The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Zayn

The room smelled a little like tain and metal, with the storm sneaking in through gaps around the blackout curtains. Thin streaks of silver. light hit Charlotte’s bare shoulder as she moved under me. My hands stayed on her hips without really thinking, but my mind was totally

somewhere else.

Back at lunch.

Back at Malric’s sneer.

Back at the way Aurora hadn’t even flinched when she spoke up.

I clenched my jaw and tried to pull my focus back, but Charlotte’s voice cut in first. “You were defending her.”

Not a question. An accusation, heavy and sharp–jealousy, raw and territorial.

I stayed quiet, letting the silence grow thick. That only made her angrier. She twisted, looking back over her shoulder at me, eyes blazing. “Tell me I’m wrong, Zayn. Tell me you didn’t step in for her.”

I exhaled through my nose,

frustration flaring hotter than the moment. “Malric was out of line. Anyone with half a brain could see that.”

“Anyone, sure,” she shot back, biting each word like poison, “but you? You never get involved. You don’t even blink when fights break out.

But with her-”

I cut her off. “Charlotte, stop.”

Her eyes narrowed, but I wasn’t looking at her anymore. Aurora’s face–confused, stubborn, unafrai impossible to shake. I hated how fast it unsettled me.

fered in my mind, unwanted but

“God,” Charlotte hissed, twisting fully to face me, sheets tangled between us. “You’re thinking ab

it now, aren’t you?”

That hit like a slap–not because she was wrong, but because she was too damn close to the truth. I dragged a hand down my face, forcing my breath steady. “This,” I said, waving between us, “is exactly why I don’t want to talk about her.”

Charlotte stared, chest rising fast, anger so thick it felt like it could choke the air. “She doesn’t belong here, Zayn. And if she’s got you looking at her twice, she’s already a fucking problem.”

I met her gaze, steel edging my voice. “She’s not a problem.”

Charlotte’s lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “No,” she said slowly and deliberately, “she’s a little bitch who thinks she can steal my man. I warned her yesterday–‘

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Chapter 10

My law tightened. “No one’s stealing anythin

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She laughed, but there was no humor just sharp,

1. es. “You really don’t see it, do you? That girl walks in here with no scent, no

pack, no name–and suddenly every head is turning. Even yours.”

I shifted back slightly, putting some space between us even though her words cut deeper than I wanted to admit. “You’re imagining

things.”

“I’m not!” she shot back, voice low but steady. “I felt it today in the cafeteria. I feel it right now.”

My eyes locked on hers, cold and hard. “Careful.”

Her breath hitched, but she didn’t look away. If anything, she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “I don’t care who

she is or what she is. If she’s in my way, she’s going to regret it.”

Something inside me snapped, but I kept my voice steady. “This isn’t about her. It’s about you seeing threats everywhere–every shadow

that so much as breathes in my direction.”

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She froze for a beat–just long enough to know I hit a nerve–before lifting her chin, defiant. “You’re damn right I protect what’s mine.”

“Charlotte-”

“No,” she cut me off, fierce and breathless. “If you’re going to keep defending her, you better decide real fast which side you’re on.”

The muscles in my jaw locked, a slow ache spreading. “Which side I’m on?” I repeated, voice low enough that she stopped. “You really think this is a war? That you need to fight every shadow you think is looking my way?”

Her mouth parted, but I didn’t give her a chance to answer. “I’m not your trophy to guard,” I snapped. “And Aurora? She didn’t ask for my help. She didn’t need me.”

Her brows furrowed, dark and sharp. “Then why did you do it?”

“Because Malric was out of line!” I snapped. “Because I’m not just going to stand there and wat not strength. That’s pathetic.”

Charlotte’s face flushed red, anger wild and unfocused. “So you’re her savior now? You think she’s-”

miliate someone for sport. That’s

“Stop.” I pushed off the bed, pulling on my pants with sharp movements, desperate for distance before I said something worse. “This isn’t about her. It’s about you not trusting me enough to know the difference between protecting someone and wanting them.”

She sat frozen, chest rising and falling quickly, eyes gleaming with more hurt than she’d ever admit.

I ran a hand through my hair, voice dropping so it cut like a blade. “You think I want her? Fine. Think it. But I won’t stand here and let you tear apart someone who didn’t deserve what happened today just because you’re scared of losing ground you don’t even need to fight

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Chapter 10

for.”

Her lip trembled–just a little–but she caught it

isted it into a sheer. “You’re defending her again.”

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“Yeah,” I said, holding her gaze steady. “And I’d do it again.”

Charlotte stared at me like I’d hit her. Her breath caught–shallow, sharp–then she swung her legs over the side of the bed and grabbed

her clothes in jerky, clipped movements.

“You don’t even hear yourself,” she said, voice shaking but fierce, not weak. “You can’t see how she’s already getting in your head.”

“Charlotte-

“No.” She yanked her shirt over her head, hair wild and cheeks flushed. “I stood by you through every fight, every training, every political stunt our parents pulled. And you- Her hand sliced the air toward me. “You break a wrist for some girl you barely know?”

I took a slow step forward, careful and controlled. “I didn’t break his wrist.”

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“Oh, excuse me–cracked it, fractured it, whatever makes you feel noble.” Her laugh was harsh and bitter. “You don’t get to play protector,

Zayn. Not for her.”

Something inside me cooled, like ice water dousing fire. “You’re mad because I stepped in,” I said. “But this– I gestured between us. “this

isn’t about Aurora. It’s

about you needing me to prove where I stand every five seconds.”

Her lips pressed so tight they turned white, but she said nothing. Didn’t deny it. Didn’t even try.

“Get out,” I said finally.

My voice wasn’t loud, but it landed heavy enough to make her flinch.

Charlotte’s jaw worked like she wanted to spit something cruel back, but nothing came. She grabbed the rest of her clothes and stalked to the door, stopping for a second with her hand on the knob, back to me.

“You won’t even realize what she’s doing,” she said quietly. “Not until it’s too late.”

What she’s doing? She didn’t do anything. I was the one that stepped in.

Then she was gone. The door slammed behind her, rattling the frame.

Silence filled the room–thick and suffocating.

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The Human Among Wolves

Chapter