Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 396

Aurora’s P.O.V

“Is that so?” Caleb raised his eyebrows in interest. “Do you really want to know how ‘I’ slayed those demons?”

“Yes, yes!” Gone was any trace of sleep, and now, Riley was grinning ear to ear, eager to know all about Caleb’s great adventures. “Please!

“Alright! Listen up, and listen well.”

I watched as Caleb’s lips curled into a sly grin, that boyish sparkle returning to his eyes as he leaned forward, popping himself up on his elbow. The firelight danced over his features, and I knew that familiar glint meant a story was coming. Riley’s tiny frame was tucked under the blankets, only his wide, eager eyes peeking out. Caleb nodded solemnly, as if accepting a royal decree from the young prince, and began.

“Well,” Caleb said, his voice dipping into that theatrical tone he used when he was about to pull us into a world far from this one.

“It was a cold night, just like this one. Me and my friends, we were wearing full armor—heavy, clunky, but we were brave. And in our hands, we carried swords—real ones, not toys.”

Riley gasped softly, pulling the blanket closer. Caleb continued, painting a world where the trees whispered ancient secrets and the air was thick with danger. “We went deep into the forest. The moon was high, and we could hear growling—deep, low, and angry. And then, out of the shadows, these huge, black, dog-like demons jumped out. Teeth like daggers. Eyes like burning coal.”

“Why were they trying to attack you?” Riley asked, his voice small but firm, his curiosity outweighing his fear.

Caleb faltered just for a second, blinking. I could see it—the pause, the uncertainty. He hadn’t thought that far. That’s when I leaned in, brushing a strand of hair from Riley’s forehead. My voice was soft but steady, wrapping around the space like a lullaby. “Because they were bad, sweetheart,” I said gently. “And bad things don’t like good people.”

Riley’s eyes searched mine for a moment, and something in him seemed to relax, as if that answer made the world right again. “Oh,” he whispered. “Okay.”

Caleb picked the story back up, confidence returning. “So I raised my sword high, and with a shout—HIYAH!—I fought the biggest one first. It tried to bite me, but I was faster. It was a long fight, and me and my friends were all fighting back to back. They kept on coming, growling at us—rawwrrr—and they kept trying to bite us too. But we didn’t give up, because heroes never give up!”

Riley nodded, his eyes wide, and his mouth gaping. “And then? What happened?”

“And then, we fought for hours. I dodged and slashed and—bam!—it went down. The others tried to run, but my friends and I were faster. We didn’t let a single one escape.”

“You saved everyone?” Riley asked, sitting up slightly.

“I did,” Caleb said, puffing his chest just a little. “We were heroes. That night, the forest was safe again.”

Riley clapped, his eyes shining. “Tell me another!” he squealed, practically bouncing under the covers.

But I leaned in, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “No, little fox,” I murmured, smoothing the blanket over him. “You were supposed to be falling asleep, remember? Not recruiting Caleb for an all-night story marathon.”

His lips pursed, disappointment flickering in his features for a moment. He looked away from me, then turned his head slightly, his voice quieter now. “I just…” He hesitated, biting his lower lip before finally saying, “I just wanna know that Caleb can slay any kind of demon.”

I exchanged a glance with Caleb, who was suddenly very still. Riley’s voice hadn’t been playful. It was genuine. Frightened. Raw. The shadows in the corners of his room suddenly felt heavier, darker.

I reached for his hand, wrapping my fingers around his tiny ones. “There’s no such thing as a demon, Riley,” I said softly, even though I knew that wasn’t what he needed to hear. “You don’t have to worry about it at all.”

But Caleb leaned forward then, his voice steadier than mine. “Hey,” he said. “If there’s a demon trying to bully you, I’ll slay it. Just like I did in the forest. I promise.”

Riley looked at him, his lip trembling just slightly. “Really?”

Caleb nodded. “Really. I’d fight a hundred demons if it meant keeping you safe.”

“Then can you slay the demon in my room?”

I froze the moment Riley opened his mouth and said something that didn’t make sense. It wasn’t just strange—it was alarming. Caleb must have picked up on it too because he suddenly stopped smiling, his earlier amusement vanishing and he straighter, his entire posture shifting like a soldier bracing for an ambush. My heart skipped a beat. I turned to Riley, his face pale and a little too calm for my liking. Something was off.