Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 453

Aurora’s P.O.V

When Caleb and I finally staggered into our room, after the endless questions and healers poking and prodding and me retelling what had happened so many times that my voice was hoarse, it felt like my body gave out the moment the door clicked shut. I didn’t even think, I just fell face-first onto the bed, and Caleb immediately followed, pulling me into his arms so tight it almost hurt.

But I didn’t complain, not for a second. I clung to him just as fiercely, like letting go would mean everything we had survived would unravel. He buried his face in my hair, his voice muffled but trembling as he whispered.

“I’m never letting you out of my sight again, Aurora. Do you hear me? If it means we have to stay locked in this room forever, then so be it. I’ll keep you right here.”

I pressed my forehead into his chest, the sound of his heartbeat a reminder that we were both still here, still alive.

“I wish the same,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “I don’t ever want to leave your arms again, Caleb. If this room is all we have, then let it be enough, because I don’t care about anything else right now. Just you. Just this.” My fingers fisted into the fabric of his shirt, afraid that if I loosened my grip, he’d slip away like smoke.

He kissed the top of my head and tightened his hold, almost as if he thought I might vanish. We lay there like that for what felt like forever, just breathing each other in, yet sleep refused to come. My eyes burned from exhaustion, but my mind kept racing. Caleb finally broke the silence, his voice low, raw.

“It still feels unreal… you don’t know how close I came to losing you. I keep replaying it, Aurora. That moment…” His voice cracked, and he stopped, swallowing hard.

I shifted to look up at him, brushing my hand over his cheek. “But you didn’t lose me,” I whispered firmly.

“I’m right here. We’re together, Caleb. That’s all that matters.”

He shook his head, eyes dark, pain still shadowing them. “No, you don’t understand. I could feel it. That edge, that line where you were almost gone. And I… I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost you. I can’t…” His words stumbled, and he cursed under his breath, dragging me closer until there was no space left between us.

“I can’t even finish the thought without feeling like I’m falling apart.”

My chest ached at the sound of his voice breaking. I cupped his face with both hands and forced him to meet my gaze.

“You didn’t lose me,” I repeated, stronger this time. “I fought to come back, Caleb. For you. Because I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you. You are the reason I’m still here. Do you get that? Do you see how much you mean to me?”

His lips trembled into something between a smile and a grimace. “You don’t get it either. You think I’m the one holding you, but the truth is… I think you’re the only thing holding me together. I thought I was strong until last night proved I’m nothing without you.”

I shook my head quickly, pressing my forehead against his. “Don’t say that. You’re stronger than you think. But if I’m what holds you together, then maybe that’s okay, because you hold me too. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, we keep each other whole.”

Caleb let out a shaky laugh, but his arms didn’t loosen, not even an inch. “You talk like you’re trying to convince me to breathe again. You know I’m still terrified, right? Terrified that if I close my eyes for one second, I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone.”

“Then don’t close your eyes,” I whispered, my throat thickening with tears. “Stay awake with me. We’ll hold each other and wait for morning. If sleep won’t come, then we’ll just… exist together in this moment.”

And even though sleep continued to evade us, neither of us cared. We stayed there, wrapped in each other’s arms, breathing the same air, hearts beating in a rhythm that belonged only to us, daring the world to try and take it away again.