Page 188 of Knot my First Rodeo

“Fuuuuck!” Hunter yells, spins around and walks to the back of the Hummer, then comes back.

“You’re still too old for her,” he mutters.

“You punched me,” I tell him with a grin.

“I’ll do it again if you hurt her.”

“They won’t.” Autumn speaks up. “We’re bonded. We love each other."

“You’re not helping, Autumn,” Hunter sighs.

“I wasn’t aware I was on trial,” she snaps.

“I’m sorry.” Hunter offers her a small smile. “I fucked up. Bad. Real bad. I’m happy you’re okay, safe, and that you found your scent matches.”

“Thank you,” Autumn smiles.

Peter takes that moment to start screaming again, and the mood changes.

Hunter's face hardens. "So what happened, exactly?"

The answer comes from Autumn.

“I thought I saw Peter at a rodeo a week or so ago, but figured I was mistaken. That night, someone was standing outside our motel room while we were… busy.” She says the last part like she’s trying to not to traumatize her brother. “Briggs went out and checked, but no one was there. Then I thought I saw him again at a bar, but again assumed there was no possible way. When we got back, I got a package delivered, with photos of me. They were of me doing chores here at the ranch, at the bar, at the rodeo. Yesterday, I was in the barn putting bows in River’s mane, when Peter grabbed me, and said he was taking me home. He chased me, and I know if the guys weren’t there, he would have kidnapped me and probably assaulted me. He’s convinced I’m his. He said you would either see me at our wedding, or at my funeral.”

By the time she finishes, nobody looks relaxed anymore. Acid's expression has gone completely blank, Arrow has his arms crossed, and Gears is staring toward the shed like he's already calculating something.

“I’m assuming he’s tied up in there?” Gidge asks.

Briggs shrugs. "Seemed polite."

A sound escapes Gidge that might've been a laugh.

"Guess we should go talk to him."

Briggs steps toward Gidge and her alphas, and Gears steps toward him.

“Can I ask how he was here, stalking our omega, when he was supposed to be in Virginia helping with your guys’ problem?”

Gears' jaw tightens. "Because he's a lying little shit."

"He wasn't missing," Arrow says. "At least, not officially."

I watch Gidge's expression darken.

"He was checking in."

Acid folds his arms. "We sent him home to deal with some family issues he said he was havin’. Sick aunt, then his uncle died. We wanted him to be with his family in their time of need.”

Hunter lets out a curse.

"Obviously, he was lyin’. He was buildin’ an alibi," Acid says flatly.

Silence follows.

Because everybody understands what that means. This wasn’t a spontaneous decision. Not a jealous ex acting stupid. This was weeks of planning.

"Every time he was checking in with the club and selling his sob story..." Gidge’s gaze drifts toward the shed. "He was following Scrappy."