The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 417

Chapter 417

Aurora

011

Breakfast passed in a strange, quiet rhythm where neither of us said much, not because there was nothing to say but because everything that mattered had already been said, and now there was only the weight of what came next settling between us while the morning light slowly crept through the windows and

stretched across the kitchen floor.

Zayn moved around like he already had a plan in his head, pulling things out, setting them down, like this part of the day was just something to get through before something more important began, while I sat there and ate faster than I expected to, the hunger hitting harder than it should have, sharper and more demanding, like my body had decided it wasn’t going to wait politely anymore.

He noticed.

Of course he did.

But he didn’t comment on it this time.

He just watched, quiet, observant, like he was already measuring something I didn’t fully understand yet.

When we finished, he didn’t linger.

Didn’t sit.

Didn’t relax.

He stood up, took the plates, set them aside, and looked at me.

“Come on.”

The cold outside hit immediately, sharp enough to wake me up completely as we stepped into the backyard, the air biting against my skin while the ground stretched out uneven beneath us, patches of frozen grass and dirt scattered beneath our feet, the trees around the edge of the property standing tall and

still like silent witnesses to whatever was about to happen.

Zayn walked a few steps ahead before turning to face me, his posture already different now, shoulders set, attention sharp, like whatever this was-it

mattered.

A lot.

I crossed my arms slightly, eyeing him.

“Okay,” I said. “Now what?”

He didn’t hesitate.

“Push-ups.”

I blinked.

“…What?”

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Chapter 417

“Push-ups.”

I stared at him.

“For what?”

“To start.”

I let out a short, incredulous breath, shaking my head slightly as I stepped forward.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked, gesturing vaguely. “You said you were going to help me shift, not turn me into-whatever this is.”

Zayn didn’t react to the attitude.

Didn’t even blink.

“You’re not shifting again until you can control your body,” he said calmly.

“I can control my body.”

“Prove it.”

That did it.

I dropped down onto the cold ground, planting my hands against the rough surface as I positioned myself, more out of stubbornness than agreement, because there was no way I was about to let him stand there and act like I couldn’t handle something as simple as-

“How many?” I asked.

“Two.”

I froze.

Slowly, I lifted my head to look at him.

“…Two.”

“Yes.”

“You think I can’t do two push-ups?”

“I think you should try.”

Something in his tone made it worse.

Not mocking.

Not even amused.

Just… certain.

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Chapter 417

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Like he already knew how this was going to go.

I scoffed under my breath and lowered myself, my arms bending easily at first, the movement smooth and controlled as I went down-

-and then halfway through, something shifted.

My arms trembled.

Not slightly.

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