Chapter 23

EMMA

I thought about what he said. I knew I liked Xander. Maybe he was just having as much conflict with this as I was. I dared another look at him. He looked up and smirked right at me. I could not help but return it.

Perhaps Diana, Sylvie, and Ethan were right all along. Although, I would never tell Ethan that or else his head would grow even further.

Ethan chuckled, obviously catching the smirk war. “Now, go join that group,” he pointed to a group of six people.

All eyes were on me when I approached the group. I kept myself from running back to the packhouse, so that was a plus. Little steps. It would take time to branch out from the habits formed at Blacktree. I needed to get used to overcoming my aversion to being near people and interacting with them.

A tall redhead smiled and bounced up to me. They all looked around my age, so I wondered what their fighting style was like.

“Hey, I’m Freya. You’re new right?” Her voice was very upbeat and peppy, which was like how Marsey no