Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Aurora’s POV

I folded my arms, leaning my back against the chair as I watched Caleb shift uncomfortably in his seat. The weight of unspoken words hung heavy between us, thickening the air in the small space. His jaw tightened like he was bracing himself for a fight, but I had no energy left for battles. Not today Kot with

him.

“Why are you really here, Caleb?” I finally asked, my voice steady, but cool. I was tired of the guessing game, the way he always seemed to walk in and out of my life like he had all the time in the world. Like I’d just be waiting.

He exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “I wanted to see you,‘ he admitted. ‘I wanted to- He hesitated, eyes flickering over my face, searching for something, maybe for a sign that I wouldn’t shut him out. “I wanted to make things better between us, Aurora. And I’m sorry… for bringing up the scholarship like that.”

I studied him for a moment, letting his words settle in. There was sincerity there, real regret in his tone, and for once, I saw past my own walls to the boy 1 had once had a crush on…and still did. I nodded slightly. I’m glad you finally understand the truth now, I said. “It wasn’t about pride, Caleb. It was never about that.

“I know,” he murmured. He looked down at his hands, fingers curling into his palms like he was trying to hold onto something fragile. Then, after a beat, he looked up at me again, determination creeping into his features. “There’s still a way, you know. A test. If you take it and pass, you can get the full scholarship. It’s not too late, Aurora.”

I let out a dry, humorless laugh and shook my head. He was still holding onto this idea, this belief that there was some magical solution, some way to fix everything if I just tried hard enough. If I just endured a little longer.

“There’s no need for that,‘ I said, watching his face carefully, knowing what was coming. “I quit.”

Caleb blinked. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. It took a full second before he could even process what I’d just said. “You–what?” His brows furrowed in disbelief. “You quit school?”

“Yes,” I said simply.

“How–how can you just quit?” His voice sharpened, confusion and frustration leaking through. “You’ve worked so hard for this, Aurora. You can’t just throw it all away.”

“I didn’t throw anything away,” I replied, my voice calm but firm. “School isn’t a friendly place for me anymore, Caleb. It’s not safe. You don’t understand what it’s like walking into that building every day, knowing that no one wants you there. That they’d rather see me gone.” I swallowed the lump in my throat, but the pain still lingered in my chest. “So I left. I’d rather work and pay off my father’s debts than stay in a place that only makes me feel like I don’t belong.”

He stared at me, the weight of my words sinking in. His face softened, something like realization dawning in his eyes. “Aurora…” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, looking like he wanted to argue, to fix it somehow, but knowing that maybe, just maybe, he had no right to.

I didn’t need fixing. I needed understanding. And for the first time, I saw the moment it finally hit him.

His jaw tightened as he struggled to find the right words. His eyes, usually so steady, flickered with uncertainty.

“Aurora, you have to believe me. If you just take the test, you can still make it,” he insisted, his voice laced with desperation.

I let out a slow breath, exhaustion washing over me. “Caleb, I’m tired of this,” I said, my voice calmer than I felt. “I don’t want to go in circles anymore. I don’t want to talk about this.” I expected him to fight back, to keep arguing, to try to change my mind, but instead, something shifted in his expression.

He suddenly straightened, his body going rigid like he had just heard something I couldn’t. His brows furrowed, and for a brief moment, I saw something like panic flash across his face. Then, without another word, he pushed back his chair, legs screeching against the floor, and before I could even process what was happening, he was already halfway to the door.

“Caleb?” My voice barely made it past my lips, but he didn’t stop. He didn’t even look back.

1 blinked, staring at the empty space where he had been just seconds ago, my chest tightening with something sharp and unwelcom

st… left. Just like

that.

1/2

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