The Human Among Wolves Chapter 64

Aurora

My stomach twisted, that familiar ache starting in my chest—

“Hey.”

Kael’s voice snapped me back. I turned my head to find him watching me closely, amusement curling at the edge of his mouth.

“You keep looking over there,” he said lightly, his tone teasing but not cruel. “Should I be jealous?”

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I opened my mouth to deny it, but Kael just smirked, pulling me closer until I was nearly chest-to-chest with him.

“Whoever he is,” Kael murmured, his voice pitched just for me, “he’s not here with you. I am.”

My breath caught, his words sinking in, and just like that, Zayn’s shadow seemed to fade, even if only for a moment.

“Now,” Kael said, tilting his head slightly, his smile playful, “stop looking for ghosts and dance with me properly.”

And so I did.

Kael spun me again, his hand steady at my waist, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself forget. Forget him. Forget the words he had thrown at me like knives.

But the illusion shattered when a shadow suddenly fell over us.

“Dance is over.”

The voice was low. Rough.

I froze, every muscle in my body going tight.

Kael stopped mid-step, his hand still on me, and turned his head slowly. His expression didn’t change, but something in the air shifted—a ripple of tension so sharp I could feel it against my skin.

“Excuse me?” Kael said, his tone calm but edged with challenge.

Zayn stood there, just a few feet away, dressed in black from head to toe, his jaw tight enough to crack. His eyes were glowing faintly in the firelight—not human, not even close.

“You heard me,” Zayn said, his voice low, dangerous. “Let. Her. Go.”

Kael’s fingers flexed on my waist, almost protectively. “Funny,” he said, turning fully toward Zayn now. “Didn’t realize she belonged to you.”

“She doesn’t,” Zayn snapped, but the words didn’t sound convincing. Not even to him.

My heart was hammering so loud I swore they could both hear it.

Kael glanced down at me, his eyes calm, questioning. “You want me to stop?”

The question hung in the air like smoke, thick and suffocating.

I opened my mouth—but Zayn was already closing the distance.

He grabbed my wrist, his touch hot, almost burning. “We’re leaving,” he bit out, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I yanked my hand back instinctively, anger flaring in my chest. “No, we’re not,” I said, louder than I meant to.

That made him freeze.

For a second, it felt like the whole world went quiet—the music, the voices, even the fire crackling nearby.

Zayn’s jaw tightened, his chest rising and falling like he was barely keeping himself together. “Aurora,” he said, and my name on his lips sounded like both a plea and a warning.

I crossed my arms, standing my ground. “You don’t get to do this. Not after everything.”

Something dangerous flickered in his expression, but it wasn’t anger—not exactly. It was something darker, sharper—the thing that had terrified me and drawn me to him all at once.

“Go back to the Academy,” he said finally, his voice low and cold now. “Before you do something stupid.”

Kael stepped forward, deliberately placing himself between us. “She’s not going anywhere with you,” he said, his tone calm but steel-edged. “Not unless she wants to.”

The two of them stared at each other, the air between them electric.

And for a terrifying second, I thought Zayn might actually lunge at him.

Zayn’s chest rose and fell, each breath sharper than the last, his eyes locked on Kael like he was seconds away from tearing him apart.

Kael didn’t flinch. If anything, he seemed impossibly calm, like he’d been in standoffs like this before and knew exactly how to hold his ground.

And me?

I stood frozen between them, my pulse thrumming so loud it drowned out the music and the crackle of the bonfire. My throat felt tight, my palms clammy, and yet I couldn’t make myself look away.

Zayn’s jaw ticked once. “Move,” he said, his voice a low, rumbling growl that wasn’t entirely human.

Kael tilted his head, a hint of a smile tugging at his mouth—not mocking, just… daring. “Make me.”

The sound Zayn made wasn’t words—not exactly—more a deep, guttural sound that raised goosebumps across my skin.

“Stop it!”

The word ripped out of me before I even realized I’d spoken. Both of them looked at me then, their gazes hitting me like twin bolts of lightning, and suddenly I couldn’t breathe.

“I’m not a prize for you to fight over,” I said, my voice shaking but steady enough to carry. “If either of you actually care what I want, then you’ll stop acting like I don’t have a say.”

For a moment, no one moved.

Kael’s expression softened first, his eyes flicking to mine, searching. Then, without another word, he stepped back, releasing my waist completely, putting space between us.

Zayn, though, stayed exactly where he was. His hands were curled into fists at his sides, his breathing harsh, his stare still locked on Kael like stepping back wasn’t an option.

“Zayn,” I said quietly, almost pleading now.

That seemed to break something in him. His glowing gaze dropped to me, and for a fraction of a second, I thought I saw pain flash there—pain so raw it knocked the air out of my lungs.

But then his face went cold again, shuttered, unreadable.

“Fine,” he said finally, the word clipped and hard. “Stay.”

He turned on his heel and stalked away, disappearing into the crowd so fast it was like he’d never been there at all.

The clearing felt too quiet after he was gone, the air too heavy.

“Are you okay?”

Kael’s voice was quiet, softer than before. When I lifted my head, he was standing a few feet away, hands in his pockets, his eyes steady on me.

I swallowed hard. “Yeah,” I lied automatically, though my voice came out too thin, too brittle.

He didn’t call me on it. Didn’t push. He just waited, like he was giving me the choice—to speak, to stay silent, or to run.

And for reasons I couldn’t explain, that made something in my chest twist.

I glanced back toward the fire—toward where Zayn had disappeared—then turned back to Kael.

“Do you…” My voice faltered, but I forced the words out anyway. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Kael’s brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t look surprised. “Out of here,” he repeated slowly.

I nodded, my throat tight. “Yeah. Away from all… this.”

Something unreadable flickered in his expression, but then he gave a single, slow nod. “Lead the way.”

I didn’t trust my voice enough to answer, so I just started walking, slipping between the trees at the edge of the clearing. The party noises faded with every step, swallowed by the night.

Kael followed in silence, his presence behind me steady but not pressing. The further we went, the more the woods seemed to close around us, quiet and dark except for the faint glow of the bonfire far behind.

When I finally stopped, it was in a small clearing, moonlight cutting through the branches above, painting silver across the forest floor. My breath fogged in the chill air as I turned to face him.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The sounds of the party were completely gone now—it was just us, the rustle of leaves, the whisper of the wind.

Kael stepped closer, slow and careful, his gray eyes searching my face.

“You sure this is what you want?” His voice was quiet, but there was something heavy in it, something serious.

I nodded once, though my heart was thudding hard against my ribs. “Yeah,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I don’t want to think tonight.”

Kael’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t move away. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek, gentle enough to make my breath catch.

“Then stop thinking,” he murmured.

And just like that, he closed the distance, his mouth covering mine.