Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 285

Aurora’s P.O.V

Once I am showered and dressed in something comfortable, the exhaustion from the day seems to settle into my bones. Still, my stomach grumbles, reminding me that I haven't eaten much. The thought of grabbing some snacks and a glass of juice sounds appealing, so I decide to make my way to the cafeteria.

Before heading there, I pause outside Riley’s room, thinking it would be nice to have some company. He usually doesn’t pass up an opportunity for a snack, and I know he likes the chocolate muffins they sometimes have. But when I push the door open slightly and peek inside, I find his bed empty. My brows furrow. Where could he be?

I remind myself that he has friends from the pack, little ones from his kindergarten class that he plays with whenever he gets the chance. Maybe he’s with them, running around and making mischief as usual. With that thought, I close the door and make my way to the cafeteria alone. The hallways are quieter at this hour, and the fluorescent lights hum softly above me. It’s peaceful, though my mind keeps drifting to Riley, wondering where exactly he ran off to.

As I step into the cafeteria, the smell of warm bread and something sweet lingers in the air. My gaze sweeps over the room, and that’s when I spot him. Riley sits at one of the tables, happily eating ice cream, his little feet swinging beneath the chair. Sitting beside him is Millie—Mia’s younger sister—who is just as delighted with her dessert. Their small giggles mix with the soft chatter around the room, and my eyes shift to Mia, who sits across from them, watching over them like a quiet guardian.

I stop in my tracks, observing the scene before me. There’s something about the way Mia interacts with the kids that holds my attention. She’s gentle, patient, her expression soft in a way I don’t usually see. She listens intently when Millie speaks, nodding at all the right moments, and when Riley gets a little too enthusiastic with his spoon, nearly knocking his bowl over, she reaches out instinctively, steadying it before it can tip. There’s no annoyance in her features, no sharpness—just warmth. It’s an odd sight, considering how guarded she usually is around others. 

I remain standing to the side, unnoticed, simply watching as Mia wipes a bit of chocolate ice cream off Millie’s chin with a napkin. Millie giggles, nudging Riley. 

“You got some on your nose too,” Millie teases, pointing at him. 

Riley’s eyes widen as he crosses them, trying to look down at his own nose. “Where?” 

Mia chuckles softly, shaking her head as she reaches over with another napkin. “Hold still, Riley. Let me get it.” 

He obeys, letting her wipe the chocolate away, though he huffs dramatically. “I was savin’ that for later.” 

Millie giggles again, and even Mia’s lips twitch as if she’s holding back a full smile. “Sure you were,” she murmurs before crumpling the napkin. 

Something about the entire exchange makes my chest tighten. It’s… nice. It’s warm. Seeing Mia like this—seeing Riley happy, comfortable—it makes me hesitate. I should walk over, join them, but for some reason, I linger. Maybe because I don’t want to disturb whatever soft moment is unfolding in front of me. 

So, I simply stay where I am, watching…until my stomach grumbles loud enough and makes the decision for me. Sighing, I head to the table where all the food is, and grab a plate, before walking back to Mia’s table. I’d packed extra so I could offer some to Mia as well.

I set the bottle of juice down first, the condensation cooling my fingertips, before placing the plate of finger sandwiches beside it. The scent of fresh bread and butter wafted up as I pulled out the chair across from Mia and settled in. She looked up with a grateful smile, brushing a strand of brunette hair behind her ear before reaching for a sandwich. 

"Thanks, Aurora," she said, unwrapping one delicately and taking a small bite. "How’s training been going?" 

I exhaled, slumping into the chair. "It’s just begun, so I can’t really say if it’s going well or not. But I feel like I’ve been run over by a stampede." I stretched my arms, feeling the ache deep in my muscles.

"If this is just the start, I don’t even want to imagine what’s coming next." 

Mia chuckled, nodding in understanding. "That’s how it always is in the beginning. It gets better." She glanced toward the side, her gaze softening. “It’s the same for us as well. All wolves undergo training to learn to control ourselves and to defend our territory.”

“That’s impressive.” I nodded, my eyes wide with wonder. I guess we learn something new every day.

I followed her gaze to where Riley sat, his little fingers tapping against the wooden table as he sipped from a cup. His hair bounced slightly as he shifted in his seat, looking both bored and slightly annoyed, though I had no idea why. 

"Thanks for bringing Riley here for a snack. He barely eats when he’s too busy running around." 

“Oh, I didn’t bring him here. That was all Millie."

I turned back to Mia, arching an eyebrow.

Mia grinned, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yeah, she practically dragged him here after they were done playing. Before that, she announced that she was going to marry Riley when they grew up."