Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 269

Caleb’s P.O.V

I leaned against the back of the couch, my fingers lazily tracing the rim of my glass, watching as Caroline and Jade laughed over some inside joke I had missed. The games room was warm with the scent of alcohol and mischief, the air thick with the kind of ease that only came when old friends gathered after too long apart.

My gaze drifted to Shane, who sat at the far end of the room, his fingers wrapped tightly around his drink. He hadn’t said much, just watched us with this quiet intensity, like he was here but not fully settled. Like something was still weighing him down. 

I cleared my throat, leaning forward slightly. “How have you been, man?” My voice was casual, but getting past everything that had happened in the past wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Still, I had given Aurora my word that I would try my best. 

Shane exhaled sharply, a half-smirk tugging at his lips. “Didn’t get into trouble, if that’s what you’re asking.” His voice was light, but there was an edge to it, something heavier underneath. He took a slow sip of his drink, his fingers tightening around the glass. “But... It wasn't easy. I felt like I was going crazy being away. My wolf—” He shook his head, jaw clenching for a second before continuing. “He wasn’t doing great. Being cut off from the pack, from everyone—it messed with me more than I thought it would.” 

I frowned, my grip on my drink tightening slightly. I had suspected as much. Shane had always been the kind of guy who thrived on connection, on the unspoken understanding that came with being surrounded by his own. Isolation wasn’t something he handled well. 

“They let you come back, though,” I pointed out, my voice softer now. “That has to mean something.” 

Shane nodded, exhaling slowly. “Yeah. I have until the end of the year before I have to go back and take some tests—prove I’m stable, that I can handle myself without... falling apart.” His chuckle was dry, almost bitter, and he ran a hand through his hair. “But for now, I guess I’m here. I’m better than I was.” 

Jade and Caroline had fallen quiet, their easy laughter from earlier replaced by something more subdued as they listened. Caroline shifted forward, setting her drink down on the table.

I watched Caroline intently as she stood up from her seat, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. There was something about the way she carried herself today—steadier, more resolute, as if she had made peace with something internally. When she finally spoke, her voice was softer than I expected, lacking the bite I had braced for. 

"I'm glad you're doing better, Shane," she said, and for a brief moment, a flicker of warmth crossed her face. "I can even forgive you for what happened in the past." Her words settled over us like a cautious embrace, one that came with unspoken conditions. "But from now on, you need to understand something—it’s going to be difficult for anyone to trust you easily again." 

Shane swallowed hard, nodding slowly. I knew this already, but hearing it aloud—especially from Caroline—made it feel heavier, more real. Just as I was about to respond, Shane let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if he had heard this before. 

"That’s exactly what Aurora said," he murmured, his amusement laced with something deeper, something unreadable. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair before giving me a pointed look. "And yeah, I've already heard about the whole Lunar Sister thing. Still trying to wrap my head around it, though. It’s... unnerving." 

Jade, who had been quiet up until now, took a step forward, his gaze locking onto Shane’s. There was a knowing look in his eyes, something steady and unwavering. "There’s still a lot you don’t know," he told him, his voice even, measured. "But don’t worry—I’ll fill you in slowly." He gave him a small, reassuring smile before continuing. "For now, I’m just glad you’re alright. Mia is going to be so relieved to see you." 

The second the words left his mouth, the air in the room shifted. Shane paled, his entire demeanor stiffening. His usual bravado drained from his face, replaced by something that looked suspiciously like dread. 

"I haven’t told Mia I was coming back," he admitted, his voice quieter now, more hesitant. His fingers twitched at his side, as if debating whether to clenched into fists. "And I have no plans on seeing her. Not right now." 

His words hung heavily between us, thick with implications, and I knew immediately that this was something deeper than what he was letting on. Jade’s expression darkened slightly, his lips pressing together as he studied Shane carefully, likely trying to gauge what exactly he was hiding. Caroline, on the other hand, exhaled sharply, clearly unimpressed.

"Shane," she started, her tone edging toward exasperation. "We’re all in the same pack. You can’t just avoid her forever." 

"I’m not avoiding her," he shot back, but the defensive edge in his voice made it clear that even he didn’t fully believe his own words. 

Jade sighed, rubbing at his temple as he exchanged a glance with me. There was no mistaking it—this was far from over.

I stared at Shane, my brows furrowing as I tried to make sense of what he was saying. "Why not?" I asked, my voice firm, pushing for an answer. "I thought you and Mia were together. You guys were in love!" It wasn’t just something I assumed—it was something I saw.

The way Mia looked at him when she thought no one was watching, the way her entire body leaned toward him as if he was gravity itself. It was obvious to anyone with a set of eyes. So why the hell was he acting like it had meant nothing? 

Shane scoffed, shaking his head with a dry, humorless chuckle. "Love?" he echoed, as if the word itself was ridiculous. "No, Caleb. We slept around, sure. But love was never part of the deal." His voice was so casual, so dismissive, that for a second, I thought I’d misheard him. 

Caroline took a sharp breath, her eyes narrowing in disbelief. "Maybe that was just you," she said, her tone cutting, as she crossed her arms. "Because Mia most definitely is in love with you." 

Shane’s expression didn’t change, but I caught the flicker of something in his eyes—something like hesitation, something like doubt. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same indifferent mask he always wore. 

Before I could even say anything, before I could even demand that he face the truth, Shane exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. "It doesn’t matter," he muttered, his voice quieter now, more strained. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, as if forcing himself to say the words. And then, finally, he looked up, his gaze meeting mine. "Because it’s impossible between me and Mia." 

I frowned. "Why would it be—"

"Because," he cut in, his voice a little more forceful this time. His fingers curled into fists at his sides as if he was holding something back. And then, in a voice that was barely above a whisper, he said, "I found my mate." 

The room fell silent. 

The words hung between us, heavy, undeniable. 

And for the first time, Shane looked like he hated saying them out loud.