Page 83 of Knotting Autumn

Luckily, only one of those things happened. Satisfied that the area was safe, Thorne retreated to the patio, his huge form gingerly stepping on the mattress to curl up beside me.

“You didn’t want me to be cold, did you?” I murmured. “Can I pet you?”

Gold eyes met mine, and he nodded. The human gesture was unsettling on a wild animal, but I instinctively knew this was Thorne. I was safe.

Smiling, I buried my fingers into his thick ruff. He leaned into me, his massive head settling in my lap. As I stroked his fur and scratched at his skin, he made a low, rumbling noise, closer to a purr than a growl.

“I suppose I can talk to you now and you can’t talk back,” I said, smirking. “I can’t believe I’m at Sawyer’s secret cabin, curled up on the patio with a werewolf the size of a small pony.”

He nudged my leg, and I rubbed over his velvet ears.

“I was so mad at you. You really shocked me, and I couldn’t believe you had any feelings for me or a claim on me. But I get it now. I can feel our bond, and I trust you.”

His fur was so thick I couldn’t see my fingers. It was the most luxurious fur coat ever, and I couldn’t resist bending at my waist to bury my face into his fur.

“You’re unlike anyone else I’ve ever known. I didn’t think I’d find anyone who fit me. Even Sawyer. He’s been my best friend for years, and I love him so much, but he can’t read me like you can. We’ve learned each other. You and I just… match.”

He was sitting still now, not doing anything to interrupt me.

“I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I guess I just want you to know how I’m totally in. I’ll go with you if we need to run. And I’m sure Sawyer will too. It’ll be the four of us against the world.”

Raising his head, Thorne licked my jaw, and I yelped at his rough, wet tongue. His eyebrow rose, the expression so much like the one he made in his human form.

“Okay, stop that,” I said, pushing him away with a giggle.

Sighing, I stretched out beside him, resting my head on his warm, fluffy side. As the night grew darker, it was easy to nod off.

I woke in the night when two panting wolves joined us. They didn’t really fit on the mattress, so Sawyer nestled against Cole with his legs off the edge. I was wedged between Thorne and Cole, but I didn’t mind. It was getting colder, and their warm bodies kept me cozy and comfortable.

Smiling, I went back to sleep.

Chapter 26

Sending a Message

I may have fallen asleep with three huge wolves snuggled up against me, but I woke with three very naked, very hot men sprawled across the mattress.

My head was on Thorne’s bicep, and I turned to see heated navy eyes watching me.

“Did you sleep okay, Vixen?” He brushed my hair back, his fingers trailing over my jaw.

“Snug as a bug,” I said hoarsely.

Cole turned, grunting as he woke up. Without any warning, he wrapped his arm around my waist and dragged me off of Thorne and against his stomach.

A second muscular arm draped over his ribcage, Sawyer’s freckled hand cupping my breast.

“Guys,” I said slowly, trying to keep myself under control. We’d just spent the last twenty-four hours screwing each other, and now we needed to make a plan. “As much fun as this is, we need to strategize today, remember?”

Thorne scowled, his head dropping back against the blanket. “You’re right.”

“We need to get our messages and see what the update is from the pack,” Cole said, releasing me. As he sat up, Sawyer moved his arm to loop around Cole’s waist.

“Let’s get something to eat and then we can deal with everything,” Sawyer said. His curls stuck out in every direction.

As he rose to his knees and then his feet, I spied bite marks over his biceps and shoulders, but none of them looked like the claim marks the boys had placed on me.

Cole and Thorne went inside to heat up more canned soup. When they returned, Sawer wrinkled his nose.