Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 312

Caleb’s P.O.V

I bid Shane goodnight, the words feeling hollow as I stepped out of the elevator and onto my floor. The weight of the day was still fresh, lingering in my muscles, but I pushed it down, determined to get to Aurora. She was my sanctuary, my calm in the chaos, and I couldn’t get to her soon enough.

As I made my way down the hallway, I felt a strange sense of urgency, a pull to reach her, to hold her close. When I reached her door, it was slightly ajar, the dim light spilling out into the hall. My heart quickened as I stepped inside, and there, sitting on the edge of the bed, were Aurora and Caroline.

Caroline’s gaze met mine immediately, and I saw the flicker of something in her eyes—a quiet tension, something I couldn’t quite place. But she didn’t say a word. She just stood up, gave a polite nod, and without a word left the room, her footsteps barely making a sound as she disappeared down the hall.

The moment the door closed behind her, I turned to Aurora. She was already rising to meet me, her eyes wide with something close to worry, but it softened the moment I stepped into her arms. Without thinking, I pulled her into a tight hug, my body instinctively wrapping around hers as if I could somehow protect her from everything. She clung to me just as tightly, her arms tightening around my back as though she feared that if she let go, I’d slip away.

"Caleb," she whispered, her voice trembling just enough that I felt it all the way through. "You’re really here."

I pulled back just enough to look her in the eyes, searching for the answer I already knew but wanted to see in her face. "Of course, I am. I’m not going anywhere." But even as I said the words, a part of me feared that something might take me away from her—something I couldn’t control.

Her hands reached up to gently trace the outline of my face, her fingers lightly brushing my cheek, before she moved to my hands. She searched them, as if looking for any sign of injury, any mark that might give away the truth of what had happened. Her touch was gentle, but I could feel the worry pulsing beneath it, a worry that I couldn’t erase no matter how much I reassured her.

"I’m fine, Aurora," I told her softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I showered and healed myself before coming here. I didn’t want you to see me like that."

She looked at me, still unconvinced, her brow furrowing as she hesitated. "Did you get hurt during the fight?" Her voice was a mixture of concern and hesitation, as if she was afraid of what I might say.

I sighed, pulling her back into my arms, feeling the warmth of her against me. "Almost everyone got a few scratches," I said lightly, brushing it off as though it was nothing. "But it’s nothing, really. Nothing worth worrying about."

Her arms tightened around me once more, but I could feel her still searching my face, looking for any sign of something I wasn’t telling her. I leaned down, brushing my lips against her ear, my voice low and teasing. "If you want, I can strip for you to show you that I’m completely unharmed," I said with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood, hoping to see her smile.

Aurora pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of exasperation and something softer, her lips curling into a reluctant smile. "You’re impossible, Caleb," she muttered, shaking her head, but I could see the relief in her eyes, the way her body relaxed as she leaned back into me, the tension leaving her shoulders.

I held her a little tighter, savoring the moment, knowing that this—right here—was the only thing that mattered. The rest of the world could wait.

Aurora looked up at me again, her face softening as she gave me that familiar, warm smile. But I could tell something was gnawing at her. I couldn’t blame her; we’d been through so much together, and yet, there were still so many things I’d kept locked away.