Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 328

Aurora’s P.O.V

That evening, the breeze carried a salty whisper as we made our way down to the beach, the sky brushed in fading hues of lavender and tangerine. The sand was cool beneath our feet, and the rhythmic crashing of waves was like a balm I hadn’t realized I needed. Maggie had her shoes in her hand, looking far too proud of her decision to walk barefoot, and Ashton had rolled his jeans up to his knees, already daring the waves to splash him. But it was Avery, with her eyes wide and lips slightly parted in awe, who made the moment unforgettable.

I watched her, the way she stood still as if afraid the scene would disappear if she moved too fast. And then, without warning, she turned around and threw her arms around me. “Thank you,” she whispered into my shoulder, squeezing tightly. “I finally got to see it.”

My heart squeezed. “You’ve never been to the beach before?” I pulled back slightly to look at her, surprised. “But it’s right here—barely a fifteen-minute walk from the packhouse.”

She nodded slowly, biting her lower lip. “I know... I told Ashton and Maggie so many times that I wanted to come, but they never really had the time for it.” Her voice cracked a little near the end. “They’re always busy or tired or have some kind of excuse.”

I frowned, glancing toward the waves where Ashton was tossing pebbles like he had no cares in the world and Maggie was laughing, filming him on her phone. “But... I’ve seen them out,” I said cautiously. “I thought they took breaks.”

Avery nodded again, her voice turning quieter, almost like she was confessing something she wasn't sure she should. “They do. I’ve seen them sneaking out of the condo so many times... like at night, or early in the morning before anyone’s awake.”

That stirred something strange in me—concern, confusion... maybe even a hint of suspicion. “Sneaking out?” I asked gently, kneeling a little to meet her eyes. “When do they usually go?”

She hesitated, glancing down as she played with a frayed thread on her sleeve. “Usually after dinner... sometimes super early, like before dawn. I hear the door. They think I’m asleep, but I’m not. I wait sometimes, thinking maybe they’ll ask me to come... but they never do.”

There was something in her voice that made my chest ache. That hollow kind of hope only kids know—fragile and relentless. I ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “I’m really sorry, Avery. That’s not right.”

She shrugged, trying to act unbothered, but I saw the truth flicker across her face before she turned toward the waves again, letting the wind carry away whatever else she might’ve wanted to say.

I stood up, stealing another glance toward Maggie and Ashton. They were still laughing, like nothing was wrong, like they hadn’t been unknowingly breaking their little sister’s heart. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but something about their sneaky disappearances and how easily they brushed Avery off was rubbing me the wrong way.

I slid my hands into my pockets and watched them a moment longer, my mind already spinning through possibilities. They weren’t bad people—at least, I didn’t think so. But something was off. Something was definitely off. And for Avery’s sake, I needed to figure out what.

“Avery…when you said that Ashton and Maggie went out at night,” I asked hesitantly. “Is that usually around…let’s say…two to three in the morning?”

Avery as she played with the frayed hem of her sleeve, her fingers restless. Her big eyes darted towards her siblings, never quite landing on me. She was chewing on her bottom lip, a sure sign she was holding something back.

“It’s usually at night,” she whispered, almost too soft for me to hear. “But…I can’t be sure about the time…”

I leaned in. “Can you try?” I insisted.

Her eyes flicked to mine and then away again, like she regretted saying anything at all. Her shoulders hunched, the little confidence she had quickly slipping away. “I don’t know. I probably shouldn’t have said anything,” she mumbled, her voice shrinking as she clutched her hands together tightly. “I’m not supposed to tell.”

My brows furrowed, concerned twisting in my chest. “Avery… please tell me what’s going on. You’re safe here. No one is going to hurt you…”

She hesitated again, then finally met my gaze, her expression torn and anxious. “Are you gonna be mad at me?” she asked, her voice trembling just a little. “I don’t wanna get in trouble.”

I stood up straighter. “Why would you think you’re in trouble?”

Her answer came after a long silence. “Because I said something. I didn’t mean to. I was just talking.” Her lip trembled and she looked away, blinking fast. “Maggie says... she says siblings should always stick up for each other. That we’re not supposed to tell on each other, ever. She said if I told, bad things could happen. That I’d ruin everything.”

Something cold settled in my stomach. I reached out gently and took her hand. “Avery… no one’s going to hurt you for telling me something. You’re not in trouble, okay? I promise. But—I need to understand. What happens at night?”

She didn’t answer right away, just stared at the waves as if the sea would make this easier. I could see the way her body was tense, like she was used to holding herself still so she wouldn’t be noticed—like she was afraid of being too much. That broke me a little.

“Maggie and Ashton…” she began, her voice almost a breath. “They don’t always come home until morning…I think…I think they go out around the time you mentioned…but I’m usually too sleepy to notice. But I do hear the door…”

I didn’t know how to react to this anymore. Ashton and Maggie were safe now, away from any kind of shadow of their past. Then…why did they need to disappear at night? That too during Witching Hour? I didn’t really want to overthink this, but this… this was something else.

“Avery,” I said carefully, trying to keep my voice calm so as not to worry her, “thank you for telling me this. You did the right thing. No matter what anyone says, you should always trust your instincts. You understand?”

She blinked, eyes wide. “But what if Maggie gets mad?”

“She won’t,” I told her. “But I’d rather her be mad than something bad happen to you, or to her. We’re going to figure this out. I won’t let anyone hurt you. You’re not alone anymore.”

Avery’s eyes welled up with tears, and I could tell how badly she’d needed to hear that. I pulled her into a hug, feeling her small arms tighten around me like a lifeline. My mind, though, was already racing. Something was happening in that condo—something she wasn’t telling me yet. Something she might be too scared to even name.

And I was going to find out what it was. Whatever secrets Maggie and Ashton were hiding behind those closed doors… I was going to rip them open. For Avery. For all of us.