The Human Among Wolves Chapter 89

Aurora

We drove in silence for the rest of the ride, the hum of the engine and the faint sound of rain tapping against the windshield filling the quiet space between us. By the time we reached Lupinhollow, the city was mostly asleep—streetlights flickered softly, painting the wet pavement in gold and silver. The air outside was cool, carrying the faint scent of rain-soaked asphalt and pine from the nearby woods.

About ten minutes later, Kael slowed down and turned onto a quieter street lined with old brick buildings. He pulled up in front of one—a tall apartment building with ivy climbing its walls and a few windows glowing with warm light. It looked old and a little worn, but in a cozy, welcoming way.

“This is it,” Kael said, his voice quieter now, almost gentle as the car engine went silent. “I live here.”

He stepped out first, the sound of his boots splashing softly in a small puddle beside the car. A second later, my door opened, and he was standing there, one hand extended toward me. His palm was warm when I took it, and I tried not to notice the steady confidence in his grip as he helped me out.

“Let’s go, Princess,” he murmured, that familiar teasing tone still in his voice, though softer this time—less smug, more… careful.

The night air wrapped around us, colder now that we weren’t in the car. I tugged the leather jacket tighter around me as Kael laced his fingers through mine and started guiding me toward the building’s entrance. The golden light above the doorway flickered once, and for a moment, I just stared at the way his shadow stretched long beside mine on the wet ground.

Everything about the night still felt unreal—the witch, the truth, my parents—but as Kael pulled open the heavy front door and led me inside, I let out a quiet breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

We took the lift to the third floor, the soft hum filling the silence between us. I leaned against the cool metal wall, watching the floor numbers blink slowly upward, my heartbeat still not entirely steady from everything that had happened. When the doors finally slid open with a quiet ding, Kael stepped out first, his boots clicking lightly against the polished hallway floor.

He stopped in front of a dark wooden door near the end of the corridor, pulled a set of keys from his pocket, and unlocked it with an easy twist. The lock clicked open, and he pushed the door inward, motioning for me to go in first.

The moment I stepped inside, I blinked, taken completely by surprise. His apartment looked nothing like I’d imagined.

For some reason, I’d pictured something messy and dim—maybe a typical bachelor’s place with clothes thrown everywhere, empty bottles, and papers scattered across a table. But instead… it was the exact opposite.

The space opened up into a big, modern living room with huge windows that looked out over the city. The lights from Lupinhollow shimmered outside, casting a soft glow on the dark wood floors. A black leather couch faced a big TV on the wall, and a few warm lamps gave the room a cozy, golden feel—fancy, but still comfortable.

To the left was a sleek kitchen separated from the living room by a marble island, with two neatly placed bar stools. Everything was spotless—no clutter, no mess, nothing out of place. Even the air smelled clean and fresh, with a hint of sandalwood that somehow felt just like him.

“Wow,” I murmured before I could stop myself, turning slowly in place. “This is… not what I expected.”

Kael closed the door behind us, slipping off his jacket and tossing his keys into a glass bowl on a side table. “What, you thought I lived in a cave or something?”

I laughed quietly. “Maybe not a cave. But definitely messier than this.”

He grinned, crossing his arms over his chest. “I like things the way I like them—clean, quiet, and mine.”

I nodded, still looking around, the warmth from the apartment slowly seeping into me. For the first time that night, I let myself breathe.

“So…” I started after a few minutes of quiet, my voice sounding too loud in the stillness of his apartment. Kael had dropped onto the couch, scrolling absently through his phone, one arm slung lazily over the backrest. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, not really sure what to do with myself.

“So… what?” he asked, not looking up.

I fiddled with the strap of my backpack, feeling suddenly awkward. “Can I, um… take a shower or something? I feel kinda dirty after…” I trailed off, realizing how stupid that sounded. After what, exactly? The witch? The woods? The three a.m. emotional breakdown? All of it?

Kael finally lifted his gaze, one brow arching as he studied me for a second before nodding. “Yeah, of course. Let me get you some clean towels and a change of clothes—”

“Just a towel’s fine,” I interrupted quickly. “I brought clothes.”

He tilted his head a little, like he was about to argue, but then shrugged. “Suit yourself, Princess.”

With that, he pushed off the couch and disappeared down a hallway. I heard a door open, a faint clatter of something, then running water—probably checking the temperature for me, which, annoyingly, was kind of sweet.

A moment later, he reappeared, holding a neatly folded towel that looked way too soft to actually be used for drying anything. “Here,” he said, handing it to me.

“Thanks,” I murmured, taking it carefully from his hand. Our fingers brushed for the briefest second, and my stomach gave a weird, uninvited flutter. I quickly stepped back, pretending to focus on my bag instead.

I set it down on the couch, unzipping it and pulling out a fresh set of clothes—a plain oversized shirt and black leggings. Thank God I’d packed something comfortable. I dug around for my skincare pouch and my hairbrush, lining them up neatly on top of my things, anything to keep my hands busy.

“Bathroom’s the first door on the right,” Kael said, his voice quieter now. He was watching me, not in a creepy way—more like he was trying to make sure I didn’t just crumble right there.

I nodded, clutching the towel to my chest. “Got it.”

*** * ***

Steam filled the bathroom, soft and thick, curling along the edges of the mirror. I turned off the shower and listened to the quiet drip of water echo against the tiles. My skin was warm, my hair dripping wet, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe without feeling the weight of the night pressing against my chest.

I grabbed the towel from the hook and wrapped it tightly around my waist. It was warm and soft, smelling faintly like Kael’s detergent—something clean, like cedar and rain. I wiped a small circle on the mirror, meeting my reflection. My cheeks were flushed, eyes tired, hair clinging to my shoulders.

“Yeah,” I muttered quietly. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”

I crouched to grab my change of clothes from where I’d placed them earlier—a big black T-shirt and leggings, both soft and comfortably oversized.

That’s when I realized it.

I’d forgotten my underwear.

I froze, my eyes flicking to the pile of clothes, then to the door, then back again. No. No, no, no. I’d packed them. I definitely had.

Except… I’d left my backpack in the living room.

“Of course you did,” I whispered, dragging a hand down my face.

I groaned softly, glancing at the towel wrapped around me. I could either stay here and hope my underwear magically appeared, or I could go get them. And since magic apparently hated me tonight, I didn’t have a choice.

“Okay,” I muttered to myself. “Just walk out there. Grab them. Come back. No big deal. He won’t even notice.”