Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Aurora’s POV

The waiting car gleamed in the driveway, its polished surface reflecting the warm morning sunlight. I hesitated for a second before stepping forward, trying to steady my nerves.

The door of the car opened, and that’s when I saw her–Caroline’s mother, Moira. She was stunning, her blonde hair catching the light like spun gold, her green eyes sharp and assessing. I smiled politely, but as her gaze landed on me, I caught the slight falter in her expression, a twitch at the corner of her mouth that she quickly masked with a practiced smile.

“Caroline,” she began warmly, her voice lilting, “and Aurora, darling, you look lovely as ever.” Then her eyes slid to me, and the warmth dimmed. “And why are you here?”

Before I could say a word, Caroline jumped in, her voice a little too cheerful. “Mom, this is-”

“I invited her,” Maya interrupted, stepping forward confidently. “Aurora’s birthday is coming up too, and I thought it would be nice for her to join us today.”

Moira’s gaze flicked between Maya and me, her lips pressed into a thin line before curving into another tight smile.

“How thoughtful,” she said, though her tone didn’t match the words.

I stayed quiet, unsure if I should say anything. The air was thick with tension, but Caroline, bless her, tried to diffuse it.

“We should get going, right? The boutique’s waiting, and I can’t wait to see what dresses they have!”

As we all slid into the car, I found myself sitting awkwardly in the backseat next to Moira. She didn’t say much to me, her focus on the road ahead, but every now and then, I could feel her gaze flit toward me, sharp and curious. Caroline and Maya kept the conversation flowing, mostly about dresses and plans for the party, and I nodded along, pretending I wasn’t hyper–aware of Moira’s obvious discomfort with my presence.

When we arrived at the boutique, the tension hadn’t eased. Inside, the racks were filled with stunning gowns, fabrics shimmering under the soft lighting. Caroline flitted excitedly between racks, pulling out dresses and holding them up for approval. Maya followed suit, offering her opinions with enthusiasm, but I hung back, acutely aware of Moira’s presence lingering just a little too close for comfort.

At one point, she finally turned to me, her voice cool but polite. “So, Aurora, what brings you here today? I wasn’t aware you and Caroline were… close.”

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my tone light. “Maya thought it would be nice for me to join. She mentioned the birthday, and I figured it’d be fun to help pick out the dress.”

Since I didn’t have any other defenses prepared, I went along with what explanation Maya had offered Moira earlier today.

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Maya can be… generous,” she said, her tone dripping with something I couldn’t quite place. “Well, let’s make sure this day is perfect for Caroline, shall we?”

I nodded, forcing a smile, and decided then and there that I’d stay out of her way as much as possible. For Caroline’s sake.

As I finally looked around the shop, I felt like I had been transported to another world. The air seemed different here–lighter, almost shimmering with possibilities. Ball gowns in every conceivable shape and/color lined the walls like a rainbow of unattainable dreams. Dresses I had only ever seen in movies hung delicately on golden racks, their sequins catching the light in a way that made them sparkle like tiny stars.

My heart sank, and unease settled deep in my chest. This wasn’t my world. This was the realm of the wealthy, where a single dress probably cost more than I’d ever earned in a year. My fingers brushed against the fabric of one gown, and even that felt too indulgent, like I was tainting something pure with my touch.

“I can’t afford to be in here,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the soft classical music playing in the background. My instinct was to turn around, to escape before someone could figure out I didn’t belong. But then Maya’s hand landed gently on my shoulder, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

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