The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 298

Chapter 298

“There’s more,” I said finally.

She lifted her head immediately. “I knew it.”

“Rory-”

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“No,” she cut in, already bracing herself. “Just say it.”

I took a breath. “Zade admitted he’s been pretending. All this time. The cruelty, the loyalty to my father–it’s an act. He said he’s been playing the role everyone expects him to play.”

She pulled back from me, sitting up fully now. “And you believed him?”

“I didn’t say that,” I replied carefully. “I said I listened.”

“That’s worse,” she shot back. “Listening is how he gets inside your head.”

“He’s already inside my head,” I said quietly. “He always has been.”

She shook her head, running a hand through her hair. “You’re making excuses for him.”

“I’m not,” I said, sitting up too so we were face to face. “I’m making a decision.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What decision?”

“I’m going to tell him everything,” I said.

The silence that followed was sharp, stunned.

“…What?” she said slowly.

“About Cecilia. About Theron. About the plan. All of it.”

She stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Absolutely not.”

“Rory-”

“No,” she said again, louder this time. “Have you forgotten what he did? He entered my dreams like it was nothing. He threatened me. He

works for your father. You do not get to hand him our truth and call it strategy.”

“He already knows pieces,” I argued.

“Enough to be dangerous. If I tell him everything, I control the narrative.”

“You control nothing once he knows,” she snapped. “You’re trusting him.”

“I’m not trusting him,” I said firmly. “I’m using him.”

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Chapter 298

She let out a sharp laugh, humorless.

“That’s what everyone says before it blows up in their face.”

“He said he’ll come back tonight,” I continued. “And when he does, I’m no lying to him anymore.”

Her expression hardened completely. “He is not on our side,”

“I didn’t say he was.”

“Then why are you doing this?” she demanded.

Because he hates our father, I almost said.

Instead, I said the truth.

“Because if there’s even a chance he’s telling the truth–if there’s even a crack there–I need to know.”

She stared at me for a long moment, then asked quietly, “Do you trust him”

The question hit deeper than any accusation.

I hesitated.

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“He’s my brother,” I said at last.

Her lips pressed together. “So is your father,” she said softly. “And you want him dead.”

That stopped me.

I looked at her then, and understood what she was afraid of. Not Zade. Not my father.

Me choosing blood over her.

“You’re right,” I said slowly. “Blood doesn’t mean loyalty. It doesn’t mean Innocence. It doesn’t mean anything on its own.”

She didn’t move, didn’t speak.

“I’m not telling him everything because he’s my brother,” I continued. “I’m telling him because if he’s lying, I’ll know. And if he’s not… then we gain something we don’t have right now.”

“And if you’re wrong?” she asked.

“Then I deal with the consequences,” I said. “But I won’t walk into this blind.”

She exhaled, long and frustrated, rubbing her face with both hands. “I hate this.”

“I know.”

“I hate that you’re even considering it.”

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“I know,” I repeated.

Silence stretched between us, tense and heavy. Finally, she leaned back against the headboard, eyes closed.

“If you do this,” she said quietly, “you tell me everything. Every word. No secrets.”

“I will.”

“And the second I say it’s too dangerous,” she added, opening her eyes to look at me, “we stop.”

I nodded. “We stop.”

She studied my face one last time, then leaned back into me–not fully relaxed, but not pulling away either.

“I don’t trust him,” she murmured.

“Neither do I,” I said, wrapping my arms around her.