The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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I stared down at the dirt between my boots, my chest tight. “He’s not just some guy,” I said quietly. “For a while, he was–he meant

something to me. More than I wanted him to, probably.”

Kael didn’t move, didn’t even shift, but somehow he felt closer–like the air between us was pulling tighter.

“And then?” he asked softly.

My throat worked as I swallowed, trying to force the words out. “And then he made it very clear what I meant to him.” I let out a

shaky breath. “Which apparently was… nothing.”

Kael was quiet for a beat, his jaw flexing once. “Sounds like he’s an idiot,” he said at last, his tone low but edged with steel.

I almost smiled at that—almost. “Yeah. He is. But that doesn’t stop it from hurting.”

Kael tilted his head, studying me in a way that made it feel like he could see straight through me. “You still want him?”

The question made my chest twist.

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Half the time I hate him, and the other half…” I trailed off, pressing

my lips together. “The other half I just wish he’d come back.”

Kael let out a slow breath through his nose, thoughtful. “You know,” he said after a moment, “wanting him and knowing what you

deserve aren’t the same thing.”

I blinked at him, caught off guard by how simply he’d put it.

“You can miss him all you want,” Kael went on, his voice calm but steady. “But you don’t owe him the chance to break you twice.”

The words hit something deep in me, and before I could stop it, my throat burned with the threat of tears. I swallowed hard and

nodded, more to myself than to him.

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “You’re right.”

“You know,” Kael said eventually, his voice low and thoughtful, “you don’t have to figure it all out tonight. Or even tomorrow.”

I glanced at him, my fingers twisting in my lap. “Feels like I should, I admitted. “Like if I just keep letting it sit there, it’ll rot

inside me.”

Kael shrugged one shoulder, his eyes catching a sliver of moonlight. Maybe. Or maybe you just need to give yourself a little grace.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, my chest feeling lighter and heavier all at once. “You’re annoyingly calm, you

know that?”

His mouth curved into a small, lopsided grin. “You’d prefer I start throwing punches? Because I can, if that’s what you need.”

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Chapter 95

A laugh escaped me–soft, reluctant, but real. “Tempting.”

The quiet settled again, but it didn’t feel as heavy now. I pulled my phone from my pocket and blinked at the screen.

“Holy shit,” I breathed. “It’s three in the morning.”

Kael leaned over enough to glance at the screen, one brow lifting. “Chess the party went a little long.”

I slid the phone back into my pocket and stood, brushing dirt from my hands. “We should probably go back.”

Kael rose too, stretching slightly before shoving his hands into his pockets again. “Lead the way.”

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The walk back through the woods felt quieter than before, almost peaceful. The music and laughter from the clearing grew louder as we got closer, but it didn’t have the same pull it had earlier in the night. Maybe it was just me. Maybe I’d left my urge to dance

somewhere back there with all the things I’d said to Kael.

When we stepped back into the clearing, the party was clearly winding down. The fire had burned low, just glowing coals and a few lazy flames. A handful of people were still scattered around–some slumped together on logs, others sitting cross–legged on the

ground, talking in low voices.

I scanned the space for my roommates but didn’t see them anywhere. The spot we’d claimed near the start of the night was empty,

their drinks gone.

“They bailed on you,” Kael observed, his voice light but not unkind.

“Looks like it.” I blew out a breath, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Guess that’s my cue to head back too.”

Kael nodded once. “I’ll walk you.”

“You don’t have to-”

“I know,” he said, glancing down at me with that calm, steady look of his. “But I want to.”

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R Visitor

I LOVE KAEL SO MUCHHH AHHhhHhHhh but I have a bad feeling he’s secretly not this kind AHHhhHhhh

3 days ago

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The Human Among Wolves