dedication to their craft. If Alice was from there, then whatever she was about to teach us was something that would push us beyond anything we’d known before. 

A beat of silence stretched between us. Then, to my surprise, Ashton spoke first. 

"Ashton," he said, his voice steady but clipped. "I’m nineteen years old and I’m a full witch. I used to live with my single mom until she died of overdose five years ago and…he…took me in." He paused, as if debating whether to say more, then exhaled through his nose. "I don’t know much about magic. But I know it’s a part of me, and I need to learn how to control it." 

Alice nodded, her expression unreadable as she turned to Maggie. 

Maggie swallowed. "I’m Maggie. Half-witch, half-fae. My mother was gifted, but she—" She hesitated, looking away for a moment. "She never got to teach me. So, I guess…I’m here to figure out what she never got to show me." 

That made me pause. Half-fae. I’d never met someone like her before, but I knew enough about fae magic to understand that it didn’t play by the same rules as witches’. It was wild, unpredictable, and dangerously alluring. She was bound to be powerful in ways none of us could predict. 

Avery shifted beside her, then straightened her shoulders. "I’m Avery. Half-witch, half-wiccan." There was something heavy in her voice, something unsaid. "I—I don’t really…remember much of my family…I just…I know that I want to learn magic." 

That was interesting. Wiccans were different from traditional witches, their magic rooted more in nature, in balance and harmony. If she was a mix of both, that meant her magic might work in ways even she didn’t fully understand yet. 

Then, all eyes were on me. I could feel the weight of their gazes, but Alice’s was the heaviest. She wasn’t just waiting for me to speak—she was waiting to see if I understood myself. 

I swallowed hard before forcing the words out. "Aurora," I said, my voice quieter than I intended. "I…I don’t know what I’m supposed to be. According to the records, I’m half-witch, half-priestess, and I don’t even know what that means. But…all I do know, is that I don’t ever want to be vulnerable again. I want to learn magic, and I want to be able to defend myself in times of danger." 

A small smile flickered across Alice’s face. "Good," she said softly. "That’s a start." 

The air around us felt different, heavier somehow, as if the woods themselves had been listening. And maybe they had. Because for the first time since arriving, I wasn’t just nervous. 

I was ready.

When the last introduction was done, Alice let a moment of silence settle over us before she finally spoke again. “You are all unique creations,” she said, looking at each of us as if she could see right into our souls. “You are not just witches. You are something more. And because of that, your powers will vary vastly. Some of you will find that your magic does not follow the rules others abide by. Some of you may struggle to control it. Others may feel as if it is not there at all. But make no mistake—your power exists. You just have to find it.” 

The air suddenly felt heavier, charged with an unseen force. My pulse quickened, anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. 

Alice took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. “Your first lesson,” she said, her voice like a steady current guiding us forward, “will be to discover the spark within yourselves. Magic is not just spells and rituals. It is a part of you. It breathes with you, moves through you. You must learn to reach for it, to call upon it, to bring it forward. Only then will you understand what you are truly capable of.” 

A shiver ran down my spine. This was it. This was the moment everything changed.