The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

“Alright,” she said finally, “You’re not walking around alone for a while. Not until we figure this out.”

Mira nodded. “Agreed.”

“I’m fine,” I tried, but it sounded weak even to me.

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“No, you’re not,” Selene said simply. Her tone wasn’t harsh–it was final. “Someone out there knows who you are, Aurora. They want

you scared. Don’t give them what they want.”

By the time we finished lunch, my appetite still hadn’t come back. The others were trying to pretend everything was fine–Mira cracking jokes, Lira overexplaining some random art project, Riven keeping her eyes on the door like she expected someone to walk in at any second.

Selene stayed with us for a bit, long enough to make sure I wasn’t about to fall apart. Then she got a message from Alex and had to

leave.

I didn’t stop her. I knew she’d check on me later anyway.

When the table finally cleared, I told the others I wanted to walk for a bit. Fresh air, I said. They didn’t argue–just made me promise to text if anything weird happened.

Outside, the afternoon air was cool and damp, the kind that clung to your skin. The rain had stopped hours ago, but the clouds still hung low, heavy and silver. I walked without thinking about where I was going, just needing space–away from the whispers, away from the photo, away from that message that still burned in the back of my mind.

I ended up by the training fields.

Of course I did.

The sound of impact echoed from across the grass–a dull, steady rhythm of fists hitting a target.

I didn’t have to look to know who it was.

Zayn.

He was alone, shirtless again–of course–his movements sharp and controlled, but there was an edge to them. Each strike landed harder than the last. His knuckles were raw, the air around him carrying that familiar, stormy tension I’d learned to recognize.

For a second, I thought about turning back before he noticed me.

But then he looked up.

Our eyes met across the field.

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Chapter 145

He froze mid–swing, chest heaving

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then he reached for his towel, wiped his face and walked toward me

I forced myself to stay where I was, my pulso thudding hard in my throat.

You should really check what people are saying about you,” he said, voice calm but edged.

I clenched my jaw. “Already saw it.”

He nodded once, pocketing his phone. “Didn’t take you long enough move on, huh?”

“Excuse me?”

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Zayn stepped closer. “You heard me.”

My heartbeat kicked up. “You don’t get to say that.”

He tilted his head, mouth curving in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Why not? You made sure everyone knows who you belong

to now,”

‘I don’t belong to anyone.” I said, the words coming out sharp.

“Really?” His tone was quiet. “Because that picture-”

“-wasn’t your business,” I cut in. “It never was.”

He let out a short, bitter laugh. “Kael must be proud. Guess the hero finally got his reward.”

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us until he had no choice but to look at me. “You don’t get to act like you care,” I said, my voice low but steady. “Not after what you said to me, not after you made me feel like I was nothing.”

He went still–too still.

‘I gave you something,” I whispered. “Something I can’t get back. And you broke it. You broke me. So no–you don’t get to play

jealous now.”

For a moment, I thought I saw something crack behind his eyes–regret, guilt, something–but it was gone as quickly as it came.

Then he said, quietly. “You think this is easy for me?”

I let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “I don’t care if it easy for you, Zayn. You made your choice.”

“Maybe I did,” he said. “But so did you.”

I didn’t answer.

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Chapter 145

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I just turned and walked away before I could feel any more of it–the hurt, the anger, the pull that still shouldn’t have been here at

all.

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