Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 391

Aurora’s P.O.V

We both looked at her. And then we laughed. Like actually laughing. Damien nearly choked on air, and I had to cover my mouth, but it was ridiculous. She looked so offended by the betrayal, like Damien supporting me for once and having a rational conversation had somehow wounded her pride.

“Traitor?” Damien echoed, still chuckling as he leaned back casually in his seat. “Caroline, calm down. I’ve been here for two minutes and you’re already throwing daggers at me.”

“That’s because you’re supposed to be on my side,” she snapped, even though there was a faint tug of a smile on her lips.

“Your side doesn’t even have a name, Care,” Caleb said as he moved cl0ser to them, clapping Damien on the back. “And besides, she promised peace. That’s rare. I don’t think you realize how rare that is.”

Damien gave Caleb a quick once-over before grinning. “You guys ever stop bickering? God! Why did I think you two were a thing again?”

That just made both Caroline and Caleb gag in unison, before they shouted at the same time:

“Him! Hell no!”

“Her! Hell no!”

Caleb snorted just as Care rolled her eyes, before he turned to Damien. “So? When did you arrive?”

“Just now,” Damien said, “Dropped my bags in my room and came straight here. Thought I’d catch up with you all before we get straight to business. Caroline did update me on a few recent events, but judging by the band-aid on Aurora’s forehead…I’m guessing I missed a few things.”

“There’s... a lot you’ve missed,” Caleb muttered, his tone changing just slightly. He ran a hand through his hair like the weight of whatever he was about to say was still clinging to him. “I’ll fill you in. But you’re going to need a seat and maybe a drink.”

That made Damien raise an eyebrow, but he nodded and took a seat beside Caroline, who looked like she wanted to complain about the proximity but chose not to—probably because the subject was a dire one.

Damien leaned back in his chair, scanning the room. That curious, assessing look he always got when something felt off settled across his face. “Wait,” he said slowly, brows drawing together. “Where’s Jade?”

The moment he asked, the air shifted just a little. I felt it. Caleb glanced at me, and I looked down for a second, knowing that this question would eventually come. Damien’s eyes flicked to Shane, who was sitting off to the side, unusually quiet.

“Shane?” Damien asked again, more insistent now. “What happened to Jade? He’s never not around when the rest of you are.”

Shane looked up. His jaw clenched and unclenched, and then he exhaled. “He’s... he’s not here right now. Something happened.”

“What kind of something?” Damien’s voice dropped, sharp now. “Did something happen to him?”

“Something had happened, Damien,” Caleb said calmly. “And it’s messy…but it’s not what you think. He’s not injured or anything, just... We didn’t want to pull you into it right away, especially after you’ve been traveling. But you deserve to know. Jade—he’s not gone, but he’s not exactly okay either.”

“Not okay how?” Damien asked, his body now upright, the humor from before gone. “And why the hell is everyone looking like someone died?”

I opened my mouth, but for once, the words caught. The truth sat on the tip of my tongue like glass—sharp and fragile. I hated this part. The unraveling. The way we always had to go back to pieces before we even finished rebuilding from the last time.

“Jade just…doesn’t hang out with us that much anymore.” Caroline finally managed, her eyes downcast.

“Doesn’t hang out? But…he’s always been a part of the team, the one guy who all of us can count on no matter what!” Damien looked at all of us, still confused, as if waiting for the puzzle pieces to fall into place, but they didn’t.

Something in the air was about to crack open again. We all knew it. And Damien had just walked into the storm.

I could feel the tension in the room shift in the room as we all thought of a better way to explain things to Damien. It was supposed to be an innocent question, casual even—just simple. But now…everyone held their breath.

"Caroline…that’s the vaguest answer I’ve ever heard,” Damien sighed, looking at us in turn. “Guys? Seriously, what’s going on?”

Caroline looked at Caleb for help, like she regretted being the one to say it out loud. Caleb didn’t look away from Damien. His jaw was tight, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as if steadying himself for what was to come.

"It’s time we filled you in," he said. "On everything that’s been happening."