The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

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“Can you at least-” I started, my voice tight, desperate for just a little hope, when a sudden, sharp knock echoed through the room.

Perfect. F**king perfect timing.

I froze, my hand gripping the phone like it might melt in my palm. My eyes darted to the clock. Almost ten a.m. I’d spent hours on the phone with Zade, longer than I’d intended, longer than I could afford to, and now–now someone had the audacity to interrupt.

“I have to go,” I muttered, barely hearing my own voice. Before Zade could respond, I slammed the call–end button and tossed the

phone onto the bed. It bounced softly against the rumpled sheets, forgotten for the moment.

I strode toward the door, every step heavy, every muscle tense. Whoever it was better have a damn good reason for showing up

unannounced. My patience was stretched thin, and my anger still simmered from the conversation.

I swung the door open, ready to unleash a string of curses at the idiot on the other side…

And froze.

Long, chestnut–brown hair fell around her shoulders, framing a face hadn’t expected to see. Her big, bright blue eyes widened just

as much as mine did, and for a moment, the world shrank down to just that.

Aurora.

For a heartbeat, I forgot everything else–forgot the conversation with Zade, the horrors I’d learned, even the heat of my own anger. My gaze shifted downward, and my stomach sank. I was… not properly dressed. Not even close. A towel was wrapped loosely around my waist from my morning shower, the only thing keeping my dignity intact.

The sight of her there, completely unexpected, made my pulse spike my cheeks heat up, and my words die somewhere in my throat.

“What… what are you doing here?” I finally managed, my voice tight and uneven, though the anger I had carried for hours was

replaced by something far more immediate: shock–and a rush of something I couldn’t quite name.

Aurora’s eyes flicked past me, her expression unreadable, and my chest tightened. This was… bad. Really bad.

“What… what are you doing here?” I asked again, my voice tighter now, my chest hammering.

Aurora’s eyes flicked up at me, her expression calm but curious, and felt my stomach twist. I couldn’t think straight. My mind

raced.

I took a step back instinctively, trying to put some distance between us, and in doing so, I misjudged the movement. The towel,

already loosely wrapped, slipped from my waist with a soft whoosh and fell to the floor.

For a heartbeat, time froze. My heart nearly stopped. I scrambled forward, grabbing the towel desperately, pressing it against myself

like it could magically restore my dignity. My face burned hotter than I thought possible.

Aurora blinked. And blinked again. Then, for the briefest moment, her lips twitched as if she were trying not to smile–but she

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Chapter 57

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didn’t say anything. She didn’t move either. She just stood there, watching me flail silently, that calm, piercing look in her blue eyes

unwavering.

“I–I didn’t… I wasn’t expecting…” My words faltered. My tongue refused to form a coherent sentence. My fingers clutched the

towel as if it were a lifeline.

“I… I just took a shower,” I finally managed to stammer, the sound pitiful even to my own ears. “And… you showed up…”

Aurora tilted her head slightly, her gaze curious but still unreadable She didn’t move, didn’t react, giving me far too much time to

realize just how exposed and ridiculous I looked–and how completely screwed I was.

My chest heaved, my face flamed, and I gritted my teeth. Okay, think Zayn. Think fast. I tightened my grip on the towel, wrapping it

around my waist as securely as I could, praying she wouldn’t comment on anything–anything at all.

“Are you… here for something?” I finally asked, trying to force my voice back to something resembling calm.

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