Page 94 of Knotting Autumn

“Brother,” Thorne said simply, pulling out my chair. I fought a shiver as I sank down. Both of my mates dropped into the chairs on either side of me.

Hunter’s cold gaze flicked to Sawyer and disgust flashed across his face before he schooled his expression.

Cole sat stock still, his gaze staring into the middle distance behind Hunter’s head. Sawyer still couldn't sense him as of this morning, and I worried he was drugged. That would explain the utter lack of reaction.

Cole kept his face toward Hunter, his chin slightly dipped. Sawyer shifted in his seat, obviously desperate for eye contact with his fated mate.

Leaning forward, I said, “Cole, are you okay?”

“He’s fine,” Hunter snapped. Softening, he plastered on a charming smile. “Let’s eat.”

Carefully, the lids were removed from the food spread over the table, revealing a range of meat, potatoes, and breads in a family-style spread. Everyone watched as Hunter served himself and then placed food on Cole’s plate.

Thorne had warned me about formal meals in packs, and so I waited as Thorne then took his own food and then placed some on my plate. Next, Joanne and another elder took food before the rest of the pack began serving themselves.

It was eerie having a dozen people at the table without any conversation, as if they were a captive audience. And I feared that was exactly what they were. The energy definitely felt like a crowd with handcuffs chaining them to their seats. At least everyone was eating their meal, which eased some of the uncanny vibes. Cautiously, I tried a bite of potato and was relieved it was tasty.

After a few bites, Hunter’s attention landed back on me.

“Autumn, it’s so lovely to meet you properly. I’m glad my brother has a mate now.”

He smiled, and it was so smarmy, I couldn’t control myself.

“Yes, we didn’t quite get to know each other when you tried to drag me out of my store and trashed the front like a toddler having a tantrum.”

Sawyer barked a strangled laugh, and Thorne tensed, his hand on my thigh squeezing in warning.

Hunter appeared unbothered by my sass, but his smirk grew brittle. “I’m surprised you could tell anything was touched in that mess of a human space. Farm supplies, really?”

My mouth opened to argue, but Cole coughed, and I froze. His eyes were still glazed, but he looked over us, his brows pinching. Slowly, he turned his head, and I got a view of the left side of his neck.

A partially-healed bite mark shone on his pale skin.

I stared, unable to process what the hell I was seeing. Sawyer dropped his fork, and it clattered over his plate and onto the tablecloth.

Hunter leaned back in his seat. “Ah, you’ve noticed. I guess the secret is out. Cole has agreed to be my mate, and now he wears my mark.”

The words sounded hollow, like they came down a tunnel.

“What?” Sawyer said, his voice a dangerous growl despite the single word.

“Cole, you’d better let him know,” Hunter said, reaching out and placing his hand over Cole’s wrist.

Nothing happened for a few seconds, and then Cole flinched and opened his mouth. “Sawyer, I reject you as my mate.”

Nothing in that voice sounded like Cole. But Sawyer hadn’t felt anything through their bond in almost two days. So was it possible? I glanced to Thorne, trying to gauge his reaction.

“What did you do?” Thorne asked his brother, his voice low and dangerous.

“Why do you think I worked so hard to get him back? People do crazy things for their mates,” Hunter said with a shrug.

Sawyer was up and over the table before I realized he’d moved. He launched himself at Hunter like a feral animal, and in that moment, that’s what he was.

Hunter’s eyes widened a split second before his chair toppled back and he hit the floor with Sawyer on top of him.

“What the fuck did you do to him?” Sawyer snarled, his hands at Hunter’s throat. The two guards at the door rushed forward, but Hunter seized Sawyer by the neck and flipped him onto his back on the floor beside Cole’s chair.

“Stand down,” Hunter commanded, and the guards retreated.