Elias Thompson towers over me. He holds an empty tray, and he’s munching on his apple core. He’s pale, with hair so blond, it’s almost white. He got arrested selling meth out of his high school’s basement, and he’s the type of person who walks around with mocking contempt for everything and everyone.

“Well?” He reaches over my shoulder and grabs my apple too.

Leah raises her eyebrows. Her hands are curled to fists. “I pay attention. Try it sometime.”

“Cute.” He smirks.

“I am,” Leah says, without missing a beat. “You should put that back. It’s my sister’s.”

Elias tilts his head. He stares my sister down and dares her to force him.

It only takes a beat. Reid and Maverick from Hunter’s table notice that Elias is challenging us, and they get up and walk our way. Their soles squeak on the linoleum, and every conversation around us hushes. It always happens. A silent beat whenever Hunter or any of his friends are around. Elias realizes what’s happening. He drops the apple on the table and turns on his heels. Reid follows him, and Maverick lingers near us.

“You okay?”

Leah told me I shouldn’t scowl. Instead, I try to look grateful. I reach for the bruised apple and polish it on my sleeve.

“Yeah, thanks,” Leah says. “He wasn’t doing anything, just being his annoying self.”

Maverick rolls his shoulders. “We’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Leah’s smile is tight-lipped. When Maverick reaches out to tousle my hair like I’m a kid or a pet, she very carefully shakes her head. Don’t anger them. Play along.

I freeze and let him touch me.

Hunter took pity on us when we first arrived. He slung an arm around Leah’s shoulders and told her: “I have a sister who’s special too. I know how hard it is, but I’ll make sure nothing happens to you while you’re here.”

She had to step on my foot to keep me from punching him, and we fought about it when we got to our room. I hate the word special. I hate his belief that I’m a burden—or anyone’s precious possession. I hate the idea that I should be protected. I may not speak or think the same way Leah does, but that doesn’t mean I’m less human than she is, and I can take care of myself.

It took Leah almost a week to convince me it wasn’t about any of that—except the protection, maybe.

“Life is different here than it was back home,” she said. “For better and for worse. Do you remember what Granddad used to tell us? There are good people who will help you, but there are also wolves in disguise. Hunter is a wolf.”

“So?”

“We have to be careful with him and his crew, and I’d rather he eats others than that he tries to eat us.”

“I’d rather he doesn’t eat anyone at all.” They all scared me.

“Also that, of course.” She winced. “But…I can’t protect you here. Not on my own. Not from everyone. He can.”