Chapter Nine

Elena

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

I stay crouched behind the bushes, but I know that I made too much of a noise to remain hidden. I swallow heavily, my breathing intensifying. I can't hear anything, other than the drumming sound of my own heart.

I look around. There's nothing. I don't see the guys anymore. They're probably doing a much better job of hiding than I am. Just as I'm about to turn around and leave, I feel someone grab me by the elbow and pull me forcefully back in the direction we came from.

"Let me…" I start, but a hand is pressed to my mouth, preventing me from speaking.

A moment later, I realize that it's Cal. He's pulling me back, not letting me go. When he finally does, I realize that Rock and the other guy are also there.

Rock's voice is a low growl as he speaks to me. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Undeterred, I meet his gaze with determination. "I want to know what's going on. I know I may not be from around here, but I'm camping in these woods here, which means this is my home now, too… at least for the time being, and I'm not going to sit idly by while you keep me in the dark."

I can see Rock's jaw tightening, his eyes lighting a fire that I have just ignited with my insubordination. Sensing the storm, Cal steps in.

"Elena," he rakes his fingers through his hair as he speaks, "this is dangerous. We told you to stay back at your camp."

"If there is danger in these woods, aren't I safer with you guys?" I ask, stealing a glance at Rock. I can see that he is more than annoyed with me.

Cal grins at him. "She kinda has a point."

"Stop taking this as a joke, Cal," Rock warns him. "This is no place for… her."

For a moment, it sounds as if that's not really the word he was going to use, but rather that he changed his mind in the last minute. But… what other word was he going to use?

"Rock has a point," Cal admits, looking back from the direction we all came. Something tells me that there is a secret there I'm supposed to unearth, but now I'm not allowed to. I've been caught doing something I wasn't supposed to.

"This is not some adventure, Elena," Rock continues. "The woods are a dangerous place for humans. Any woods, not just these. You have no idea what could happen to you."

"But you're here," I remind him.

"We've lived here our whole lives," he tells me what I already know. "And we can't run around constantly, keeping you safe."

My frustration mounts momentarily. "I never asked you to keep me safe, you know. I can take care of myself. I'm not a child."

"Can you now?" he asks, and I feel like we're back at square one.

"Whoa, whoa," Cal interrupts, standing between us with his arms outstretched. "Why don't we all calm down."

"I can't calm down when she purposefully puts herself in danger," Rock snarls.

"That can actually be solved, but you won't like the solution I have," Cal tells him.

"What is it?" Rock asks.

"We could bring her back to our village," Cal suggests.

Rock's eyes widen in shock. "Are you insane?"

I frown. "Why is that such a shocking suggestion?"

Rock doesn't say anything to me, but is still focused on his conversation with Cal. "You can't be serious."

"Why not?" Cal shrugs.

I notice Rock narrowing his gaze at Cal, sending him crypted messages I don't understand. To be quite honest, I really don't understand what the big deal is. It's a village like any other. I mean, it can't be worse than Pinehaven, can it?

"You know we don't like… outsiders," Rock explains through gritted teeth.

I speak louder so he is forced to look at me. "Don't tell me you're like those assholes at Pinehaven."

"Shhh!" Rock looks behind him, then grabs me by the wrist and we all start walking back in the direction of my camp. "You'll kill us all, don't you get it?"

"No, I don't," I reply, wiggling my hand away from him. "And I don't understand the need for all this secrecy." Then, I turn to Cal. "At least you're the nice one here, Cal. I appreciate you trying to help."

Cal gives me a weak smile. It is obvious that in their village, Rock is the one that decides on everything. Not that it surprises me. He certainly has the character for it.

Rock leans over to him and whispers something into his ear, something I can't hear. A moment later, Cal does the same. I can't tell what they're talking about, but I assume it's about whether I'll go back with them or not. Honestly, I don't think I even want to. Then again, all this mystery surrounding their nightly escapades and their village is keeping me on my toes.

I could turn back, go to the camp and leave this place forever. I would go back to the safety of the city, of the things I know, the things I grew up with and I will be the same clumsy, shy Elena I always was. But I will always wonder… what if? What if, only this once, I don't do what that clumsy, shy Elena would do and instead, I choose to be brave?

"Fine," I hear Rock's low growl. "But only for a couple of nights, until we figure out what's going on."

"Sure," Cal grins again, walking over to me. "We agreed to take you back with us. Just to be on the safe side. You never can tell with these bears."

"Thank you," I smile, as we all keep walking, with Phillip and Rock behind us. "I have my camera with me, but what about the rest of my stuff?"

"Phillip can bring those to the village for you," Cal tells me, turning around to Phillip, who simply nods in agreement.

We walk silently the rest of the way, with Phillip separating at one point. Rock eventually overtakes us, walking in front, leaving Cal and me slightly behind.

"Don't hold it against him," Cal says slightly apologetically. "He's just… Rock."

