Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Aurora’s POV

Every day, I would fetch my brother from school and drop him off at home, or with our next door neighbors, depending on how long.my shift for the day was, before I headed to work.

But today, I wasn’t able to pick Riley up on time, and so the only option that had been available to me…hadn’t been the most favorable one.

“Sorry I’m late buddy,” I huffed, breathless after running toward the gate, where he was waiting for me patiently, his big blue eyes wide with curiosity.

“It’s okay,” Riley smiled, peering up at me. “Did something happen?”

There was no way I was going to tell him about everything in my life, so I shook my head and gave him my best smile. “Nah,” I said, patting his head lightly. “I just had to finish some schoolwork, that’s all.”

“Oh,” Riley nodded, grabbing the straps of his back as he walked beside me slowly.

But when I glanced at the time on my phone, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to drop him off before I went to work.

“Riley,” I said, a bit hesitantly. “I’d have to take you to the restaurant with me, since I’m already late today. That okay with you, buddy?”

I thought that he’d want to go home immediately and rest after a long day, but his eyes sparkled with happiness instead.

“Yes!” he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “I want to go to the restaurant! Uncle Jerry is really nice and he gives me snacks too!”

I could feel the knot in my stomach tightening as Riley happily skipped ahead of me, his small hands gripping mine tightly as we made our way toward the diner. I was late–way later than I should have been–and I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I knew the longer I took, the more Jeremy, my manager, would be frustrated, but there was nothing I could do. The teacher had kept me after class to finish up my assignment, and I couldn’t leave Riley at our neighbors like I usually did.

“Are we gonna eat dinner here?” Riley asked excitedly as we entered through the diner’s back door. His innocent question made my heart ache. I wished I could give him something better than this–the same old diner with its cracked booths and stale coffee smell–but it was the only place I could afford, the only place where I could make sure we had food every day.

“Not tonight, little man. You’re just gonna hang out here until I finish my shift, okay?” I said, brushing a lock of hair from his face.

He nodded enthusiastically, plopping himself down on a stool at the counter and staring up at the cooks who were bustling around the kitchen, barking orders. Riley was easy to please, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want more for him. I wanted him to have everything I couldn’t, but sadly, I didn’t have much to offer him.

I sighed and slipped my apron over my head, tying it around my waist as I approached Jeremy, who was standing behind the counter with his

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