Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

Aurora’s PO.V

I didn’t know how it happened, not really. One moment, Caleb and I were sitting there, our eyes locked, the silence between us loaded with something unspoken but palpable. Then, without a second thought, I leaned in, and his lips met mine. It was warm, electrifying, and utterly intoxicating. My entire world narrowed down to that moment–Caleb’s arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer as if he never wanted to let go. The way his hand gently rested against the small of my back sent shivers racing up my spine. For the first time in forever, I felt fearless, as if nothing else mattered.

But then, like a cruel interruption, the shrill sound of a phone ringing sliced through the quiet. It felt jarring, almost offensive, in its timing. Caleb and I broke apart, breathless, our gazes darting everywhere except at each other. Jade rose from his seat at the table, muttering something about it being an important call, and stepped away to answer it. The absence of his presence only made the awkwardness worse. Caleb, ever the gentleman, helped me back into my chair, his touch lingering on my arm a second longer than

necessary.

As I settled in my seat, reality came crashing down like a bucket of cold water. What on Earth had I done? Did I really just kiss Caleb in front of the whole cafeteria just to prove to them that I was the person who he wanted? That whatever accusation they had in their minds about me seducing or bewitching Caleb…was

`all false?

My cheeks burned as I avoided everyone’s eyes, but of course, Caroline wasn’t about to let this slide. She let out a laugh–loud, teasing, and filled with the kind of mischief only she could muster.

“Aurora! Oh my God, what was that? Who are you, and what did you do with my shy, meek little friend? You just went full–on bold! Honestly, I was starting to wonder if I was hallucinating.”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “I wasn’t… bold,” I muttered, the heat in my cheeks refusing to

fade.

“I was just ” I paused, fumbling for words, then let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m so tired of everyone always looking down on me, treating me like I’m this timid, insignificant thing. I just… I wanted to prove a point, okay?”

Caroline smirked, leaning in with an exaggerated look of mock pity. “Aw, sweetie, you sure proved a point. I just don’t know if that point was ‘Look, I’m confident‘ or ‘Hey, look at this losers, Caleb, belongs to me now.‘ Either way, props for the show.”

I shot her a glare, though I couldn’t suppress the nervous laugh bubbling in my throat. “You’re not helping.”

“Who said I was trying to help?” she quipped, leaning back and crossing her arms with a grin. “I’m just here for entertainment.”

Caleb, thankfully, didn’t tease me like Caroline. He just sat there, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips, his gaze occasionally flicking toward me. And as much as I wanted to melt into the floor and

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Chapter 178

disappear, a tiny part of me didn’t regret it–not even a little.

As Caleb held me close, I could feel the warmth of his embrace spreading through me like a protective shield. His voice, soft yet firm, reached my ears, grounding me in the moment.

“Aurora, you don’t need to prove anything to anyone,” he murmured, his hand gently rubbing my back. “As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure you always feel loved and respected.”

I tilted my head to look up at him, a small smile playing on my lips. “It felt… good, though,” I admitted, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside. “Standing up for myself, I mean. When those

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