Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 415

Aurora’s P.O.V

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Maggie’s voice kept playing over and over in my mind.

I stood frozen, my throat suddenly tight, words stuck somewhere between my chest and lips. My mind was blank, my heart thundering so loud I was sure they could hear it. Ashton’s voice cut through the silence, calm but laced with curiosity.

“Aurora… is everything alright? Why are you here this late?”

I blinked, searching my mind for something, anything—that could make sense. But nothing came. Absolutely nothing. I felt my mouth open, then close again like I was about to speak but forgot how.

Maggie’s brows knitted together as she took a step toward me. “Aurora, you look pale… What’s going on? Did something happen?”

My fingers curled into my palms as I took a shallow breath, my mind still fumbling in the dark for an excuse.

“Why were you two out so late?” I shot the question back at them instead, trying to deflect the attention, hoping they wouldn’t notice the shake in my voice.

Ashton glanced at Maggie before answering. “She was feeling a bit stuffed,” he said, tilting his head toward his sister. “I thought a walk might help. But I wasn’t going to let her wander out this late alone, even if we’re in safe territory.”

Maggie gave a small shrug, almost sheepish, but her eyes were still on me, like she was trying to see right through my skin.

Once again, Ashton’s gaze returned to me, sharper now. “You didn’t answer, Aura. Did you have something to say? Why are you here this late?”

My pulse quickened as the silence pressed down again. And then, finally—it hit me. A plan, fragile and reckless, but the only one that might work. My lips parted, and I thought—this is the only way I’m getting out of this.

I let out a long sigh, feeling the weight in my chest as I looked at him. “I was… hoping I could speak to you alone,” I said slowly, my voice carrying the hesitation I felt.

“But… since Maggie is here as well, I’ll just tell you both.”

Maggie frowned immediately, glancing between us. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone sharp with concern. “Did something happen?”

I stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, giving it a small, reassuring squeeze.

“Maggie… Jade just collapsed during his patrol,” I said softly, watching her eyes widen. “A fellow soldier found him, and he’s now being treated at the infirmary.”

Her panic was instant. “What? What happened to him? Is he hurt? I—” she started to turn away, already moving to leave.

But I quickly caught her hand, holding her back. “Maggie, wait. You can’t go,” I said firmly, looking her in the eye.

She froze, confusion flashing across her face. “Why not? He’s my—”

“He seems to have contracted some kind of disease,” I cut in gently but firmly. “They’ve kept him in isolation for now… it’s too risky for anyone to be near him.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I had to do something that wouldn’t raise suspicion in them. I didn’t waste a second before reaching out to Caleb through our mental link. ‘Caleb,’ I called sharply, my tone leaving no room for questions, ‘come to the infirmary immediately, and make sure no one can get to Jade.’

There was a pause, like he was processing the urgency in my voice, then his deep voice came through, calm but alert. ‘I’m on patrol at the far end of the territory… What's going on?’

‘I can’t explain now,’ I said quickly. ‘Just trust me on this. It’s serious.’

Another beat of silence, then his voice again, firmer this time. ‘Understood. I’ll be there in a few minutes.’

Relief washed through me. He didn’t push, didn’t press for answers. He knew me well enough to understand that if I sounded like this, it was bad.

But then, Ashton’s voice broke my train of thought. “Aurora, how can a wolf even get a disease?” His brows were furrowed, his tone carrying that mix of confusion and disbelief that mirrored what Maggie seemed to be feeling.

She had started shifting from one foot to another, ready to bolt, but Ashton and I both kept her in place, making sure she wouldn’t make any sudden movements.

I turned to him, shaking my head. “I don’t know, Ashton. That’s why I came to find you both. I need to make sure you’re okay.”

He stared at me like he was trying to piece together something impossible. “So… Jade just—what? Has a fever? A cold?”

“No, it’s much worse than that,” I told him. “That’s why I needed to make sure you two were alright as well.”

“Where did you hear this, Aurora?” Maggie fired back. “What even happened to him?”

“I don’t have the full picture yet,” I admitted, feeling the frustration creep into my voice, but for a very different reason. “But whatever this is, I’m not taking chances. I also need to tell Maggie to stay away from Jade for now.”

“Maggie?” Ashton asked, glancing toward Maggie’s tense form. “You think that…disease can…”

“Exactly,” I said firmly. “If this thing is contagious—whatever it is—I’m not about to let her contract it too. I don’t care how rare it is for wolves to get sick. We can’t risk it.”

Ashton looked like he wanted to argue, but he finally nodded, his jaw tight. “Alright. But we need to figure out what exactly this is because as far as I’ve heard…werewolves aren’t supposed to get sick.”

I met his eyes, my own voice low. “I know. And that’s what scares me the most.”

“Bullshit!” The sudden voice startled both me and Ashton.

I turned to look at Maggie, trying to read the sudden shift in her eyes, but before I could even open my mouth, she came forward until she was toe to toe with me, her face contorted in a sneer.

“Is this one of your elaborate plans again, Aurora? Huh? Is this just another way to keep me away from Jade?”

My brows furrowed instantly. “What? What the hell are you even talking about, Maggie?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

She scoffed and shook her head, her tone dripping with accusation. “Don’t play innocent with me. You’ve never been supportive of me and Jade. Never. You’ve always looked at us like we’re some kind of mistake you want to erase. And now here you are—making up stories, weaving your little schemes so you can keep us apart.”

“Maggie, that’s ridiculous,” I shot back, but she cut me off.

“No! You think I don’t see it? You think I don’t notice how you twist things, how you plant doubts, how you drop these hints to make me second-guess my relationship? You’ve been doing it from the start.”

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady, but it was useless because my chest was tight.

“I came here to warn you—for your own good. I’m not your enemy, Maggie. But if you’ve already decided I’m the villain in your story, then fine. I have nothing more to say to you.”

She glared at me, her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t say a word. I stepped back, every part of me screaming to defend myself more, to explain—but I didn’t. I just let the silence hang there.