Page 48 of Tethered to the World
She was so fucked up she hadn’t even hesitated to get in the car with virtual strangers.
But the funny thing? She felt safe with them.
Camden watched her in the rearview mirror more than he watched the road, and she was sure he was trying to answer some question about her that he hadn’t been able to figure out. Mason shifted in his seat, like he couldn’t wait to get out of the confines of the luxury vehicle. Halfway through the ride, Xander ran a single finger down the outside of her jeans, instantly making her tingle with a rush of emotions. Logan seemed focused on his phone, though he barely watched the screen scroll past as he studied her from the corner of his eyes. Over the course of the past twenty minutes, he went from leaning against the door to pressed up flush against her…and she didn’t think he had a clue.
“For fuck sake…” Logan held up his phone, leaned into her and snapped a quick picture before she could blink. A few clicks later, he pocketed his phone.
Only to have Mason’s beep.
The big man clicked open his phone, then seemed to settle in his seat when a picture of her and Logan popped up on his screen. She cast a glance at Logan, but he only shrugged, tipped his head back and closed his eyes. Ten minutes later, the car came to a stop.
While they piled out of the vehicle, Xander held the door open for her. As she exited, he ran his hand lightly down her back, only for a second, like he couldn’t resist touching her. Then he shut the door and fell back behind the others, practically disappearing into the gathering darkness.
Being in the forest at night was a lot different than daylight—much darker and creepier than she expected. Shadows played against each other despite her enhanced vision. She felt like she was being watched, but couldn’t pin down where the sensation originated.
Mason kept pace with her, and nodded toward their surroundings. “There’s nothing to fear. While the forest can be deadly, if you know how to read your surroundings, it can be a place of shelter. When we go on our tour of the forest tomorrow, I’ll show you how to survive out here. Different doesn’t mean bad. It can be beautiful.”
She didn’t think he was talking about the forest any longer when he glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, then quickly looked away.
His awkward flirting charmed her.
She liked that he wasn’t smooth.
She glanced away, allowing him time to recover. She’d spent most of her life confined to a single room. No more. She wanted to explore the world. “I would like that.”
Mason’s smile was slow and sexy, and she marveled at how such a big man could move so silently.
“Where are we going?” She couldn’t discern a path, but the guys seemed to know where they were heading. Off in the distance, a faint thump and rumble of music echoed in the trees.
Camden glanced back at her. “The Donahue Mill was abandoned about thirty years ago. Since then the lake has become a popular hangout for kids.”
She picked up her pace to walk next to him, and it wasn’t long before they saw Christmas lights strewn about the trees, the place packed with so many kids they spilled out from the old Mill and down to the lake. Everyone was dancing and talking and having a good time.
She hadn’t been aware of stopping until Camden held out his hand for her. “Come.”
The rest of the guys walked past and scattered into the crowd. They laughed, quickly collecting a drink, mingling with the rest, but it was obvious from the way they scanned the crowd and never lingered in any one spot for long that they were working.
“What do you want me to do?” She was excited about the chance to be a part of a team.
“You’re new, so your presence will attract a lot of attention.” Camden reached for her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. Their skin touched briefly, leaving her fingers tingling pleasantly. “The guys and I will take turns escorting you. You are to simply observe and let us know if you see anything odd.”
Without waiting for her reply, he plowed through the crowd, dragging her after him. Most students scattered out of his way, whether because of his reputation or the snarl on his face, she wasn’t sure. A jumble of people pressed against her from all sides until her senses were overwhelmed. The darkness swelled inside her, everyone’s voices jumbling into a low rumble she had a hard time deciphering.
She tightened her grip on Camden’s arm, tucking herself behind him as people turned and blatantly stared. The Mill was a dilapidated, three-story building well over a hundred years old. The main doors were thrown open, leaving her a clear view from one side of the building to the other. Camden wound them through the crowd, up to the second floor.
He stopped at a small bench table, then laid his bare hand on the back of one kid’s neck. “Leave.”
The kid turned and glared up at him, but immediately shut his mouth when he saw it was Camden. He practically dumped the girl off his lap when he stood, and the rest of his crew followed. As soon as they left, Camden dismissed them, and guided her into the now-vacant seats.
She sniffed, trying to place them, then glanced back up at him with a frown. “What are they?”
“Bears.”
Her eyes widened. “Aren’t they territorial?”
No way would they give up their place willingly.
Camden gave her a crooked smile. “Let’s just say I don’t taste very good to their kind.”
