Claimed by My Bully Alpha (by Anna Kendra) novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Caleb’s POV

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen!” Caroline’s father took the microphone to make the announcement, grabbing everyone’s attention instantly. “The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! Please welcome the birthday boy and his beautiful date onstage.”

‘I’m so sorry. Caroline told me via the mental bond. ‘First the dress and now this…I don’t think he understands that mating bonds can’t be forced.

‘It’s alright.‘ I smile at her outwardly as I kept up the mental connection. ‘Let’s just get this show over with.

‘Yes, everything will become clear in a few seconds.‘ Caroline added as I got on stage and helped her up.

The crowd, that consisted of all unmated women of the pack and beyond, from teens to young adults, looked at me expectantly, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart thrashing inside my chest as the weight of their combined glances weighed heavily on my shoulders.

“No! Caleb, there’s only a minute left for the clock to strike midnight and for the big reveal.” Caroline’s father announced, his expectant gaze turning towards me, and I had no other option that to smile brightly at him. “Are you ready? Is everyone here ready for the big reveal?”

A roaring chorus of ‘yes‘, reverberated off the walls, making me flinch at the magnitude of the sound as they started counting down the time left for my birthday. I took Caroline’s hand and looked at the crowd with a smile, but no matter how I tried, it felt suffocating.

When Caroline had appeared at my house, wearing a dress that had the same design as my jacket, I knew that it wasn’t just her parents that were still hoping that we would be mates, my mine as well. At that point, I wished I have told them the truth, but I was still hesitant about it, even though my wolf knew…I knew, who my real mate was supposed to be.

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Was it because I missed her? Was that the reason why I was suddenly getting her scent from inside the room?

“Seven…six…five…”

No…it couldn’t be, could it?

‘She’s here!‘ Caroline telepathed to me and that was when I realized that she could scent her too.

‘Where? I can’t see her!‘ I began to search the room frantically, but it was too crowded and the spotlights that had been pointed towards us were too bright for my eyes to adjust.

“Four…three…two…one…Happy Birthday!”

The second the clock strikes midnight, a familiar scent fills the air, sharp and intoxicating, making my chest tighten. Aurora. My eyes dart around the grand hall, scanning every face, every movement, expecting–hoping–to see her. The music is still blaring, the guests laughing and drinking as if nothing in the world is wrong, but I know better. My heart pounds against my ribs as I take a step forward, inhaling deeply, trying to pinpoint where the scent is coming from. It’s her. She’s here.

“Caleb?” Caroline’s voice cuts through my thoughts, her hand reaching for my arm, concern written all over her face. “What’s wrong? Do you see her?”

I shake her off without thinking, my body already moving before my mind catches up. “No,” I mutter, but my pulse is hammering, my instincts screaming. “Something’s wrong.”

I leap off the stage, pushing past a group of people who protest as I shove them aside, but I don’t care. My entire world has narrowed down to that one, unmistakable scent.

Then I see him.

Shane.

The scent isn’t coming from the crowd. It’s not from some shadowy corner where she might be hiding. It’s him. My breath stutters for a fraction of a second before rage surges through me, white–hot and uncontrollable. Without thinking, without hesitating, I close the distance between us in a blink, grabbing him by the collar.

“Where is she?” I snarl, yanking him forward so our faces are inches apart. “What did you do to her?”

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Chapter 61

Shane barely flinches. If anything, the bastard smirks, his lips curling in amusement as he looks me dead in the eyes.

“Come on, Caleb,” he drawls, voice laced with niockery. “It’s your birthday. Shouldn’t you be having fun instead of worrying about some stupid whore?”

Everything inside me snaps.

A guttural growl rips through my chest, raw and menacing, silencing the conversations around us. My fingers tighten around his collar, my grip so firm I could crush his throat if I wanted to. I want to. My teeth grind together as I breathe heavily through my nose, barely holding myself back from tearing him apart right here, right now.

That ‘stupid whore‘,” I hiss, voice low and venomous, “is

my mate.”

And just like that…the smirk vanishes from his face.

For the first time, there’s a flicker of something in his eyes–surprise, maybe even fear–but it’s gone just as quickly as it came. He schools his features into something unreadable, but I don’t miss the way his jaw tightens, the way his pulse thrums against my fingers. He wasn’t expecting that. Good.

Because I swear on everything I have, if he’s hurt her, if he’s taken her from me, he won’t live to regret it.

I stood there, feeling the blood drain from my face as Shane’s expression shifted from shock to pure terror. His lips parted, but no words came out–just the sound of his shaky breath. Mia let out a sharp gasp, her hand flying to her mouth as she took a step back, her wide eyes darting between Shane and me. My heart pounded against my ribs, each beat echoing in my ears like a war drum. I took a step forward, my voice cold, demanding.

“What did you do, Shane?” The weight of my words made him stumble backward, his throat working like he wanted to say something, but all he could do was shake his head. My stomach twisted. I needed an answer, and I needed it now.

It was Mia who finally broke the silence, her voice trembling. “He–he locked Aurora up,” she whispered, almost as if she didn’t want to believe the words coming out of her own mouth. “With Mr. Hemming. In the basement.”

Everything inside me snapped.

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