Page 52 of Tethered to the World
Annora rolled her eyes. “No, actually it’s simple. You just have to make the decision. Do you want a life with each other or not?”
They didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
Then they both glanced at each other in surprise and smiled.
“It won’t be easy, but I think you’ll find it will be worth it.” She would know. She’d lived a life of nothing but servitude, Life was easier if she obeyed. No starvation. No regular beatings. If she had something to live for—someone—she would never let them go.
It would be worth everything she’d been through.
“Annora!” A large shape separated itself from the shadows, and she turned to see Xander storm toward her. The wolves circled around her, and she blinked in surprise.
Xander stopped, his chest expanding as he examined the threat. His eyes swept over her, then stilled in a way no human could duplicate, like a predator right before he pounced. His eyes brightened as he cataloged her injuries, aggression pouring off him. He scanned the rest of the wolves as if debating whether he could take them, then lifted his chin and thrust out his hand. “Come here.”
He would fight for her. Warmth spilled through her at the foolish gesture, not sure how she felt at knowing he would do anything to protect her.
Loulou inched toward her side, her eyes lowered, her small frame practically quivering in fear. “You don’t have to go. We can protect you.”
Xander narrowed his eyes in response, silently refuting Loulou’s promise, but some of the tension in his shoulders eased when the wolves appeared more protective than homicidal.
Annora debated the wisdom of running, not going back with the guys, but she knew her uncle would eventually find her.
She was tired of running.
Tired of being the victim.
Though she hated to admit it, she needed them…at least for now.
Until she was strong enough to stand on her own.
The guys were the lesser of the two evils. But she would be smarter this time, keep her distance. Camden made it abundantly clear that they were not friends, family, or even a team.
She wouldn’t forget that painful lesson.
“It’s fine.” She waved away the wolves, still surprised they’d been willing to stand up for her. “He won’t hurt me.”
“You sure?” Loulou flicked a quick glance at Xander, some of her spunk returning as she crossed her arms, then looked him up and down. “I saw you when you came into the bathroom. You were running from something…or someone.”
Annora couldn’t help but smile at her gutsy friend. It took a lot for her to stand up to Xander. “You might be a rabbit, but you have the heart of a lion. Don’t ever forget it.”
To her surprise, Loulou blushed and ducked her head. “I’ll see you at school, right?”
“I would enjoy that.” Only then did the wolves break circle and gather around the fire once more. Lionel sized up Xander the way one beast would another, judging the threat, then gave the man a small nod of respect.
Xander didn’t wait for goodbyes before sweeping an arm around her and marched her away. Instead of heading back toward the party, he walked her down toward the docks, where the rowdy partiers fled after just one look from him. Then he sat down at the end of the dock, pulling her down next to him. He took her feet in his lap, slipped off her shoes and socks without a word, then placed them in the water.
Moonlight spilled over the calm surface, the music behind them and the murmur of people making her feel like a normal person for once. The current tugged playfully at her feet, the trickle of water calming.
“Danger is stalking the students. People have gone missing. Would you like to tell me why you ran?”
Her good mood shattered as he took her to task, and she shrugged. “The truth? I don’t belong here.”
Xander glanced at her and raised a single brow, amusement making his teal eyes shine brightly against the water. “If you hadn’t noticed, none of us on the team belong here. We’re all outcasts.” He skipped a stone against the water. “We’re downright assholes. We’re an unknown quantity to the other shifters.” He sent a quick glance over her shoulder at the students, then his intense gaze slammed into her. “Don’t give up on us yet. We need you as much as you need us.”
Not wanting to continue the conversation, she pulled her feet out of the water, only for him to latch onto her ankles and swing her legs over his thighs. Then his eyes landed on her injuries, a frown pulling at his brows, and he nodded toward them. “Will you let me treat you?”
She glanced down at the claw marks, then shrugged.
He leaned over, scooping up some water, then gently took her arm and trickled it over the cuts. He patiently did it over and over, washing away the blood. Then he frowned and leaned in closer, probing the injuries. “They looked like they started to heal, just enough to stop bleeding, then stopped.”
