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“I’m not sure who died and put you in charge, but that’s not gonna work for me,” I informed him, turning back around.
“Excuse me?” Dominic asked in disbelief as Caleb choked back a laugh.
“I get up at six. There’s no reason for me to be at school that early.” I turned around and walked backwards a few steps as I added, “And has it ever occurred to you to ask instead of tell?”
“No,” was his only reply as Caleb shook his head at me. “We have weight training in the mornings.”
“That sounds like your problem, not mine,” I retorted, spinning around.
“It’s not safe for you to be alone,” he called after me and I slowed. “Not even to drive yourself. Get a ride with someone. You can ride home with us.”
“What about Anna?” I asked, moderating my voice so it wasn’t so harsh.
“No,” Dominic said and I stopped to give him a questioning look. “She can’t protect you.”
“They might not bother her after today,” Caleb pointed out and I started walking again so they didn’t get ahead with their longer legs.
“I’m not willing to take that chance,” Dominic replied, his tone indicating he wasn’t going to argue the point. He didn’t bother to mention what he thought of the meeting, but he didn’t need to.
We continued to walk in silence as I contemplated what I’d learned. So far, there didn’t seem to be anything I could do besides stay in a group. I wasn’t exactly an expert in self-defense and a gun on school grounds was a great way to get expelled. But the idea of relying on others to protect me was difficult to accept, especially since they seemed to have a bunch of secrets of their own they were keeping.
“Caleb, go straight home,” Dominic’s voice broke through my swirling thoughts and I saw we’d reached the path toward their house, community, whatever they called it. I hesitated, but Caleb only gave me a wave as he turned off.
“I can get myself home,” I started, waving my hand down the path Dominic was supposed to go down. He gripped my arm and nudged me forward.
“Not a chance. I’m walking you home.” Again, his voice brooked no argument and I relented with a sigh. Truthfully, I had no desire to walk the last stretch by myself, but it was irritating to let him have his way.
We walked in silence and I was surprised at how quietly Dominic moved for such a large guy. If it wasn’t for my heightened awareness of his presence, I might forget he was even there.
“Those guys, Hanleys,” I began and paused to see if he was paying attention. He gave a low hum to indicate he was listening and I continued, “They chased me and said something about my scent.” I paused as I felt him tense, my words obviously skating close to his secrets but I wanted to know something. “You mentioned it too,” I continued carefully and he shifted a little further from me. “Why didn’t it bother you like it bothered them?”
He stopped so suddenly and quietly, I was a few steps ahead before I realized he wasn’t next to me. I stopped and turned to see a conflicted expression on his face.
“It bothered me,” he finally answered quietly. “Never doubt I’m just as dangerous to you as they are.” I flinched at his words, recognizing how vulnerable I was just then. We were surrounded by forest and I doubted anyone would hear me if I screamed. He seemed to sense the fear he’d inspired as he stepped towards me, his finger running along my jaw and down to my exposed collarbone. He leaned forward and involuntarily my eyes drifted closed as I tried to breathe. “The only difference between them and me….is that I’ll never force the decision on you.”
His lips were barely a whisper against the curve of my neck, but it felt like he’d branded me. My eyes flew open, only to find him standing there, watching me with hooded eyes.
My fingers drifted to my neck where the imprint of his lips throbbed on my skin. As I touched the spot, a low growl rumbled through the clearing and he moved away from me. I dropped my hand immediately and he stopped, pulling his intense gaze from me.
“We should keep going,” he advised, gesturing for me to go ahead. I started walking, feeling the weight of his presence behind me. My body tensed as I waited for him to pounce on my exposed back, defenseless against the predator stalking me.
It was a long few minutes until the parking lot finally came into view and I could take an easy breath.
“Remember,” Dominic spoke gently, almost apologetic as he gazed at me. “Don’t go anywhere alone. They won’t give up so easily.”
