Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 280

Caleb’s P.O.V

I watched as Caroline’s expression turned serious, her eyes narrowing with concern as she leaned forward, crossing her arms over her chest. “Caleb, listen to me,” she said, her voice firm but not unkind.

“Whatever you do, you need to tell Aurora first. You don’t want this blowing up in your face later. You know what happened before, with me and my DNA tests—she’ll want to hear it from you, not through whispers.” 

I let out a slow breath, nodding because she was right. Aurora wasn’t the type to take surprises lightly, especially when it came to something this sensitive, and after what had happened before with the revelation about her father. But at the same time, I wasn’t ready to go to her with half a story, not when I barely understood what I was even feeling.

“I know,” I admitted, rubbing a hand over my face, the weight of it all pressing down on my chest. “But you have to understand, Caroline, I don’t want to bring this to her unless I have real proof. I mean, just like you, I have my suspicions, but what if I’m wrong? What if I stir up something that doesn't need to be touched?” 

Caroline studied me, her fingers twitching nervously, a habit she had whenever she was deep in thought. “What exactly did Shane tell you?” she finally asked, her brows drawing together. “What made you suddenly start questioning all of this?” 

I shifted on my feet, glancing toward the packhouse in the distant, as if looking out at the quiet night would somehow settle the unease in my chest. “It wasn’t much,” I admitted. “Shane just said that Ashton and Maggie give him a strange feeling. And if I’m being honest… I’ve felt it too.” 

Caroline’s eyes flickered with something unreadable. “A strange feeling?” she echoed, her voice softer now, more cautious.

I nodded. “Yeah. Nothing concrete, nothing I can put my finger on. It’s just this… off feeling. Like something about them doesn’t add up. And I know that’s not enough to make accusations, but Shane feels it too, and if we’re both feeling it, then—” 

“Then there’s probably something there,” she finished for me, sighing as she ran a hand through her hair. “Damn it, Caleb. This isn’t small. After what we went through with Harmona and Lucas, we need to be cautious about everything we feel.” 

“I know,” I said again, my voice quieter this time. “That’s why I need to be sure before I go to Aurora. If I drop this on her now with nothing but a gut feeling, it’s just going to make things worse. Especially since she gets along with her half-siblings so well. She feels a bond to them because of their shared experiences.” 

Caroline exhaled sharply, leaning back in her chair. “Alright,” she said after a moment. “Then we find proof. But be careful, Caleb. If something really is off with Ashton and Maggie, then we don’t know what we’re walking into.” 

I met her gaze, my chest tightening with the weight of it all. “Yeah,” I murmured. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

I let out a slow breath, watching Caroline as she stared off into the distance, her expression thoughtful but weary. The dim glow from the moonlight cast soft shadows on her face, making her look even more exhausted than she probably felt. I hesitated for a moment before speaking, knowing that this wasn’t a conversation she’d want to have, but it was one we needed. 

“You know,” I started, my voice lower than usual, as if speaking too loudly would wake up the ghosts of our past, “Aurora still has nightmares.” I didn’t look at her right away, instead focusing on the way my fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on the bark of the forest giant.

“It’s been months since we got her back, and she’s still waking up in the middle of the night, shaking, gasping for air like she can’t breathe. She won’t say what they’re about, but we both know.” I finally turned to look at Caroline, hoping she would understand the weight of what I was trying to say.  After all, she was Aurora’s Lunar Sister, maybe she could feel it too?

She sighed, her arms crossing over her chest, her lips pressing together for a second before she spoke. “I know, Caleb. I feel her fear, her confusion,” she said, her tone softer now, but there was exhaustion there too. “But Maggie and Ashton… they’ve adapted so fast. Have you noticed? They don’t even talk about it anymore. They laugh, they joke. It’s like it never happened…like they hadn't spent half a decade being groomed by a psychotic monster.”

There was something cautious in her voice, like she was trying to convince herself as much as she was trying to convince me.