The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Aurora

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The bus lurched as the engine growled to life, vibrating faintly under my feet. Mira slid into the seat next to me, yawning so wide

could practically hear her jaw pop.

“Wake me up when we’re there,” she mumbled, tugging her hoodie over her face,

“Sure,” I said softly, though I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep even if tried.

The chatter around us slowly began to settle as the professors counted heads, making sure no one was missing. The smell of too- strong coffee and too much perfume hung in the air.

Finally, the doors hissed shut, and the bus pulled away from the academy gates.

I leaned my head against the glass, watching the buildings grow smaller until they were swallowed by the trees.

The world outside was quiet and washed in gold, the road cutting through the dense forest like a dark ribbon. The early morning mist clung to the trunks and branches, and every so often, the bus would round a bend and the sunlight would flare across the

windows, momentarily blinding me.

Behind me, I could hear Riven and Lira laughing about something, and Selene’s soft voice a few rows back as she whispered

something to Alex.

And then-

I heard Zayn.

His laugh–warm and low and far too familiar–floated from somewhere behind us, close enough to make my stomach tighten.

I didn’t turn around. Didn’t dare.

Instead, I stared hard out the window, focusing on the blur of trees and the occasional flash of sky.

This was fine. I could do this. A few hours on a bus, a day in the woods, and a night around a campfire–it wasn’t impossible. I just had to keep my distance, stay with my friends, and pretend like he wasn’t there.

Easy.

Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

The bus ride stretched on, long and winding, until the landscape finally opened up. The trees thinned, giving way to a clearing big

enough to hold both buses, and a wide field beyond that.

The moment we rolled to a stop, everyone started stirring–grabbing their bags, stretching their legs, and pressing to get to the door

first.

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Chapter 98

Mira groaned as I nudged her awake. “Already?” she mumbled, her voice thick with sleep.

“Yeah,” I said, slinging my backpack over one shoulder. “Come on.”

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The stairs were narrow and crowded, everyone shoving forward to ge out, and by the time we spilled into the clearing, the other

bus had already arrived. Juniors and seniors were unloading nearby, heir voices carrying over the cool morning air.

I spotted Kael almost immediately.

He stood off to the side, arms crossed loosely over his chest, watching the chaos with a look that was somewhere between bored and

mildly amused.

When his gaze landed on me this time, he didn’t look away right away.

Instead, his mouth curved into the faintest smirk, like he knew something I didn’t–or maybe just that I was watching him again.

Heat crawled up my neck, and I quickly busied myself with adjusting the strap of my backpack before following my roommates

toward the front of the crowd where the professors were gathering everyone.

The air smelled clean here, sharp with pine and damp earth. The forest rose up on all sides, tall and endless, the canopy whispering

faintly with the wind.

One of the professors stepped forward, clapping her hands to get our attention.

“Alright, everyone! Welcome to the start of your field trip,” she called, her voice carrying easily over the chatter. “You’ll be split into mixed–year teams shortly for the first challenge. We’ll go over rules and safety in a few minutes, but for now, stay with your groups

and grab some water. It’s going to be a long day.”

Mira bumped my shoulder, grinning. “You ready for this?”

I gave Mira a small shrug, trying to push down the nervous flutter in my stomach. “I mean… it’ll be fine. Just… a lot of people, a lot of walking, and probably some weird trust exercises or whatever.”

She snorted, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “We’ll survive. Worst case, we make a new set of blisters and tell everyone

we’re heroes.”

I laughed softly, and for a moment, the tension eased.

“You’ll be split into mixed–year teams,” the professor continued after a few minutes. “Each team will be given a map with a series of checkpoints. At each checkpoint, you’ll find either a puzzle, a riddle or a clue that leads to the next location. The goal is to work together to find all of them and return before sundown. The first team back wins. And yes, there will be a prize.”