Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 343

Aurora’s P.O.V

I couldn't stop myself from asking. I knew that. "Maggie... How long have you and Jade been seeing each other?"

Maggie blinked, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her glass. She had always been so composed, but there was a slight tremor in her hands that caught my attention. It wasn’t like her to fidget. "Over a month," she replied softly, avoiding my gaze for a second before looking up at me. Her eyes were sincere, and there was a warmth in them when she spoke of him. "I really like him, Aurora. He's... kind, gentle, thoughtful. Everything I didn’t expect." She paused, as though weighing something in her mind. "But…I know I’m not his mate, and maybe that's why... Well, why has he kept his distance recently? Before he came around again and started hanging out with me more."

Her words hung in the air, and my heart clenched in my chest. I didn't know if I should be happy for her or worried about what was happening. "Maggie," I said more seriously, stepping closer. "How far has it... progressed between you two? Really."

She blushed—rosy cheeks creeping up to her ears—and looked down, clearly flustered. "We... We kissed once." Her voice was small, almost shy, like she wasn't sure whether to be proud or ashamed of it. "But that's it. Nothing more."

I nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check. As much as I wanted to be happy for her, I couldn’t ignore the deeper concern that was growing inside me. I was older, more experienced, and maybe a little more cynical. "Maggie, listen to me," I said gently, my tone softer but no less serious. "I’m saying this as your big sister, okay? I’m concerned for you." I took her hands in mine, grounding her a little as I looked her in the eye. "Once Jade finds his mate... and he will, sooner or later... you’re going to be nothing but a forgotten memory to him. It’s how it works. The bond, the connection—when he finds her, it’ll be like everything that came before fades. You’ll be just a chapter in his past."

Her face fell slightly, the color draining from her cheeks. I hated seeing the hurt flash across her face, but I couldn’t lie to her. She needed to know. "Aurora, I..." She trailed off, unsure of how to respond.

"I know it sounds harsh, but you need to prepare yourself for it, Maggie. It’s inevitable. I just want to make sure you don’t get too attached, especially when you already know he’s not your mate. You deserve someone who will truly be yours, not someone who’s always going to be pulled in another direction."

She didn’t say anything for a long moment. The room felt heavy, the silence thick with unspoken words. Finally, Maggie let out a small sigh, her shoulders sagging just a little. "I don’t want to lose him, Aurora," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don’t want to be just another memory." Her hands clenched slightly around mine, and I could feel the weight of her emotions pouring through her, raw and vulnerable.

I squeezed her hands back, trying to offer comfort, but the truth lingered between us like an unavoidable storm. "I know, Maggie. I know. But sometimes, the hardest thing is accepting the truth before it hits you full force. Please…stop it. Before you get in too deep, before it’s too painful to turn back…you need to stop it!"

I could see the way Maggie’s face shifted the moment my words hit her. It was as if I’d slapped her, the shock slowly registering in her eyes, turning to confusion, and then—hurt. The kind of hurt that didn’t have a visible scar, but still managed to tear at something deep inside her. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for being the one to inflict it, but I knew I was doing the right thing. She needed to hear this, even if it shattered her a little.

Her voice trembled, and I almost wished I could take it back, but I was too far gone. "Why are you being so mean to me, Aurora?" she asked, her lips quivering. "I—I don’t understand."

Mean? It stung. But I couldn’t back down now. This was bigger than whatever the hell was going on between us. I was doing what I always did—showing her the truth, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

I crossed my arms, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I’m not being mean, Maggie. I’m making you see reality." She stared at me as though I’d suddenly turned into someone she didn’t recognize. Maybe I had. It wasn’t my intention, but the truth was ugly. Sometimes it hurts more than the lies we tell ourselves.

She blinked, almost as if the words I spoke were foreign to her, like they didn’t fit into her perfect little world. "Reality?" she repeated, unsure, like she was still grasping at some shred of hope I was wrong.

I let out a long breath, rolling my shoulders back and fighting the urge to soften. This wasn’t about me being cruel. This was about pulling her out of her fantasy. "You want to know what real heartbreak looks like, Maggie? Take a good look at Shane and Mia." I could see the way her expression flickered—just for a second—before I pushed on. "They were together for three years. Three years, Maggie. And then, Shane found his mate."

Her eyes widened, her breath hitching. She didn’t know about Shane and Mia. I’d always kept that detail from her. I hadn’t wanted to hurt her with it, but now? It was the only way.

I exhaled, continuing, "Shane never wanted to hurt Mia, but the mating bond doesn’t care about what you want. It doesn’t care about what you’ve built, or how deep the love is between you and someone else. When it hits, it hits, and there’s no escaping it. Not even for someone like Shane.”