Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Aurora’s POV

As soon as I rush out of the classroom, weaving through the chattering students crowding the hallway, I hear my name being called from behind. The voice is familiar, a little breathless, but firm. I turn my head and see Caroline jogging toward me, her bag slung over one shoulder, a notebook clutched in her hands. Her long ponytail bounces with each step, and there’s a determined look in her eyes, like she won’t take no for an answer.

Before I can even ask what’s going on, she extends the notebook toward me. “llere,” she says, her breath still evening out from the short jog. “This has all my notes. Go through it carefully, okay? The test next week isn’t going to be easy.”

I stare at the notebook, my brows furrowing. “Wait—what? Why are you, giving this to me? You’ll need it too.” I hesitate before taking it, my fingers hovering over the worn edges of the pages. I know how meticulous Caroline is about her notes–every single detail is always in place, perfectly highlighted, annotated in the margins with explanations that are sometimes better than the textbook itself. If she’s handing it to me, it’s a big deal.

She lets out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I already have everything memorized,” she says, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “I’ll be fine. You, on the other hand, need to make sure you’re actually prepared.” There’s no judgment in her tone, just an earnestness that makes me feel both grateful and slightly embarrassed at the same time.

I exhale, shifting my bag on my shoulder before finally accepting the notebook. The weight of it feels heavier than it should, not just because of the paper inside, but because of what it means. Caroline didn’t have to do this. She could have kept it, focused on herself, but instead, she’s here, making sure I don’t fall behind, extending a helping hand when she didn’t need to.

I glance up at her, searching for her expression. “You really don’t have to do this, you know,” I murmur. “I’ll figure something out.”

Caroline rolls her eyes, crossing her arms. “Aurora, just take it. Don’t make this a whole thing.” Then, softening, she nudges my shoulder lightly. “Look, I know you’ve been struggling to keep up lately. I also know you’re way too stubborn to ask for help. So, I’m helping, whether you like it or not.”

A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips despite myself. I swallow down the lump in my throat, feeling an odd mix of warmth and guilt. “Thanks, Caroline. I mean it.”

She grins, nudging me one more time before stepping back. “Just don’t let my hard work go to waste, okay? And if you have any questions, I expect you to come to me. No excuses.”

I watched Caroline closely, trying to figure out if there was some hidden motive behind her kindness. People didn’t usually offer help without expecting something in return–not in my world, at least. But there she was, standing in front of me with a warm smile, her eyes filled with nothing but sincerity as she said, “Aurora, I really mean it. If you ever need anything, you can come directly to me. No hesitations.”

–

For a moment, I hesitated. The words felt foreign to me, like they weren’t meant for someone like me. Help had always come with a price, a debt that had to be repaid in one way or another. I wanted to ask her why–why she was being so nice to me when she had no reason to. But just as I opened my mouth, my eyes caught the time on the small clock hanging on the wall behind her. My stomach dropped.

Riley.

Panic surged through me as I realized I was already late. He would be standing outside his school right now, waiting, watching as every other kid got picked up while he stood there all alone, He’d be scared. He always got nervous when I wasn’t on time, and the thought of him anxiously looking around for me, hoping I’d show up any second, made my heart clench.

“I–Caroline, thank you,” I said hurriedly, already backing toward the door. “I really mean it. I’ll return the favor, I promise.”

She frowned slightly, tilting her head as if/she didn’t quite understand why I was saying that.

“Aurora, I don’t want you to return any/favors. Her voice was gentle but firm. “That would mean you don’t see me as a friend.”

That made me stop in my tracks. I swallowed, her words settling deep inside me in a way I wasn’t prepared for. A friend. I had never thought of

1/2

Chapter 11

her that way before, not really. I had been too busy keeping my guard up, too used to people walking in and out of my life when it was convenient for them. The idea that she was offering me help simply because she cared–it was unfamiliar, unsettling, but… comforting.

I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say, “Okay,” I murmured. “Thank you.”

It’s the kind of thank you that carries weight, that I hope she understands means more than just gratitude for whatever small thing she’s done for me today. It’s for… I don’t even know. For being here? For making me feel, even for a second, like I wasn’t just running through life alone?

She doesn’t respond immediately, just gives me a small nod, and I can see the way her lips pressed together, like there’s something else she wants to say but decides against it. I don’t give her the chance to change her mind. “I’ll talk to you later,” I add quickly, turning on my heel before I can second–guess myself. The last thing I need right now is to linger, to let the moment stretch into something that might force me to acknowledge the unfamiliar pull of… whatever this is.

As I dash off, weaving through the crowd, I hear her voice behind me, calling out, “Be careful!”

I don’t look back. I don’t even slow down.

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