#Chapter 22 Orientation

Anila POV Xaden walked with Penny and me to the dining hall. Penny was quiet since the elevator and I knew she probably had a ton of questions for me, but she wasn’t going to ask with Xaden present. He kept his hands entwined with mine and honestly, I was okay with that. I wanted him close; something inside of me needed to feel his presence. After that awkward elevator ride, I didn’t want him anywhere else. When Zach left the elevator, he went the opposite way and there was a part of me that wondered where he was going. Just before he disappeared, he paused, his eyes found mine. He held my eyes for only a second before turning and disappearing through the crowd. Xaden pulled me along with him and we made it outside into the cool warm night’s air. I breathed in the fresh air and allowed it to relax my body as we walked together to the dining hall. It was crowded as expected and it was a little overwhelming. But thankfully, I wasn’t alone. Xaden and Penny were with me, and we all