Claimed by My Bully Alpha Chapter 90

Aurora’s P.O.V

I hadn’t spoken to Caleb for two days and neither had he come to visit me even once during that time. The realization wasn’t a pleasant one and it made me doubt myself even more.

Had I been too demanding? Had I been too childish? Had Caleb given up on me?

The last idea seemed absurd…considering how Caroline had glorified the mating bond…but it also made me think deeply about my own actions.

For the last six years, I had been completely alone. The only companion I had was Riley. He had been the only person I had loved, cherished and cared for. My crush for Caleb had seemed as impossible as the existence of werewolves themselves. And yet, here I was, right at the centre of a werewolf pack and as it turns out, as Caleb’s mate. I was someone he could never hurt, never turn down.

But had I taken advantage of the kindness he had shown me? Had I grown conceited because of the mating bond, thinking that he would bend to my every request?

Was it so wrong for one single thing in my life to go the way I had envisioned it to?

When staying inside the room had started to suffocate me, I decided to head to the gazebo that Caleb had showed me a few days ago, to get some fresh air. Everyone was at school, including Riley and I had no one to talk to, nor did I know anyone inside the pack well enough to talk to them about the things that were bothering me. So it was best if I went exploring. It would help me clear my mind as well.

Getting into the elevator at the back, I went straight to the ground floor, but this time, I was greeted by two guards who stood on either side of the elevator, prepared and alert as they scanned their surroundings.

“Miss? Are you going anywhere?” One of them immediately stopped me.

There hadn’t been any guards when I had gone out with Caleb and now that I think about it, it was probably because Caleb had been with me. But how was I supposed to interact with them now?

“Umm…I wanted to go to the gazebo…” I said a bit unsurely, wondering if I was even allowed to leave the building without supervision.

But the guards looked at each other for a second and then parted ways to let me through. “Sure. Please be careful and call if you need help.”

“Okay.” I stepped out of the building and into the sun-filled backyard with the trimmed bushes and neat flowering plants. The woods lay right ahead and now that I was living with the wolves, they didn’t seem as daunting as they had when I was still living at my old house.

I tried remembering which direction Caleb had taken when he had showed me the way. Now, I wish I hadn’t been as distracted by his beauty and had focused on the road instead, because it would be extremely embarrassing if I got lost in the woods.

However, I found myself grinning in success as I found the gazebo surrounded by the lotus pond, not too long after I had ventured into the forest. The beauty of the place took my breath away just as it had the first time I had come here with Caleb and I found myself missing him even more.

I walked over to the end of the staircase of the gazebo and sat down, leaning my back against the pillar. A light breeze rustled through the trees, sending small ripples through the water and the scent of fresh flowers instantly filling my nostrils.

I looked up at the canopy, watching thin strips of sunlight forcing their way through the leaves to land all around me. It was a breathtaking view that I regretted not showing Riley. But I promised myself to bring him here soon. The peace surrounding me in that moment had me signing in relief. It almost felt like I had no worries in the world.

Unfortunately, I didn’t even realize when I had closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

*

Caleb’s P.O.V

I parked my car at the entrance to the main pack house and handed my keys to one of the guards so he could park it. And then I was running inside the building to meet Aurora.

“Did anyone come to visit Aurora today?” I asked the woman behind the reception just to be on the safe side.

“No.” She gave me a warm smile. “She should be in her room.”

“Thanks.”

Getting into the elevator, I headed straight to her room…only to find it empty.

My heart thrashed against my ribcage as panic set in. Did she leave? Did she leave while I was away? But that shouldn’t be possible, right? We had guards all over our territory! If she wanted to leave or attempted to do so without my knowledge…then I would’ve been notified immediately. There was no way she could fool so many wolves and make an escape!

Damnit! Then where was she?

My wolf started to panic inside my mind and tried to stretch the mating bond towards Aurora, in search of her mind. The only problem was that she wasn’t a wolf. So the bond turned out empty…open ended. I knew it would start causing trouble for me sooner or later, but today wasn’t the time to be thinking about the possibilities. I needed to find her and fast.

‘Did you see Aurora?’ I asked the guards at the back exit via our mental link.

‘Yes, Sir.’ One of them answered immediately. ‘She went to the gazebo about an hour ago. Is there something wrong, Sir?’

‘No.’ I sighed in relief, feeling like my entire body relax in a way that almost made me collapse in the hallway, the adrenaline suddenly receding from my bloodstream. ‘No. Everything is fine.’

I headed straight for the gazebo without any further delays.

A few moments of walking and I was standing in front of Aurora’s sleeping form at the stairs, relief flooding my bloodstream when I realized that she was alright. My wolf too stopped getting agitated and settled into my skin.

I knelt down in front of her, filling my eyes and my heart with the image of her peaceful face.

I found myself asking once again as to why hadn’t I noticed it before? Just how pretty she was. Even with short hair, still recovering from malnutrition and her fading old bruised, she looked like an angel.

The tiny red scar at the side of her head came into view. The wound has almost healed, just like the rest of her wounds, but it still made me mad that her own father and those horrible men who had dared to hurt her like this.

Sheriff Gilbert had taken care of the three men who had tried to harm her, but her father was still missing, as if he had been swallowed up by the ground itself. But I wasn’t worried. With Aurora here, away from harm, it would be almost impossible for him to find her without being surrounded by wolves within seconds.

Aurora didn’t have to worry anymore. I was here now. I would protect her till my very last breath.

Placing my hands under her thighs, I hoisted her up into my arms with a firm grip around her shoulders. She must have been really tired as she didn’t wake up after that disturbance, but instead, settled herself more comfortably against my shoulders.

I didn’t want to disturb her, but I didn’t want her to stay outside for too long either. She was still healing and needed as much rest as she could. And then, when she woke up from her nap, I would be there to finally have a proper talk with her, because we both knew that we couldn’t avoid each other forever.

With that in mind, I began walking back to her room, with her sleeping soundly in my arms. Our conversation could wait a little while longer; meanwhile, I cherished the joy of having her in my arms, as my wolf basked in her scent…unknown to the watchful eyes around us.