Page 10 of Tethered to the World
She shook her head, only sparing them a glance. “We’re being followed.”
Humor drained from the guys, and they went back-to-back, each angled to look in a different direction. “What do you sense?”
Annora drew on the darkness, allowing her eyes to turn, and quickly spotted them.
“About a dozen wolves.” She twisted and glance around them. “We’re surrounded.”
Fear curdled in her gut. They couldn’t be after her. The rumors about what happened at the gym couldn’t have spread that far that fast…could they?
Mason, the giant of a man, snatched the edge of her bag and resolutely dragged her backwards until she was in the center of the group. A series of yips echoed around the small clearing as a group of guys took shape out from the shadows.
“What do you want, Tyson?” Camden crossed his arms and braced his legs. Though he stood a little under six feet, he exuded a kind of power and competence that saiddon’t fuck with me, which she found surprisingly comforting.
A short, blond man stepped forward with a smile that was a little too sharp, his eyes this side of yellow, making him look like a mangy feral mutt. “We’re just here to check out the new girl.”
It took all her concentration to keep her form solid. She pushed away her emotions and studied the wolves more closely. They were kids, out to cause mischief, not take her captive. If they knew the truth, they would’ve sent a whole pack for her, not a bunch of teenagers. She was too valuable to be assigned to such low-level wolves.
“It’s after hours. You know the rules.”
“Oh, come on, Camden. We’re just having a little fun.” His smile sharpened as he glanced back at the rest of his pack, as if he found the whole thing amusing.
Instead of answering, Camden sighed and strode forward.
Tyson stood up straighter, his smile wilting at whatever expression was on Camden’s face, his feet shuffling slightly, as if it took everything inside him to hold his ground.
“Leave.”
The two stared at each other for a full minute before one of the wolves reached forward and dragged Tyson away. Tyson snarled over his shoulder, “Your day is coming, Camden. Mark my words.”
A couple of wolves howled and yipped, while menacing laughter echoed around the small clearing. In less than a minute, they disappeared as quickly as they came.
“Fucking wolves.” Camden ran a hand over his hair, and for just a second, she’d swear she saw purple and blue shimmering in the strands. When he turned, his eyes immediately landed on her, and he slowly stalked forward. “How did you know they were there?”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Disgust twisted through her at the accusation in his voice. “No girl asks for a bunch of creeps to stalk her. A girl can’t afford not to pay attention to her surroundings.”
Without waiting for his response, she whirled away from the others and headed back the way she came.
“Wait.”
She ignored the giant, easily recognizing the low rumble of his voice, and lifted her hand over her head to give them the finger. It took her a good twenty minutes after that to find Grady House, the place practically nestled into the forest surrounding it. Thankfully the lights were still on, and she didn’t have to drag some poor girl out of her bed.
It wouldn’t be a great way to make friends.
The place wasn’t huge, but it was a lot bigger than the ten by twelve room that had practically been her whole existence for the past ten years. It was three stories high, the three-car garage making it appear almost twice as big.
She hesitated at the bottom of the steps, wondering if she was making the right choice after her fucked-up first day. She hadn’t signed the papers yet. She could leave.
But go where?
Nowhere was safe.
Her uncle and his minions would eventually find her. She needed help, and Rufus said the school could protect her.
She just hoped it was true.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she trudged up the steps and rang the doorbell. She took her backpack off her shoulders, dropping the bag at her feet. As she heard footsteps approach, she swallowed hard, suddenly nervous. When the door opened, she could only gape at the redhead from earlier. “What the actual fuck!”
He pushed open the door and smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. “So youwerefollowing us.”
