Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Aurora’s POV

Sitting cross–legged on the bed, I watched Riley furrow his brows in concentration as he scribbled away on the worksheet in front of him. The rooms quiet except for the sound of his pencil scratching against the paper and the occasional frustrated sigh he let out. I chuckled softly and ridged his BA

“You’ve got this, Riley. Just focus. The answer’s simpler than you think.” He glanced at me, his lips pulling into a half smile, and nodded, it felt nice, moments like these, just the two of us, where I could guide him and feel like I was making a difference in his life Riley had always looked up to me, and f wanted to be the person he could rely on, no matter what.

But then, out of nowhere, a sharp, piercing pain shot through my chest. It wasn’t subtle or gradual–it hit me like a bolt of lightning, making me gesp. My hand instinctively went to my chest, and for a second, I thought my heart had stopped. Riley looked up, his face immediately clouded with concers.

“Sis? What’s wrong?” His voice pulled me out of the fog, but I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I stood up and moved toward the window, my movements jerky and unsure. The feeling was fading, but the unease it left behind lingered.

Pulling the curtains aside, I peered out into the late afternoon light. Everything seemed normal at first, the familiar view of the woods stretching out beyond the packhouse. But then, in the distance, a thin column of smoke rose into the sky. It wasn’t natural–definitely not a campfire or anything harmless. My stomach twisted as questions flooded my mind. What was happening? Why had I felt that pain? And, more importantly, why did the direction of the smoke feel familiar?

“Big sis?” Riley’s voice brought me back to the room, his tone more insistent–now. I turned to look at him, forcing a smile onto my face even though my

light as I could manage. thoughts were racing. “It’s nothing,” I said, my voice as

“I just thought I heard something outside. Probably my imagination.” He didn’t look entirely convinced, but I didn’t give him a chance to press further. I walked back to the bed, sitting down beside him, and ruffled his hair in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Come on, let’s get back to this. I think you were just about to figure out question four.”

He hesitated but eventually nodded, his focus shifting back to the worksheet. I tried to do the same, acting like everything was normal, but my mind kept wandering back to that smoke and the strange pain in my chest. Something wasn’t right. I just didn’t know what.

It was right when Maya, Caleb’s mom, arrived with a plate of freshly cut fruit. Her timing couldn’t have been better. Riley and I had been buried in books for what felt like hours, our focus wavering, and the sight of her with that kind smile and a much–needed break was a relief. She set the plate down between us and motioned for us to pause.

“You two need to take a break,” she said, her tone warm yet firm. Riley and I exchanged quick grins, welcoming the interruption.

“Come, sit with us,” I said, gesturing to bed. She obliged, sitting down gracefully and looking at me with that motherly concern that made me feel both seen and slightly guilty..

“Aurora,” she began, leaning forward slightly, “have you thought about going back to school?” Her voice was careful, as if she didn’t want to push too hard. “The midterms are coming up, and I’d hate for you to lose another year.” Her words hung in the air, and I couldn’t ignore the truth behind them. I hesitated, fiddling with the edge of my notebook, but finally met her gaze.

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