Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 451

Aurora’s P.O.V

I blinked against the haze clouding my vision, the dizziness still clawing at me, but as soon as I forced my eyes open, my breath caught in relief.

“Caleb…” My voice was faint, but the moment I spoke, I saw him…Caleb was already rushing towards me like a man who’d been starved of air.

“Aurora!” he cried out, falling to his knees before me, his arms wrapping tightly around both me and Riley, who I still cradled weakly in my arms. His body trembled as he pulled us closer, his face buried in my hair, his voice breaking with emotion.

“Thank the moon goddess, thank the goddess, thank her over and over for this, for giving you back to me. I thought…” He broke off, his words choking into a sob he didn’t want me to hear.

I felt the weight of his trembling chest against me, his heartbeat hammering wildly, and for a moment I simply let myself sink into him, my head falling against his shoulder.

“Caleb, I’m here… I’m okay,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if I was saying it for him or for myself.

Behind us, I could hear movement…Damien’s voice cutting through the noise, sharp but laced with worry.

“Caroline, over here!” He rushed towards her.

“Damien! Maggie’s losing too much blood, she needs your help now!” Caroline shouted. His boots pounded against the earth as rushed towards them.

“I’ve got her,” Caroline replied quickly, her tone steady though her hands were already shaking as she pressed down on Maggie’s wound. “Hold on, Maggie, stay with me.”

To my right, Avery groaned softly, her body curling in pain, and I heard Alice’s urgent but gentle voice as she bent down beside her. “It’s okay, I’ve got you, Avery. Just breathe, alright? I’m right here.”

Everything was chaotic, but then another sound broke through, one that made my chest clench. Shane’s voice, rough and desperate. “Jade! Jade, no, no, stay with me!”

My eyes shot open wider, my head snapping towards the direction of his cry. My stomach lurched as I saw Jade’s body crumpled on the ground, his chest rising only faintly, blood pooling beneath him. My heart nearly stopped. “No…no, Jade!” I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. “He’s still bleeding, his wound…oh goddess, no!”

Shane fell to his knees beside Jade, his hands hovering uncertainly over the boy’s body as if he was terrified to touch him, terrified he might break him more. “Jade, wake up! Please, don’t do this to me!” His voice cracked, desperation etched into every syllable. “Don’t you dare leave me here!”

I struggled in Caleb’s hold, my body trembling, wanting to go to them, but Caleb only tightened his grip around me. “Aurora, wait don’t move, you’re still too weak!”

“But Jade, Caleb, look at him!” I cried, my voice breaking, my chest aching at the sight. “He’s bleeding, he can’t…”

Before I could finish, Alice’s calm but firm voice cut through the air. She’d turned her head towards us, still tending to Avery, but her eyes flicked briefly to Jade. “Aurora, relax he’s going to be fine.”

I whipped my head towards her, disbelief flooding me. “What do you mean fine? He’s lying there unconscious, he’s bleeding, how could he possibly be fine?”

Alice exhaled, her tone steady but reassuring. “The dagger, listen to me…it isn’t supposed to work on beings who don’t have any witch blood in them. That’s the only way its curse is activated. Jade doesn’t have a drop of witch blood. He’s just unconscious and has a small wound that will heal soon, that’s all.”

Shane froze, his hand hovering over Jade’s chest as he turned sharply towards her. “You’re saying, he’s not dying?” His voice cracked again, but this time with a flicker of hope.

Alice shook her head. “No. He’s safe. The blood looks bad, but his body isn’t in danger. He just needs time to wake up.”

I pressed a trembling hand against my lips, my eyes filling with tears I didn’t even realize I’d been holding back. “Oh, thank the goddess…” I whispered, my chest finally loosening.

Shane let out a shuddering breath, his whole body slumping in relief as he carefully brushed the hair from Jade’s forehead. “You stupid brat,” he muttered, his voice thick. “You scared the hell out of me.” He laughed a little, but it was broken, shaky, the kind of laugh that sounded more like crying. “Don’t you ever do that again, you hear me?”

Jade, of course, remained silent, but his chest rose a little more steadily now, as if he’d heard him anyway.

Caleb pressed his forehead against mine, his voice low and trembling still. “See, Aurora? He’s safe. And you, you’re here. That’s all that matters. We’ll fix the rest, together.”

I closed my eyes, holding Riley tighter in my arms as I let Caleb’s words sink into me. For the first time since opening my eyes, I finally believed it, we were all still here, still together, still breathing.