Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 279

Caleb’s P.O.V

The conversation with my father had left me with a lot to think about. His words weighed heavily on my mind, and I needed some air, some space to clear my head. I stepped outside, inhaling the cool night breeze, letting it fill my lungs and chase away the lingering tension. My feet instinctively led me towards the gazebo—a place that held countless memories with Aurora. But tonight, for some reason, I wasn’t in the mood for company, even the ghost of her presence.

Maybe it was because I was doing something behind her back that made me unable to face her. Maybe it was a mix of concern and guilt. Or maybe, I just couldn’t face even her memories right now, knowing that what we unearthed, could change the very foundation of her trust.

I wanted solitude, a moment to myself where I could think without distractions. So instead of heading straight there, I took a detour, walking towards the woods that bordered the estate, letting the silence and the darkness settle over me like a comforting cloak. 

Just as I was about to turn back, movement caught my eye. I froze, narrowing my gaze, watching as a figure emerged from the dense trees, their body low, movements sharp and precise, like they were trying to avoid being seen. My brows furrowed in curiosity until the moonlight illuminated her face—Caroline.

She was glancing around, her posture stiff, her eyes darting left and right like a criminal trying to avoid getting caught. My lips curled into a smirk. What the hell was she up to? 

I moved quickly, positioning myself behind a thick tree trunk, pressing my back against the rough bark. I knew Caroline well enough to understand that she was too distracted, too focused on staying hidden to catch my scent. I waited, letting the tension build, listening to the faint sound of her uneven breathing. Then, just as she stepped past the tree I was hiding behind, I sprang out. 

"Boo!" I shouted, grinning wickedly. 

Caroline let out a sharp, startled yelp, nearly tripping over her own feet as she stumbled back, eyes wide with sheer terror. The way her entire body jerked, the way she clutched her chest like her heart was about to explode—I lost it. Laughter erupted from my throat, deep and uncontrollable, my shoulders shaking as I tried—and failed—to stifle my amusement. 

"You—" Caroline gasped, struggling to catch her breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "You absolute—stupid—" She cut herself off with a growl and in the next second, her hand shot out, smacking my shoulder with enough force to make me stagger slightly. 

"Ow," I complained, still grinning. "Is that any way to thank me for testing your reflexes?" 

"Testing my—?" Caroline practically snarled, eyes blazing. "You nearly gave me a heart attack, Caleb!" 

I shrugged, unfazed by her rage. "And yet, you're still standing. See? Great reflexes." 

She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples as if I had physically caused her a migraine. "I swear to god, one day, I am going to kill you." 

I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest. "And yet, here I am. Alive and thriving." 

Caroline shot me a glare so fierce I half-expected her to throw a punch this time. Instead, she huffed, turning away as if dismissing me entirely. But I wasn’t about to let her off the hook so easily. 

"So, tell me," I drawled, taking a slow, deliberate step closer. "What exactly were you doing sneaking out of the woods like some wanted fugitive? Planning something devious? Hiding a body?" 

Her shoulders stiffened, and for a moment, she didn’t respond. That only intrigued me further. 

"None of your business," she muttered, avoiding my gaze. 

"Oh, now I’m really interested," I mused. "Come on, Caroline. Spill it. What’s got you acting all shady?" 

She turned to face me, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I wasn’t acting shady." 

I raised an eyebrow. "Caroline, you looked like a criminal trying to flee the scene of a crime." 

Her eyes darted away again, and I caught the way she bit her lower lip, a nervous tick I had come to recognize over the years. Whatever she had been doing, she didn’t want me to know. Which only made me more determined to find out.

I leaned against the large tree that I had been hiding behind, arms crossed over my chest, watching Caroline, who had just tried—and failed—to sneak past me. “Seriously, Care? You look like you just came back after a wild night of—wait a damn minute!”

The moment she caught my gaze, she froze, eyes widening slightly, before she straightened her spine as if she could will herself into looking completely innocent. Too bad for her, I took a good whiff and could immediately scent Damien all over her. It was faint but unmistakable. A slow smirk tugged at my lips as I let out a low hum, shaking my head. 

"All this time, you've been teasing me and Aurora, running your mouth like you’ve got something over us," I said, tilting my head as I watched the way her cheeks flushed under the dim moonlight. "And yet, here you are, sneaking in at this hour, smelling like him." 

Caroline's lips parted, then snapped shut as she let out a sharp breath through her nose. "It’s none of your damn business," she shot back, but I could see the way her fingers clenched at her sides, the way she shifted ever so slightly, as if debating whether to stand her ground or bolt. 

I chuckled, pushing off the tree and stepping closer. "Oh, but see, that’s where you’re wrong. If you ever tease me or Aurora again, then it’ll become a pack business." I let the words sink in, watching as she narrowed her eyes at me. "Especially since I just caught you sneaking in like some guilty little pup." 

Caroline huffed, rolling her eyes as if she wasn’t the slightest bit fazed, but the color in her cheeks betrayed her. "You are such a pain, Caleb," she muttered before crossing her arms and glaring at me. "What the hell are you doing here so late, then? Lurking around like some creepy sentry?" 

The smirk on my lips faded as my expression grew serious. "I’ve been thinking," I admitted, dragging a hand through my hair. "Something Shane said earlier... it’s been gnawing at me, and I can’t shake this feeling that something is wrong about this whole situation with Aurora’s new half-siblings." 

Caroline's brows drew together, the teasing edge vanishing from her face as well. "What do you mean?" she asked, and this time, her voice was softer, cautious. 

I let out a slow breath, staring past her toward the forest, where the shadows stretched long under the moon. "I don’t know yet" I admitted, my gut twisting with unease. "But I intend to find out."