"He really doesn't want me in your village, does he?" I wonder why.

"No, it's just…" he scratches the back of his neck, as he's trying to come up with an excuse, but he fails to do so.

"It's OK," I smile a little awkwardly. "I've been unwanted before. It won't be a first. But… I really do appreciate you standing up for me."

He takes me by the hand and squeezes it. "Rock is a good guy. I know it's hard to see that now, but he is. Maybe one day, you'll know everything, and you will see him for who he truly is, and then all will be clear."

His words don't make much sense, but I decide not to dwell on them. I don't feel regret for what happened between Rock and me, but somehow, I do feel that he might be trying to push me away from himself. I just want to tell him that he doesn't have to worry about me breathing down his neck or that I expect anything from him just because we had sex. Only, every time we're together, it's never the right time to talk about it.

We finally arrive at the village, having passed through a cave. "Wow," I gasp when we reach the clearing. "I've never seen anything like this before!"

There is a small group of people there and I immediately feel the weight of all those curious eyes upon me. All the villagers are regarding me with a mix of intrigue and suspicion. One child even points at me with innocent curiosity, but his mother hushes him, pulling down the child's arm.

Rock stands in the middle of the group, addressing them. "Attention, please. We have a guest who will be staying with us for a few days. She is here to help and… adjust to our ways. Please, treat her with kindness and respect."

The villagers exchange glances, murmuring amongst themselves, but Rock's authoritative tone immediately tempers their curiosity. Slowly, their initial scrutiny eases, and they all go back to their business.

"Take Elena to one of the empty cottages," Rock instructs Cal. "She can stay there for now."

Cal nods in understanding and gestures at me to follow him. "Come. I'll show you to your temporary home."

As we continue to walk through the square, Cal tells me interesting snippets about their community, how they grow their own fruits and vegetables, how they often hunt and rarely go to Pinehaven for supplies they can't obtain in any other way. I observe the tightly-knit village, its charm amplified by the rustic cottages and the now welcoming atmosphere, although there are still a few suspicious gazes here and there.

Cal leads me to a little cottage, and the wooden door creaks open, revealing its cozy interior. There is a small fireplace, a simple bed, and a small table with a chair. Unassuming, but cozy.

"It's not much," Cal's voice makes me turn around to face him. "But it should be comfortable for your stay. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you," I smile, watching him leave and close the door behind him.

I take a moment to myself in absorb the serenity of the cottage. I have no idea what this place is or why they are living so far away from civilization. Some people just prefer it that way, I guess.

I sit on the bed, patting it with my hands, feeling how soft it is. I can't understand why they would want to live this peaceful life. Staying here will probably be a once in a lifetime experience. The thought makes me joyful.

Be reasonable, you don't know them, and you came here of your own will, my conscience finally surfaces, now that I'm already here. Strangely, I don't feel scared. On the contrary, I feel like if they wanted to harm me, they would have done so already. Instead, they saved me, then brought me here.

I look around, inhaling the scent of pines around. There is a cool chill about this place, but I think with the fireplace going, this would be a perfect getaway from the rest of the world.

I wonder if Rock and Cal have something to do with this sensation. Cal I've come to know. He is so easy to be around, and I can tell that he's as attracted to me as I am to him. I feel like maybe, we might be able to hit it off, if we ever got the chance for it.

But Rock… he's something else. He's unlike anyone I've ever met before. He is hot then cold. He pulls me to him, then pushes me away with his behavior, and I have no idea what he's thinking, let alone what he's feeling. He is so difficult to read, unlike Cal. He is… so wonderfully simple, while Rock is the epitome of complexity. Together, they would be perfect.

The thought almost makes me chuckle. It's a joke, having the two of them together… at the same time. That same thought makes me blush instantly.

I would never… I mean, I could never… the very thought of being with two men at the same time… it's not something I could ever do. At least, I thought it wasn't. Now, I'm not so sure. If it were the two of them…

I close my eyes, touching my cheek with the tips of my fingers, imagining Rock's kisses again. I melted in his arms. The feeling of him inside of me was beyond wonderful. Then, my mind conjures up Cal's face, adding it behind me. I can almost feel his lips on my neck, his hot breath spilling on my naked skin.

My body erupts in a million little goosebumps running up then down my spine. It is so easy to imagine being with both of them. Strangely, I don't see it as anything wrong. How can I, when we're all consenting adults here? When all three of us want the same thing?

Just as I'm about to lie down, I hear a knock on the door. I rush to open it.

"Did you miss me?" I try a joke, thinking it's Cal, but I'm surprised to see Rock standing in the doorway. My cheeks blush fervently. I can feel my blood boiling almost as if he can read my mind and see the naughty thoughts I was just imagining moments ago.

"May I?" he asks, gesturing at the inside of the cottage.

"Uhm.. of course," I reply hastily, after my initial confusion. "Come in."

I close the door behind him, wondering why he is here.