Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Aurora’s POV

I stared at the box in Caleb’s hands, my voice barely above a whisper as I asked, “Where did you find this? Caleb, I haven’t seen this in ages, I thought it was gone forever.” My fingers tremble slightly as I reached out to touch the worn edges, the intricate carvings still as delicate as I remembered.

Caleb looked at me, his brow furrowed in concern. “It was tucked away in one corner of your closet,” he said softly, his voice steady.

*I found it just before the fire reached your room. I thought it might be important, so I grabbed it. I didn’t even realize=”

Before he could finish, a sob escaped me, and I quickly wiped away the tears that blurred my vision. Hugging the box to my chest, I turned to him, my voice breaking. “Caleb, you have no idea what this means to me. This… this was my mother’s. It’s the last thing I have of hers.” My breath hitched as I forced the words out, trying to keep myself composed.

“I had to hide it all the time so my father wouldn’t find it. He would’ve pawned it off, like he did with all of my mom’s other jewelry, like he did with everything else that mattered.”

Caleb’s eyes softened, and he took a step closer, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder.

“Aurora,” he said gently, “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. If I had known… I would’ve done something sooner. But I promise, as long as I’m here, no one’s ever taking this–or anything else–from you again.”

I shook my head, the tears now freely streaming down my face as I hugged him tightly, the box pressed between us.

“Thank you, Caleb,” I whispered against his shoulder. “Thank you for saving it. You’ve given me back a piece of her, something I thought I’d lost forever.”

His arms wrapped around me, steady and strong. “You’re not alone in this, Aurora. You never will be,” he murmured, his words grounding me in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

Later, as we sat on the steps of the familiar gazebo in the woods, I looked at the box on my lap, the wood still holding its shape. I was afraid of opening it, an unknown fear pressing down on my shoulders like a weight. What if the box was empty? What if my father managed to find the jewel that I had hidden and had already pawned it off? What if…

“If I could’ve saved the house, Aurora, I would’ve. You know I would’ve fought tooth and nail for it. But it’s gone now, and I think… maybe it’s time to let it go. Build something new. Better. Together, with you.”

I looked at him, the earnestness in his blue eyes pulling at my heart. ‘I don’t want a better house, Caleb,” I said softly, my words making him pause and tilt his head slightly as if trying to understand.

“I love it here, in the packhouse. I love staying with your family, being part of this place. It feels… right. Like home.”

It was the honest truth. A part of me was glad that the old house was gone. Even though it held memories of my childhood, of my mother, but most of the memories there were tainted by my father’s hate and anger.

A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, and I could see the tension melt away from his shoulders.

“You love my family? And the packhouse?” he asked, almost as if he couldn’t believe it.

Of course, I do, I said, a small laugh escaping me. “They’ve been nothing but kind to me. And the packhouse–it’s more than just walls and a roof. It’s alive, filled with stories and memories. I don’t need some fancy, new place. This is enough.”

He nodded, his smile growing wider, and for a moment, we just sat there in comfortable silence. Then his gaze shifted to the wooden box sitting on the step beside me. “So,” he said, a note of curiosity creeping into his tone, ‘what’s inside the box?”

I glanced at it, brushing my fingers over the worn surface. “I don’t know, I admitted. ‘It’s been shut for years. Guess there’s only one way to find out.”

With a deep breath, I picked it up in my hands, eager to find out the contents of the box. I tried lifting the lid, but it didn’t budge. Caleb crouched down beside me, watching as I furrowed my brows and tried again.

“Need some help?‘ he teased, his grip playful.

1/2

Chapter 166

I’ve got it. I replied, though the stubborn lid made me question my confidence. With one final tug, it gave way, the creak of the hinges breaking the quiet around us. Inside, nestled against faded velvet lining, was a delicate gold necklace with a tiny emerald pendant that shimmered faintly in the light.

Wow, Caleb breathed, leaning closer. That’s beautiful. Do you recognize it?‘

“I think I do,” I told him, remembering this from my childhood.

1 picked it up gently, the cool metal warming against my palm as I held it up to the sunlight. The intricate design of the pendant glimmered, casting faint patterns on my skin. My mother used to tell me this was a gift from her grandparents, 1 said softly, my voice carrying a wistful note.

“She always treasured it, but she was too scared to wear it. She said losing it would feel like losing them all over again.”

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