The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

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He stopped instantly, turning to face me. Brows furrowed. Concern written all over a face that usually only showed sarcasm or

annoyance.

“What’s wrong?”

I swallowed, trying to find the words. They tangled in my throat.

“We can’t go to the Headmaster.”

He stared at me for a moment like he thought he misheard. “Why not? Someone threatened you. You think I’m just going to-”

“Kael, listen,” I said quickly, stepping closer so no one else could hear. “Whoever texted me… they knew my real name.”

His expression shifted–the temperature behind his eyes dropping several degrees.

“Aurenya,” he murmured, barely audible.

“No one here should know that,” I whispered. “Not unless someone’s been digging. Watching. Or-” I forced myself to finish, even

though it made my stomach twist. “-they’re closer than we think.”

“So you think someone in the Academy is involved,” he said slowly, piecing it together out loud. “Someone with access. Someone

who could have taken that picture, too.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But if I go to the Headmaster and that person is connected? I’ll just be handing them everything they

want.”

He didn’t look convinced–but he wasn’t arguing either. His hand slipped from my back to my wrist instead, thumb brushing lightly over my pulse like he was checking if I was still breathing.

“You should’ve told me sooner,” he muttered.

I let out a weak laugh. “Yeah? And say what? ‘Hey, Kael, someone mysterious out there knows my real name and wants me to stop

digging into my past“?”

I shook my head. “You already have enough to deal with.”

He stepped closer–close enough that the warmth rolling off him chased away the chill for a moment.

“Don’t do that,” he said quietly. “Don’t shut me out.”

His voice wasn’t flirty now. No teasing. Just steady. Real.

I hated how much that got to me.

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Kael walked me all the way back to the dorms, his hand hovering close to my elbow like he wasn’t sure if he should hold on or give me space. I didn’t argue. I didn’t have the energy to.

By the time we reached my floor, my nerves were stretched so tight could practically hear them buzzing under my skin. I forced a small smile and told him I’d text him later- he didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded and stepped back anyway.

It was quiet when I pushed open the door to my room.

Too quiet.

Usually someone was playing music, or Mira was humming, or Lira was FaceTiming someone and laughing too loud.

Now… nothing.

All four beds were empty.

Lights off.

Curtains drawn, casting long stripes of shadow across the floor.

Weird.

But maybe they were all still in class. Or eating. Or just somewhere that wasn’t here.

I shook it off and tossed my bag onto my bed. I had just started digging for my charger when a small shiver crawled up my spine.

Something was sitting on my pillow.

A box.

Black.

Tied neatly with a dark ribbon.

There was no card.

No note.

Just… there.

Slowly, I sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled the ribbon loose, the smooth fabric slipping through my fingers. The lid came

off with a quiet, final little click.

Inside-

A silver moon pendant.

Beautiful.

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But the chain…

The chain was stiff.

Darkened.

When I touched it, a faint flake of dried red fell against my fingertip

Blood.

My pulse kicked up hard, a sharp throb behind my ribs. I swallowed, nausea rising.

This wasn’t a prank.

This wasn’t some jealous bitch stirring shit.

I reached for my phone–needing Kael, needing someone–and that’s when the screen lit up.

1 New Voicemail–Unknown Number

My throat tightened.

I shouldn’t play it.

I already knew I shouldn’t.

I pressed it anyway.

There was a hiss of static first.

Then a voice.

“Aurora…”

The witch.

Seraphina.

She sounded… terrified.

“They found me. Don’t–don’t trust-”

A crash.

Glass shattering.

Someone yelling in a language I didn’t understand.

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Another gasp–sharp and cut off too fast.

The message ended there.

The phone slipped from my hand onto the mattress.

The silence that followed wasn’t silence at all.

It roared–loud and crushing–every beat of my heart echoing in my head like a warning siren.

Someone is coming for me.

Someone who knows my real name.

Someone who knows exactly what I am.

My vision blurred at the edges. I pressed my palms against my eyes, forcing air into my lungs one shaky inhale at a time.

Focus.

Think.

Where were the girls?

Why wasn’t anyone here?

The doorknob rattled suddenly.

I jumped so hard my knees hit the underside of the desk.

The door swung open and-

“Aurora?!”

Mira.

I exhaled a breath that nearly buckled my legs.

She took one look at me-

then at the box still open on the bed-

and her entire face changed.

“What the hell is that?” she whispered.

Her voice was too loud.

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Everything was too loud.

I picked up the pendant with shaking fingers and showed it to her.

Mira’s eyes widened, hand flying to her mouth.

She didn’t even need to ask.

“I’m calling the others,” she said, already pulling out her phone.