The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

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Ever since the Halloween party, she’d been with… Alex? I think that was his name. Or Alec. Something like that.

They’d hooked up that night, and apparently the universe had decided that was enough to officially stamp them as mates. Which,

you know, was great for her. I just hadn’t quite wrapped my head around the fact that she suddenly had a boyfriend and a whole

new life orbiting around him.

I grabbed my phone off the nightstand and scrolled through a few messages, my thumb hovering before locking the screen again

without replying to anything.

Another sigh.

Time to get ready.

I brushed my teeth, washed my face and changed into some comfortable clothes–some sweatpants and a hoodie. I grabbed my own backpack from the chair by my desk. I packed what we were told to: an extra hoodie, water bottle, snacks, notebook, and flashlight, even though I doubted I’d need it. It still felt strange to think about spending a night in the woods with the entire academy, but that was what this field trip was for: “team bonding” and “resilience training.” Whatever that meant.

By the time I finished packing, my roommates were already zipping their bags closed and pulling on their boots. I shoved my hair into a ponytail, grabbed my hoodie, and followed them out the door, the hallways buzzing with freshmen trying to look awake and

excited at the same time.

When we got to the main entrance, the scene was already hectic. Students from every year milled around the courtyard, grouped together by grade. The air was crisp enough to sting my nose, and I licked my hands into the sleeves of my hoodie as we made our

way through the crowd.

The two buses were parked by the front gates, gleaming in the pale morning light. They were bigger than I expected, both with two levels, and the professors were standing near the doors making sure everyone went to the right one.

Selene was there after all, standing with her boyfriend–Alex, I decided, pretty sure now. They were holding hands, talking lowly to each other, and I had to fight a smile because Selene never held hands with anyone.

My smile faded when my gaze shifted, landing on Zayn.

He was with the other sophomores, laughing at something one of his friends said. Charlotte stood close beside him, her perfectly brushed hair catching the morning light. Whatever she was saying made him grin, and that stupid, hollow ache opened in my chest

again before I forced myself to look away.

The juniors and seniors were gathered near the second bus. That’s when I spotted Kael, standing a little apart from everyone else. His hands were shoved into his jacket pockets, his head tipped slightly back like he was just waiting for this whole thing to be over

before it even started.

I blinked at him, surprised.

Kael was mostly never in the academy–he barely showed up to class most weeks.

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12:04 Thu, Jan 29 CBB.

Chapter 97

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As if he felt me staring, his gaze slid lazily across the crowd until it ought mine. That small, knowing curve of a smile tugged at his

mouth, quick and easy, before he turned back to whoever was talking to him.

1 swallowed hard and looked away, following my roommates toward the freshmen bus.

The first level was already filling fast, so we climbed the narrow stairs to the top deck and claimed a row of seats near the windows. I dropped my bag onto my lap and leaned against the cool glass, watching through the window as the courtyard slowly cleared out.

Selene climbed onto the bus with her boyfriend, and I gave her a small wave as she passed. She grinned at me before sliding into a

seat with him toward the back.

From my window seat, I could still see Zayn down below, He didn’t glance my way, not even once–which shouldn’t have mattered,

but somehow it did.

The bus shuddered slightly as more people boarded, and I pressed my forehead to the glass, watching as the juniors and seniors began loading onto their own bus. I spotted Kael one last time before he disappeared inside.

I let out a slow breath.

This trip was going to be long.

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