The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 174

The Human Among Wolves

Chapter 174

Aurora

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My stomach twisted. “It’s still night?”

Kael pushed himself to his feet, pacing once. “Whatever that witch did before she died, it didn’t stop with her. The spell’s holding.”

I rubbed my arms, trying to fight the chill crawling under my skin. ou said her magic would die when she did.”

“I said it should’ve,” Kael’s jaw tightened. “This wasn’t Seraphina’s kind of magic. Hers was old, grounded. What this witch used…” He looked toward the ceiling as if he could feel it pressing down on us. “…was the kind that feeds off what’s left behind.”

I swallowed hard. “Feeds how?”

Kael’s gaze flicked to the pendant at my throat. “Fear. Blood. Energy Anything still breathing.”

Zayn scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “So we killed her, and now we’re stuck in her mess.”

“Basically,” Kael muttered.

The fire pit glowed faintly, one ember fighting to stay alive. I stared at it for a long moment before whispering, “What if it never

turns to morning?”

Kael looked at me. “Then it’s not night or morning anymore. It’s just the spell. Holding us in the same hour.”

The words made my chest tighten.

Zayn pushed himself up, restless. “I’m going out. I’ll check the perimeter.”

Kael stepped in front of him. “No one goes alone.”

Zayn met his eyes, his tone edged. “Then come with me.”

Kael hesitated. “what about her?”

Zayn’s lip curled in something close to a sneer. “Relax. I’m not leaving her alone.”

I cut in before either of them could start. “Both of you stay where I can see you. Please.”

That seemed to pull them back–for a moment, anyway.

I stood, pacing toward the window. The glass was cold when I touched it. Too cold. My reflection looked strange in it–pale, faintly

distorted, like the glass was a second away from warping.

I pulled my phone from my pocket out of habit, not hope. No service

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Chapter 174

I stared at the blank signal bar anyway.

Then I scrolled to my messages and hovered over Mira’s name.

I typed You awake?

Waited.

Nothing.

Then I tried Lira, Something’s wrong. We can’t leave the woods. Please call me.

The text failed to send.

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Kael must’ve noticed. “No signal?”

I shook my head, throat tight. “It’s like the network doesn’t exist.”

Zayn stepped closer, his voice low. “Magic can scramble electronics. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, but…” I swallowed. “I just needed to try.”

Kael’s gaze softened for half a second. Then his attention she leans for

So I did.

back to the window. “Try again. Maybe something breaks through.”

Selene.

Riven.

One by one.

Every text failed.

When that didn’t work, I pressed call.

Mira first. The line clicked once, twice–then static filled my ear.

“Hello?” My voice came out too sharp. “Mira?”

Nothing.

Just that same, hollow noise–soft, low, like a whisper through wires

I pulled the phone back and stared at the screen. The call hadn’t dropped. It was still connected.

“Someone’s on the line,” I whispered.

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Chapter 174

Kael turned. “Who?”

“Mira. I think-”

A sound came through the speaker before I could finish.

It wasn’t her voice.

It was breathing.

Slow. Measured. Too close to the mic.

Zayn crossed the room in two strides, taking the phone from me. “Who is this?”

Silence.

Then–soft, faint, almost curious-

Aurora.

It said my name.

Not Mira’s voice. Not anyone’s voice I knew.

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Something else.

Zayn ended the call instantly. The sound cut off, leaving a high ringing in the air.

He set the phone down on the table, his expression unreadable. “You’re not calling anyone else.”

I could barely hear my own voice when I said, “It knew my name.”

Kael looked from the phone to me, then to the dark outside. “It’s the spell. It’s feeding through anything it can touch.”

“So it can reach through the phone?”

“Through you,” Kael said quietly.

The lantern flickered again. The shadows along the wall shifted. For a second, I thought I saw movement just outside the window- the faint outline of someone standing there, pale and still.

I blinked, and it was gone.

Kael must’ve seen my face. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

Kael didn’t argue, but I saw the muscle tick in his jaw. “We need firewood,” he said, voice low. “It’s dropping fast out there,”

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Chapter 174

Zayn looked up from where he sat by the window. “We agreed no c

Kael met his eyes. “Then we both go.”

The rule wasn’t up for debate. After the mimic, none of us trusted

Kael glanced at me. “Lock the door after we leave. If anything hap]

“I know,” I said quickly. “You’ll be right outside.”

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