Chapter 29 Doomed Dinner
Doomed Dinner
Gray clouds drooped over pine boughs, darkening the sky and matching my ominous mood. Hunter knew we wanted Cole back, and this meal was his chess board. He set us up, and he had control over all the pieces.
Sawyer snored softly beside me, and Thorne was already gone when I rolled out of bed and took a quick shower. Hair damp, I padded into the cozy living room. Thorne stood at the window, staring into the trees. A shadow of a guard crossed into the frame.
“We still have our escort?” I asked softly, coming up beside him.
Stormy eyes flickered over my form, and his mouth quirked in the corner. “Yeah.” Gently, he tucked my hair behind my ear, his fingertips trailing over my neck.
Leaning into him, I wrapped my arm around his waist. “I trust you.”
His eyebrow rose a fraction as he looked down at me.
“I trust you can handle this and get us all through in one piece, together. You are strong and clever and capable.”
Turning, he stooped, burying his face in my neck, his breath feathering across my collar. I continued to murmur words of affirmation, just like Sawyer would do for me when I doubted myself or felt like I couldn’t keep going.
“No matter what, tonight all four of us will be together again,” I added.
“No matter what,” Sawyer echoed, entering the room behind me.
Breakfast was quiet, and we all ate as much as we could manage. That feeling of emptiness from Cole’s absence was a gaping wound that kept growing wider. Sawyer’s jaw ticked, and his eyes darkened any time his attention wandered.
I washed up the dishes, and Thorne dried them while Sawyer poked around the living room, exploring Cole’s video game collection and Thorne’s bookshelf.
Once I was finished, I joined him, lightly skimming the pads of my fingers over old mystery and sci-fi novels, the spines broken in many places.
“Who likes what?” I asked Thorne, feeling his warm body behind me.
“Sci-fi is Cole’s. And the fantasy. Mystery and thrillers are mine. Mostly. I don’t mind reading what he likes either, though,” he said, resting his hands on my hips.
“What else did you guys do for fun? Just games and books?”
Turning, I placed a palm on his chest, my fingers curling against the cotton of his button-down. Beside me, Sawyer listened intently, despite his eyes still being on the shelves.
Thorne exhaled. “We were outside a lot. Hiking, swimming in the nearby pond. Hanging out with friends. All the normal stuff you did growing up, I bet.”
Thinking of my own childhood, I glanced at Sawyer. “Yeah, I guess that about sums it up. I prefer to curl up at home, but Sawyer’s always loved to be outdoors too. Is that a werewolf thing?”
Gaze rising to meet Sawyer’s, Thorne nodded. “We have a drive to be out in nature. Werewolves aren’t meant to be indoors. That’s the human side.”
“I’d like to know more,” I said softly.
Hours ticked by, and Thorne told me stories about growing up in the pack in his low, calm voice.
We curled up together on the sofa, and Sawyer joined us for a while, until he couldn’t sit still any longer. The anxious energy in the room grew until I felt like I would burst out of my skin.
“It’s close enough. Let’s go,” Thorne finally said.
Sawyer was already on his feet, and he rolled his shoulders, his mouth a grim line. He’d changed into one of Cole’s black linen button-downs with a spiraling gray pattern stitched into the fabric.
Almost vibrating with nerves, Sawyer stood by the door, waiting for us. Reaching out, I took his hand, serving as his anchor as we left Thorne’s home.
I wish I had something nicer to wear, but I hadn’t packed anything but t-shirts and sweatpants when we were making a run for it. A sitdown dinner with werewolves wasn’t on my original itinerary.
The three guards followed us to the main house, and Thorne stubbornly ignored them. A few nearby people hushed their chatter and watched us. I flinched under the scrutiny and huddled closer to Sawyer, who wrapped an arm around me protectively.
Thorne’s head swung around and he glowered at anyone looking my way. Our watchers dispersed like frightened birds.
The pack house loomed ahead, and I flinched as the door ground on its hinges upon opening. Thorne pressed a hand to my back, ushering me inside. The grim anticipation coming off of both of my mates was suffocating, and I had to gulp down air to keep myself calm.
