The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Zayn

I woke up with a knot in my chest that made m

bring. My father, the King, was coming to the aca

sleep had been a stranger last night–I knew exactly what today would

thought of it made my body ache with tension, I hadn’t even tried going

to class; the energy it would take to sit through lectures, to pretend I was paying attention while my mind raced, wasn’t something I

could summon.

By mid–morning, I heard it before I saw it–the distant hum of engines, the faint echo of boots on marble. My father always made an

and I knew the moment I saw the black limousines gliding toward the academy and the line of guards flanking the driveway

that today would be no different. He always had to make a statement. Always.

entrance,

I waited near the gates, trying to straighten my posture, though my chest felt like it was being squeezed. My heart pounded in my ears as

I braced myself for him–my father–the King, the man whose presence could make everyone else shrink.

And then I saw him.

But he wasn’t alone. Walking beside him, almost casually, was Zade. I froze. My mind scrambled–why was Zade here? What reason could he possibly have to come with the King? I couldn’t read the expression on Zade’s face; it was too composed, too calm. But the sight of him there made something in my chest tighten, a mix of confusion and unease twisting together. He didn’t mention anything about

coming with him when we talked last night.

The King’s gaze swept over the academy grounds before it landed on me. My stomach lurched. He always had that way of looking through people, like he could see the very thoughts hiding behind their eyes. I straightened, tried to steady my breathing, tried to look calm–but

calm was a lie I’d never been good at wearing.

“Zayn,” my father said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the courtyard, deep and commanding. The way he said my name made the air

itself feel heavier.

I forced a nod, my hands tightening into fists at my sides. “Yes, Father,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

And then my eyes flicked to Zade. He was watching me too, leaning slightly against the limousine as if h last place I wanted him to be. My stomach twisted again. Why was he here? Why did he always show up w

wanted?

this wasn’t the

needed–or

“Where is your mate… Charlotte?” His voice cut through the courtyard, smooth and cold, the kind that always made me flinch. There it was–the reason he had bothered to come here at all. The question hung in the air like a challenge, sharp and accusing.

“She’s no longer my… mate,” I said, forcing the words out even though I knew he already knew the answer. Saying it didn’t make the weight in my chest any lighter. If anything, it made it heavier, like the walls around me were closing in.

Zade’s eyes met mine, and I couldn’t read them. Calm. Amused. Calculating. I couldn’t tell which, and that made my skin crawl. For a brief second, I thought I saw a flicker of something behind his eyes–something I didn’t want to confront.

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D:22 Thu, Jan 29

Chapter 37

“Let’s go to your room, Zayn,” he said finally, his tone casual, almost easy, but there was a subtle edge to it. We don’t want to make a

scene here, right?”

I nodded silently, unable to trust my voice. Ever

to keep them at my sides. I could feel his eyes

never letting me forget he was there.

the dorm felt heavier than the last, my hands trembling despite my efforts

way, like invisible fingers pressing into my back, pushing me forward but

The hallways stretched endlessly, the chatter of students around us fading into a background hum. I focused on the floor, on my own unsteady steps, but no matter how far I walked, the tension clung to me. I could still feel it–the weight of his gaze, the unspoken questions, and the unyielding reminder that nothing was ever simple when Zade was around.

By the time we reached my dorm, my chest felt tight, and my hands were cold and shaking.

I pushed open the door to my dorm room, and the three of us stepped inside. The space felt suddenly smaller, the air heavier with the King’s presence. My eyes flicked automatically to the bed–perfectly made, the sheets smoothed, every corner tucked. Unusual. I never bothered, but of course, my father would notice something like that. He always noticed the smallest flaws, the little cracks people thought

they could hide.

I stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, waiting for him to speak first. He was the King; he always spoke first. But instead of addressing me, his gaze shifted to Zade. The silence stretched just long enough to make my pulse thunder in my ears.

“Stay here,” my father said at last, his tone clipped and commanding. Then his eyes cut back to me. “Zayn and I will have a personal talk.

Outside this academy.“,

The words hit me like ice water. My throat tightened, but I forced myself to keep my face still. A personal talk outside the academy? Nothing good ever came from those. Nothing.

I wanted to protest, to demand what this was about, but the words stuck in my throat. Talking back to him would be suicide. So I did what I always did. I nodded.

Zade, of course, didn’t look remotely unsettled. He slid into my chair like he owned the place, stretching out his expression unbearable.

o tight. His casualness only made the tension in my chest worse. He looked comfortable; I felt like my skin wa

I glanced once more at my father, trying to read something–anything–in his expression, but his face was churned as I braced myself for whatever was coming next.

from stone. My stomach

0:22 Thu, Jan 29

The Human Among Wolves