Brandon and Evan study Christian for a beat. Then Brandon looks past the counselor and meets Warden’s eyes, and it’s like he’s waiting to see what Warden thinks they should do.

And the rest of the group turns to look at Warden as well. Don’t do it, Dawn thinks, and now she’s mentally speaking to Warden, too. Please.

The moment stretches.

Brandon and Evan wait.

Then Warden’s head tilts in a slight, barely perceptible shake. No.

And Brandon and Evan stare at Warden like they can’t believe it, but Warden’s expression doesn’t change. Another long moment passes and then Evan shrugs, and Brandon shakes his head, and the spell is broken; the boys turn back to their tents and start packing, and time resumes its normal pace.

And Dawn lets out her breath, which she didn’t even realize she was holding in the first place.

Chapter 39

“FIRST OF ALL, NOBODY’S GETTING BUSTED,” Amber tells them all. “Christian and I have discussed what happened just now, and we’re in agreement.”

All eyes turn to Christian, who stands at the edge of the huddle and doesn’t exactly look like he’s in agreement with anything, but from Amber’s tone of voice, it’s clear there will be no negotiations.

“We’re all tired,” Amber continues. “We’ve got a big mountain to climb, literal and metaphorical, and I know that it’s stressing us all out.”

Kyla isn’t looking at Christian. She’s not looking at Christian in the way you don’t look at someone when you want them to know they are the only fucking thing on your mind.

She’s not looking at him, but she knows he’s there. She’s staring up at the mountain, her jaw set and her eyes clear, the tears on her cheeks wiped away, gone.

She looks tough and defiant. She’s not looking at Christian, and it’s a good thing, too, because if she were, he would probably burst into flames.

“Let’s get through today,” Amber is saying. “Together, as a Pack. Let’s lean on our individual strengths and use them to help the team, and let’s climb that mountain and get the hell out of here, and I promise Christian and I will pull some strings and we’ll all have a nice meal and maybe a night indoors for once when we get back to headquarters.”

Christian gives her a look, sharp. Amber cuts him down with one glance.

As for the rest of the Pack, shit, most of what Amber just said is psychological mumbo-jumbo, but getting to sleep inside doesn’t exactly sound bad.

“What do you say, Pack?” Amber asks them. “Can we do this?”

There are halfhearted shrugs and maybe a couple of nods. Amber gives them a wry grin.

“I guess it’s too much to ask for a cheer, huh?”