Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 326

Aurora’s P.O.V

The next day rolled around like a heavy sigh, the kind that settles deep in your bones after hours of relentless spellwork and chanting until your tongue feels like it’s twisted in knots.

My fingers still tingle with residual energy as I collapsed on the grass, the same field where we'd started this whole madness a few weeks ago. The wind was gentle, rustling through the tall grass like a lullaby, and for once, I didn’t mind just laying there. Maggie flopped down beside me with a dramatic groan, her dark curls a tangled mess of sweat and leaves. Ashton was the last to sit, and unlike us, he didn’t look half-dead.

I rolled onto my side, propping my head on my elbow to look at him properly. “How are you not as tired as us?” I asked, genuinely puzzled. “You barely look like you broke a sweat, and I swear Maggie and I are about to pass out.”

Maggie, in true theatrical form, threw an arm over her forehead and huffed, “I am literally panting like a dog, and this guy looks like he just took a stroll through the town square.”

Ashton chuckled, that easy kind of laugh he always had, even when things were falling apart around us. “Okay, first of all, I feel like my entire body is made of jelly. Don’t let the lack of sweat fool you—if I tried to stand right now, I’d probably collapse like a puppet with cut strings.”

Maggie laughed, a little wheezy but genuine, and I could feel my lips tugging into a smile too.

“But,” Ashton went on, looking up at the sky like he was thinking through his next words carefully, “I don’t know. I feel great in this weird way. Tired, sure, but it’s the kind of tired that means something, you know? For the first time in a long while, I feel like... like my life has found its purpose. Like I’m supposed to be here. Doing this. With you guys.”

That hit me harder than I expected. Maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe it was just the way he said it—with that quiet conviction that always made people listen—but it made something swell in my chest. I sat up fully, brushing the grass off my arms as I looked at him.

“You do have a purpose, Ashton,” I said softly, letting every word carry the weight of truth. “You’ve always had it. You’re doing such a wonderful job, being there for Maggie and Avery. It’s not just about the magic. It’s the way you make this whole thing bearable. The way you look out for us, even when you’re exhausted and pretending not to be.”

Ashton blinked a few times, like he wasn’t expecting me to say that. Maybe he needed to hear it. Maybe we all did. His shoulders relaxed a little, and he gave me this small, grateful smile that I knew I’d remember for a while.

Maggie groaned beside me, reaching out to poke Ashton in the arm. “Don’t let that go to your head, big bro. You’re still a disaster when it comes to fire spells.”

“I heard that,” Ashton said with a mock scowl, nudging her back. “I’ll have you know I only blew up one practice dummy today.”

“And almost singed your eyebrows,” I added, laughing now. “Don’t forget the singed eyebrows.”

Ashton ran a hand over his forehead and groaned. “Great. Just what I need—bald spots and magical burnout.”

We all fell into an easy silence after that, just sitting there in the breeze, letting the afternoon sun warm our faces as the fatigue caught up with us. It was strange how something so exhausting could still feel so right. Like we were finally stepping into the lives we were meant to live. Or maybe, just maybe, we were making those lives for ourselves—together.

I turned slowly, eyes narrowing just slightly, as Maggie’s soft voice filled the space between us. She had that way of speaking — so gentle, so sincere — that it could disarm anyone. “You know,” she started, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve, “Ashton’s always been… a wonderful brother. He’s not just kind, Aurora, he’s… he’s the kind of person who makes you feel safe just by being around.”

I didn’t say anything. I just tilted my head and let her continue, my gaze shifting between her and Ashton. He looked mildly uncomfortable, which only made me pay even closer attention.

“When I was first brought to Lucas,” Maggie continued, her voice softening even more, “I was terrified. I didn’t understand why I was there, what I was supposed to do, or what they wanted from me. But Ashton—” she smiled faintly, a little fond light dancing in her eyes “—he’d sneak into my room at night. Not to scare me. He’d bring these little storybooks, and he’d sit by my bed and read to me until I fell asleep. Sometimes he’d even stay there all night just to make sure I didn’t wake up screaming.”

My heart ached at that, but I didn’t let it show.

“And that’s not even the best part,” she added with a little giggle, glancing over at Ashton with playful warmth. “He taught me magic tricks. Like, silly ones. Making flowers disappear, turning the color of a ribbon, or levitating a pebble just slightly off the ground. I thought he was a wizard or something, even before I knew that he really was. He always said it was just fun, harmless stuff. But I believed it was real magic.”

“That’s enough, Maggie,” Ashton cut in quickly, his voice a little sharper than usual. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away from both of us. “You’re over-exaggerating. I wasn’t teaching you real magic, I wasn’t even eighteen yet, remember? You were a kid. You probably imagined half of it.”

However…something in his tone made me pause.

I didn’t buy it. I didn’t buy a single word of his deflection. My eyes locked on him, sharp now, focused. I leaned in slightly, and I could even hear the edge in my voice as I asked, “Ashton… did you already know how to use magic back then? Before you turned eighteen?”