The Human Among Wolves (Aurora) novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

That last part made everyone stand a little straighter.

I felt my heart start to pick up speed. Teams. Please, please let me b with at least one of my roommates.

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The professors handed out small sheets of paper, each listing names and team numbers. My hands trembled slightly as I unfolded

mine. I scanned the names quickly, trying to make sense of the group.

My stomach sank.

I wasn’t with any of my roommates. Instead, my team was a weird mix of everyone from different years. Seven people in total.

I frowned as I read the list: Zayn, a sophomore; two juniors–one wa Kael’s friend–Chris, a tall guy with messy brown hair and an easy smirk, and the other, a girl named Selene (not my selene), quiet and sharp–eyed; and one senior, a boy named Marcus. And two freshmen, both girls–Laura and Nova, one shy and twitchy, the other bubbly and chattery

I chewed my lip, glancing around the clearing. That meant… yes, I was stuck with Zayn. The same Zayn I’d been avoiding all week.

My heart thudded against my ribs, but I forced myself to take a slow steadying breath. Focus on the task, I told myself. Don’t think

about him. Don’t think about that stupid, hollow ache in your chest.

The professor blew the whistle again, and our team–Team Seven–was called. One by one, we stepped forward, introductions quick

and awkward.

He glanced at me, his storm–grey eyes catching the sunlight for just a second, and gave a small nod. No words. That was… fine. That

was okay.

“Hi,” I said softly to Zayn as we fell into a line.

Chris smirked. “So, first field trip together, huh? This should be fun.

Marcus laughed. “Yeah, ‘fun‘ is one word for it.” His gaze flicked to me briefly, and I forced a polite smile and nodded.

The other girls shuffled nervously behind us, whispering to each other.

The professor handed each team a map and a brief list of tasks. The first challenge would take us deep into the woods, split into checkpoints. Each team had to complete a set of puzzles, carry supplies, and track our progress back to the main clearing.

I unfolded the map, trying to keep my focus on the winding trails and markers instead of the pounding of my own heart.

“Alright,” Chris said, stepping forward with exaggerated confidence. Let’s figure out our strategy. We split the tasks, work together,

and try not to get eaten by anything scary.”

I couldn’t stop the small shiver that ran down my spine. The woods were dense, the shadows deepening as the sun climbed higher.

“Okay,” I said, trying to sound steady. “I think we should… assign who does what at each checkpoint, so we’re not wasting time.”

INT

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12:05 Thu, Jan 29 G B B

Chapter 99

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The group murmured their agreement, the senior boy scribbling notes while the freshmen nodded eagerly. I kept my eyes forward, sneaking quick glances at Zayn. He was calm, methodical, tracing the map with one finger as if memorizing it by touch.

We set off toward the first checkpoint, the forest swallowing us almost immediately. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, and

the only sounds were the crunch of leaves under our boots and the distant chatter of other teams.

Walking beside him, I felt the familiar tightness in my chest. But I shoved it down, focused on the team, on the map, on keeping

pace.

Zayn caught my glance once, briefly, and for a fraction of a second, thought I saw a hint of something–curiosity? amusement?

annoyance?-in his eyes. But then he looked away, and I swallowed hard, focusing on the path ahead.

The woods were vast, the trail twisting between towering trees. Sunlight filtered through in pale beams, dust motes floating lazily in

the air. Every sound seemed magnified: the snap of a twig, the rustle of leaves, even our own voices echoing softly.

“Let’s take the left path first,” Marcus suggested, pointing at a fork in the trail. “It looks shorter, less likely to be crowded.”

I nodded, trying not to notice Zayn falling in step beside me. My heart raced. This was going to be… interesting.

Very interesting.