Thorne led us to the same dining room we’d passed through on our tour the day before. Now it was transformed with a tablecloth, platters of food, and a dozen people sitting and waiting.
“Looks like we were told the wrong time,” Sawyer muttered.
The long table was full. Joanne sat at the far end, with James and Mia nearby. Hunter was at the head of the table, with Cole on his right. To his left, three seats were open, waiting for us.
Instinctively, I stepped forward toward Cole, but Thorne held me tight.
Hunter’s cruel mouth curved into a smirk as he watched me fight the desire to go to Cole.
On my other side, Sawyer was faring better.
Every muscle was taut, and his breathing was rough and shallow, but he kept a steady walking pace until we reached our seats.
“Glad you could join us,” Hunter said smoothly.
“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.
Regaining his breath, Sawyer threw a punch, striking Hunter on the cheek. But the bigger man pinned him down, getting one arm under his knee and twisting the other to his stomach.
Cole stared down at them, his face still frighteningly blank.
Shoving my chair back, I clung to the corner of the table, unsure of how I could help. Thorne moved beside me, his hand on my waist, holding me back.
“How dare you try to come between us, you disgusting stray. You never should have come here,” Hunter growled, his free hand closing over Sawyer’s throat. “You never should have existed.”
“Let him go, Hunter,” Thorne warned.
“I’m doing us both a favor. Neither of us want to share our mates,” Hunter replied, his focus entirely on Sawyer. He flashed his teeth in a frightening approximation of a smile.
Digging my nails into Thorne’s forearm, I begged, “Please do something.”
Sawyer’s face paled, his movements slowing.
“Brother,” Thorne tried one more time.
Grunting, Hunter shoved Sawyer harder into the ground. With a frustrated snarl, Thorne closed the distance between them, wrapping his hand around his brother’s throat and yanking him off Sawyer.
Hunter screamed in rage, and Thorne shoved his back against the wall. Baring his teeth, he addressed his power-hungry twin. “Hunter, you are formally removed from your role as alpha of our pack. You’ve broken many of our laws, ignored the sanctity of mating bonds, and abused those in your care.”
“Are you challenging me, brother?” Hunter said, his attempt at a smirk falling flat.
“No, I am deposing you. You are not worthy of a challenge, but if you want to fight to prove yourself, I would be happy to beat you.”
Satisfied that Thorne had his brother adequately restrained, I darted forward, dropping to my knees beside Sawyer. Angry red marks marred his throat, and his breathing was ragged.
“Cole,” he gasped.
“You can fuck off,” Hunter managed to say.
Without turning his head, Thorne addressed the room. “If anyone is not supportive of me claiming leadership, speak now.”
The absolute command in his voice had my head dipping in submission. This was the alpha in Thorne, and I knew he was made to lead.
His challenge to leadership was met with absolute silence.
“James, please escort Hunter into our safe room. Mia, please take Cole to medical so they can figure out what Hunter dosed him with and heal that fucking bite.” His lip curled in distaste over that reality. “Autumn, get Sawyer to medical too.”
His word was law, and the entire room moved in unison, those whose names were not listed falling into support roles. James produced zip ties and secured Hunter’s wrists, taking him from Thorne and leading him to the door. The guards, clearly unbothered by the change in authority, followed.
Thorne leaned against the wall he had shoved his brother against, his chest heaving.
“Will everyone fall into line that easily?” I asked, blinking up at him.
His sigh was weary. “Hunter secured loyalty through brute strength, so that is all it takes to remove him. And even those who supported him cannot stand by and watch what he did here. It was unforgivable to our kind.”
His gaze shot to where Mia and Joanne were supporting Cole, who slouched and stumbled toward the door.
“Go with them and watch over him. I have things to clear up here.”
Nodding, I turned away, pausing for a second. Wanting to show how much I appreciated him, I twisted, going up on my tip toes and kissing Thorne on the cheek. “You’re my hero.”
His dark expression cracked, and his mouth curved into the slightest smile for me.
Hurrying after Sawyer, I reached out and steadied him. His hands pressed to his neck, and his breathing still rattled, scaring me. I’d be counting on that werewolf healing to help him after such an ordeal.