The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 329

Chapter 329

Zayn. Smiling. Relaxed. Sitting far too comfortably beside someone who wasn’t me.

The fork trembled slightly in my hand before I noticed what I was doing, set it down, fingers curling into my palm instead.

The room felt warmer all of a sudden, the air heavier in my lungs. I shifted in my chair, uncomfortable for reasons I couldn’t quite explain.

Mira nudged my knee under the table.

“You’re zoning out,” she murmured.

“I’m fine,” I said automatically, though the words tasted off.

I wasn’t fine.

Something inside me stirred-subtle at first, like a low hum beneath my skin. I tried to ignore it, chalked it up to lack of sleep, to jealousy I

didn’t want to admit to myself.

But the sensation didn’t fade. It spread. A slow, deliberate heat unfurling my chest, sliding down my spine, settling deep in my stomach.

Not panic.

Not fear.

Possession.

1 stilled, my breath catching slightly.

That wasn’t my emotion.

My heartbeat picked up, loud in my ears, every thud echoing with a strange awareness. The sounds around me sharpened the scrape of a chair several tables away, the clink of a glass, the soft inhale of Mira’s breath beside me. My senses felt tuned too tight, stretched thin.

No, I thought, more instinct than word. Not now.

My gaze betrayed me, lifting again despite my efforts.

Zayn leaned closer to the girl, saying something low. She smiled back at him, her hand brushing his arm briefly as she laughed.

The heat flared.

Sharp. Sudden, Angry.

A growl curled somewhere deep in my chest–not audible, but real enough that my shoulders tensed in response. My jaw clenched, teeth pressing together as the feeling surged, demanding attention.

Mine.

The word wasn’t spoken. It wasn’t even formed properly. It was a certaint A truth

that didn’t ask permission.

I froze.

My pulse roared, blood rushing through my ears as the presence inside me shifted, stretching like it had been asleep for far too long. It wasn’t

gentle. It wasn’t curious.

It was awake.

My nails dug into my palm as I fought to breathe normally. Across the table, Lira was laughing at something Riven said, blissfully unaware of

the storm crashing through me.

Selene leaned into Alex’s side, calm and grounded.

I envied her in that moment.

The warmth intensified, coiling tighter, more focused. My body leaned forward without my consent, attention locked on Zayn.

Then he looked up.

Our eyes met across the room.

The connection slammed into me.

The presence inside me surged forward violently, no longer content to stay buried.

My breath hitched, the air knocked halfway from my lungs as something ancient and fierce pressed against my ribs, snarling in silent warning.

Zayn’s expression changed instantly.

His smile vanished. His posture stiffened, shoulders squaring as his gaze sharpened-darkening with recognition, with something dangerously

alert. He felt it. I knew he did.

The girl beside him frowned slightly,

confused, following his line of sight.

I broke eye contact first.

I pushed my chair back abruptly, the sound scraping loudly against the floor. Mira turned to me, startled.

“Rory?” she asked.

“I-I need air,” I said, already standing, my voice tighter than I meant it to be.

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