Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 317

Aurora’s P.O.V

The room felt suffocating as the steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound that filled the air. I watched Riley, lying motionless on the bed, his face pale, eyes closed. The doctor had assured me that he was physically unharmed, but I could still feel the weight of the worry pressing on my chest. He had explained that the shock might have been enough to make him pass out, but he wanted to keep him in the infirmary for a bit, just to monitor him until he regained consciousness. He’d left us with those words, giving us little comfort but enough of an excuse to stay close.

Ashton stood at the foot of Riley's bed, his arms crossed, his jaw tight. I could tell he was just as worried as I was, but he was trying to keep it together, the way he always did. He had that cool, detached demeanor that only seemed to make my nerves worse. I felt the weight of the moment, of everything that had led to this, pressing down on me like an anchor. I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t escape the consequences of what I’d done, of what Avery had done, and now, of what Riley was facing.

The silence between us stretched, the tension palpable. I shifted uneasily, my hands trembling as I gripped the edge of the chair. I couldn’t just sit here and wait. I couldn’t wait for Riley to wake up and ask me why. Why did you lie to me, Aurora? Why didn’t you tell me the truth?

Ashton finally broke the silence, his voice low, almost cautious. "What happened, Aurora? Why was Riley running like that? Why did he look so... shaken?"

I swallowed hard, the weight of my guilt almost choking me. I didn’t want to tell him. I didn’t want to admit it, but I knew I had to. Ashton deserved to know. He was my friend, my confidante, my brother, and I could feel the storm of emotions swirling inside me, threatening to spill over. But I couldn’t keep it in any longer. Not after what happened.

"Avery told him," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Avery told him that she’s her half-sister and that I’m related to her as well. And he... he didn’t take it well. At all."

Ashton froze, his eyes widening in shock. He took a step forward, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Wait... Avery told him that?" He shook his head, as if trying to make sense of it. "That’s... that’s a lot to drop on someone so young, especially like that."

I nodded, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. "I know. I know it was wrong. I told her to be careful, to wait, but she just... she couldn’t help herself. She thought it would be okay. She thought it would be fine, but Riley... he didn’t think so." I felt a lump form in my throat, and I had to fight to keep my voice steady. "He ran out of here like his world was crumbling. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to say. I just... I just couldn’t stop him."

Ashton ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in his movements. "That’s not right, Aurora. Avery shouldn’t have told him like that. It’s not her place to just—"

"But it’s too late, Ashton," I interrupted, my voice sharp, louder than I intended. "It’s too late to undo it now. I can’t change what’s happened. All I can do is try to fix it. I have to tell Riley the truth, but—" I stopped myself, the reality of the situation sinking in. "How am I supposed to tell him the truth when it’s going to hurt him so much?"

Ashton’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You don’t have to tell him everything, Aurora. You don’t have to tell him the truth, at least not all of it. Just tell him that Avery considers you a sister and that you’re not really family. There’s no need for you to bring this up. It’ll only break Riley’s heart more."

I stared at him, torn. I could see the sincerity in his eyes, the care that he had for Riley, and for me. He wanted to protect Riley, to shield him from the pain that was already brewing beneath the surface. But it felt wrong. I couldn’t just... lie about it. Could I? The truth was a burden, but it was one I had to carry, wasn’t it?

I closed my eyes, the weight of it all too much to bear. "You really think that’s the best thing to do? Just... twist the truth and let him believe that Avery was mistaken? How is it fair on Avery?"

"As hard as it is, sometimes silence is the kinder option," Ashton said quietly. "You know Riley. You know how much he cares. If you tell him now, he’ll feel betrayed, especially since he’s too young to understand the twisted nature of our relationship. But if you just go along with a half-truth, at least Riley’s heart will be spared from the full truth."

I exhaled, the pressure in my chest easing just slightly. Ashton had a point. I didn’t want to hurt Riley anymore than I already had, and I knew how much he meant to me. The truth could wait. Maybe one day, I’d be able to explain everything. But right now, all I wanted was for Riley to be okay.

"I’ll do it," I whispered, finally giving in. "I’ll go along with it. For Riley. For now."

Ashton gave me a small, reassuring smile, squeezing my shoulder gently. "It’s the right choice, Aurora. You’re doing the right thing."

And as we both sat there, waiting for Riley to wake up, I couldn’t shake the feeling that, no matter what we decided, the truth would always be lurking in the background, waiting for its moment to rise to the surface. But for now, all I could do was hope that Riley would wake up, and that he’d be able to forgive me for the lies I had to live with.