Avery’s POV

As the group walked along through the thick forest, the air felt strange. I looked straight ahead, pretending not to notice the frequent sidelong glances Jameson was throwing in my direction. My hands formed into fists at my sides. The last thing I needed was him coming and trying to establish some sort of dominance here.

The others around us were whispering among themselves. It wasn’t difficult to feel the rising discomfort because the shadows felt like they were growing longer by the minute. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind, felt like hidden warning signs in this unnatural-feeling living forest.

Amelia fell in step beside...