The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226

“Room twelve. Hot water’s slow, but it gets there,” she says with a small wink.

“Thanks,” Zayn says easily.

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We head back outside, the cold air waking me just a little as the door closes behind us. Room twelve is near the end of the row.

Zayn unlocks the door and steps aside so I can go in first.

The room is simple–nothing fancy, just a small dresser, two nightstands, a bathroom tucked off to the side… and one single bed in

the middle.

I don’t even pause this time.

Zayn and I have shared beds before. This doesn’t feel strange or awkward. It just feels… normal.

I drop my backpack near the dresser with a tired sigh, already peeling off my jacket. Zayn sets his things down too, locking the door

behind us. The quiet settles again, thick but comfortable.

I look at the bed and smile faintly.

“At least it looks soft.”

He smirks. “That’s all that matters right now.”

I clear my throat softly as I unzip my backpack, suddenly very aware of the quiet between us. My fingers sift through my things until I find what I’m looking for, and I pull out a fresh set of clothes

“I’ll… go take a shower first,” I say, trying to sound casual as I straighten up.

Zayn looks up at me from where he’s already sitting on the edge of the bed, one arm braced behind him, posture relaxed in that effortless way he always has. His eyes meet mine for a brief second, steady and calm.

“Yeah,” he says simply, giving a small nod. “Go ahead.”

I shift my clothes against my chest and head toward the bathroom, the soft sound of my steps filling the space between us. Just before I shut the door, I glance back at him once more. He’s still sitting there, watching me with that quiet, unreadable expression.

Then I close the door behind me, the click echoing gently in the room.

After the shower, I step back into the room, the steam still clinging intly to my skin. I’m dressed simply–a black shirt, soft and worn–in, and black leggings that feel more like comfort than clothes. My hair is still damp, ends darkened where the water hasn’t

fully dried yet.

Zayn looks up the second the bathroom door opens. For a brief moment, he just watches me, unreadable as always. Then he pushes

himself off the bed in one smooth motion.

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Chapter 226

“If you’re done,” he says lightly, already reaching for his things, “I’ll go now.”

I nod, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Yeah. It’s all yours.”

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He gives me a small smile as he grabs a towel and heads toward the bathroom, passing close enough that I feel the warmth of him

as he goes by. A second later, the door clicks shut behind him, and the room falls quiet again.

I sink down onto my side of the bed, the mattress dipping softly beneath my weight as I wait for Zayn to finish in the bathroom.

The room is quiet in that strange, unfamiliar way motel rooms always are–too still, too empty. I reach for my phone out of habit,

wanting to let my roommates know we’re, wanting to reassure them before they start spiraling.

The screen lights up.

No service.

I stare at it for a second, then huff out a quiet, humorless laugh. Of course. Middle of nowhere. Northern woods. What did I expect-

perfect signal and fast Wi–Fi?

I try anyway, refreshing it once, twice. Nothing changes. The little icon just sits there, unbothered by my growing frustration.

“Great,” I murmur under my breath, letting my phone fall onto the bed beside me.

For a moment, I just lie there, staring at the ceiling, listening to the faint sound of running water on the other side of the door, reminding myself that I’m not actually alone–even if it feels that way right now.