Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 272

Aurora’s P.O.V

The morning sun streamed through the wide dining hall windows, casting a warm glow over the breakfast table as the scent of freshly brewed coffee and syrup-drenched pancakes filled the air. I sat between Caleb and Avery, my fingers wrapped around the warm ceramic mug in front of me, the steam rising up and curling around my face. The atmosphere was relaxed, a contrast to last night’s tension, and for once, I allowed myself to bask in the normalcy of it all.

Shane slid into the seat across from me, his movements cautious yet fluid. He nodded in greeting, his dark eyes scanning the group. Caleb, ever the one to bridge gaps, took it upon himself to introduce him. "Shane, this is Ashton, Maggie, and Avery," he said, gesturing to each of them in turn.

"Guys, this is Shane."

Shane offered a small smile, polite but guarded. "Hey," he said simply, his voice even but carrying an unmistakable edge of distance. It was clear he was still adjusting, still figuring out where he fit in all of this. I watched as Ashton gave a nod in return, Maggie smiled warmly, and Avery, ever the curious one, tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing him before giving a small wave. The exchange felt brief yet loaded with unspoken words, an invisible boundary hovering between them.

We were just settling into breakfast, the clinking of silverware against plates filling the air, when a sudden, sharp crash rang out behind us. The noise cut through the morning chatter like a knife, silencing the room in an instant. My heart lurched as I turned in the direction of the sound, my gaze landing on Mia and Laura standing just a few feet away. Mia’s tray lay on the floor, a mess of food splattered around her feet, her hands still frozen mid-air as if she had just realized what she had done.

"Mia?" I asked, my voice laced with concern as I pushed my chair back and stood up slightly.

"Are you okay?"

But Mia didn’t respond. Her wide eyes weren’t on me, nor were they on the mess at her feet. Instead, they were locked onto Shane. I followed her gaze, my chest tightening when I realized something was wrong. Shane sat stiffly, his head bowed, his hands clenched into fists on the table. His entire posture screamed guilt.

Laura was the first to break the silence. "Mia," she said cautiously, her voice gentle yet firm, as if trying to keep her steady.

But Mia barely seemed to hear her. Her breath was shallow, and I could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands trembled slightly at her sides. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut—this wasn’t just about a spilled tray of food. This was about Shane. About something between them that none of us knew about.

A heavy, unspoken weight settled over the table. My eyes darted between them, my mind racing with questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to. What had happened between them? Why did Shane look like he was carrying the weight of a thousand regrets? And why did Mia look like she had just seen a ghost?

I nudged Caleb with my elbow, keeping my voice low as I leaned in closer. "Did Shane tell Mia that he was back?" My eyes flickered toward Shane, who was still sitting with his head bowed, hoping to avoid a confrontation that seemed inevitable. 

Caleb sighed, rubbing his temple as if he already knew where this was going. "I've been with him all evening," he muttered. "He hasn't had the chance to tell her." 

I sucked in a sharp breath, my stomach twisting. That meant Mia had no idea. And knowing her, she wasn't going to take this well. My fears were confirmed when I heard the sound of footsteps storming across the cafeteria floor, the sharp click of heels hitting tile like gunshots. Mia was heading straight for Shane, her expression a mix of anger and hurt that made my chest tighten. 

"Are you kidding me, Shane?" she practically yelled, her voice carrying over the murmurs of students already turning their heads to watch. "You’ve been back and you didn’t tell me?" Her voice cracked slightly at the end, but the fury in her eyes overshadowed any vulnerability.

"You just stopped contacting me two months ago—no explanation, nothing! And now you're here, acting like nothing happened?" 

Shane barely had time to react before whispers spread like wildfire through the cafeteria. People leaned in, exchanged glances, smirks, and hushed words passing between them. I could hear someone say.

"This is getting interesting," while another muttered, "I knew there was drama between them."

Mia, however, didn't seem to care about the attention. She was livid. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?" she snapped. "I thought—" She cut herself off, shaking her head violently before cursing under her breath. And then, before I could stop her, she lunged at him. 

"Mia, stop!" Laura, who had been standing beside her, reacted immediately, grabbing her arm and trying to pull her back. But Mia was stronger, her rage fueling her, and she nearly broke free. I could see the way Shane tensed, his jaw clenching, but he didn't move. He didn't fight back. He just sat there, almost as if he thought he deserved whatever was coming. 

I shot up from my seat, exchanging a quick glance with Caroline, who had just entered the dining room with Jade, and we both rushed forward. "Mia, come on!" I grabbed one of her arms while Caroline took the other, struggling to restrain her.

"We’ll explain everything, but you need to calm down first." 

Mia thrashed in our hold, but she was breathing hard now, her eyes shining—not just with anger, but something deeper. Hurt. Betrayal. 

"Let me go," she spat, her voice trembling. "I just want to hear it from him. I just—" Her voice cracked again, and for a second, I thought she might break down completely. 

Caroline softened her grip, her voice gentler. "You will," she assured Mia. "Just… not here." She gestured around us. The entire cafeteria was staring, waiting for more drama to unfold. Some of them were even holding their phones, probably recording. 

Mia swallowed hard, her hands balling into fists before she finally relented, her body going slack.

"Fine," she muttered, through the fire in her eyes had not dimmed. "But he better have a damn good explanation." 

Caroline and I shared a quick glance before leading her out of the cafeteria, the weight of a hundred eyes following us. Whatever Shane had done, whatever reason he had for ghosting Mia, one thing was certain—this was far from over.