Chapter 15 Double Threat
Double Threat
Sawyer was gone when I woke. He left a note on his pillow saying he got called into work and that he loved me, along with a suggestive stick figure drawing that made me smile.
I had no work to get to, I realized glumly. It took effort to get myself out of bed, and the room spun a bit as I walked to the bathroom. My muscles were sore for no reason, and I felt weak.
Thorne was stretched out on the sofa when I walked into the living room, his arm over his face. Somehow, he was even paler.
“Where’s Cole?” I asked, crossing to the kitchen to make coffee.
“Still asleep in Sawyer’s room,” he said, sounding as awful as I felt.
“Are you okay?” I asked, pausing.
He sighed. “I thought being in the same apartment would be enough to appease our bond, but it’s not. I still feel like shit. What about you?”
It hadn’t occurred to me that it was the bond—or lack thereof, really—making me feel like shit. But now that he mentioned it, it seemed obvious. The ache in my muscles, the feeling of a phantom gaping hole in my chest.
Shaking my head, I faced him. “Not great. What can we do?”
Thorne hesitated. “Come here.”
I was moving before my brain caught up. He opened his arms, and I slid into them. It was the most natural thing in the world, and I fit against him perfectly.
What the hell was I doing?
My mind revolted, even as my body hummed at the contact. Immediately, a sense of relief rushed through me, as if I’d been slightly nauseated for days and suddenly wasn’t. I needed this.
He laid back, and I stretched out on top of him, my cheek resting on his bicep and his chin on the top of my head.
“Just for a bit,” I mumbled. But something inside of me was rumbling contentedly, and the last thing I wanted to do was get up and stop touching Thorne.
The spark from our date was still there, but I ignored it. This was about feeling better, not getting off.
His chest rose and fell, lulling me into a relaxed state. His other hand stroked over my hair, and the feel of his fingers on my scalp was delicious.
“I should have had you with me like this last night,” he said.
“Last night,” I repeated, jumbled memories of him carrying me, of me begging Sawyer. A blush surged to my face. At least I fell asleep before I could embarrass myself further.
“I can feel your shame,” he said.
“I’m—” I started to lie, but what was the point? I couldn’t lie to him when he could feel my emotions. “I acted a bit ridiculous.”
Thorne sighed, and the air puffed over my hair. “You were adorable. I love seeing more sides of you.”
Frowning, I fought the urge to burrow into his chest. This man had been nothing but patient and understanding. Outside of the whole tying me up naked in his back seat situation. The more I saw of him, the more I liked him.
“One of these days, I’m going to get you back for kidnapping me,” I muttered.
“Does that mean you won’t kick us out right away?” His tone brightened.
Before I could think of an answer, someone knocked on the door. Pushing up, I climbed off of him.
“Did you order something?” he asked, grabbing my wrist to hold me back.
“No. It’s probably a salesperson or something.”
That wasn’t good enough for Thorne. He pulled me behind him, hiding me with his bulky frame, and approached the door cautiously.
Tensing, he cracked the door, his foot behind it so whoever knocked couldn’t shove the door open further.
“Hello, brother,” drawled the stranger.
Bristling, I peered past Thorne to see Hunter. It was eerie how identical they were, but I would never mistake Hunter for Thorne again. The energy rolling off of him was toxic and made my stomach churn.
“What the fuck do you want?” I snarled.
Thorne grabbed my arm, keeping me behind him.
Hunter laughed. “Yes, keep your little bitch in line.”
Ripping the door open, Thorne lunged at Hunter. He slammed his twin back against the plaster wall, making our neighbor’s jack-o’-lantern welcome sign rattle.
“You don’t talk to her, don’t even look at her,” Thorne said, his forearm to his brother’s neck to pin him in place.
Hunter held up two hands, palms out. “Peace. I’m not here to hurt her. We just need to talk.”
“I have nothing to talk about with you.”
Cocking his head, Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?”
After a long moment, Thorne stepped back and crossed his arms. His shoulder bumped against the doorframe, blocking me inside my apartment. “Speak.”
Hunter made a show of brushing himself off.
“You know I have the pack’s best interest at heart. And I wanted to give you and Cole a chance to return before it becomes known how disloyal you are. You can even bring your new little mate along.” He sniffed. “But not the other stray that lives here. I don’t like the smell of him.”
My hands clenched into fists, my nails cutting into the skin.
“We aren’t coming back. I don’t ever want to see you again,” Thorne hissed.
“Maybe I wasn’t being clear,” Hunter said, baring his teeth as he grinned. “You can return on your own, or I will drag Cole back, and probably your little girlfriend here for good measure.”
Thorne surged forward again, shoving Hunter against the wall. The neighbor’s sign dropped to the ground with a thud.
Despite his brother restraining him, Hunter’s sneer stayed in place as he continued talking as if nothing was wrong. “If she’s your mate, I’m sure she can adjust to me instead. We’re genetically the same. It’d be an upgrade, actually.”
My lungs squeezed at his casual threat. The very idea made me want to dry heave.
“I will rip out your throat if you touch her again.” Each word was said with deadly calm that scared me far more than when Thorne yelled.
“I’ll give you some time to think it over. Enjoy your taste of freedom.” Hunter glanced down at Thorne’s arm and raised an eyebrow.
Begrudgingly, Thorne released his brother. “Get the hell out of here.”
“Gladly.” Hunter smoothed his jacket, flicking a piece of lint with a curl of his lip.
Thorne backed up to the door, pushing me further inside with his bulk, as he watched Hunter descend the stairs and disappear from view.
Stepping back, Thorne cautiously closed the door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
The lock clicked into place, and a few seconds later, the door to Sawyer’s room opened. Cole stood there, a grim expression on his face.
“Well that was fun,” Thorne said, crossing into the kitchen and preparing three cups of coffee. His movements were precise and sharp, tension in every line of his frame.
Cole hovered in the corner of the room, far from Thorne’s angry coffee making.
His pale skin was bleached bone-white, fear etched into every line of his handsome face.
Crossing the room, I reached out, wrapping my arms around his waist. His eyebrows shot up, and he hesitated a moment before hugging me back.
“I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. Hunter’s a real piece of horse shit, and it’s not fair.”
Grunting his agreement, Cole ducked his head, pressing his face into my hair. His slow inhale rustled the hair against my neck, causing me to shiver and cling to him harder.
“It’s going to be okay,” he said.
“You’ve seen it?” I asked, pulling back to see his solemn expression.
“Not exactly,” he said, his mouth pressing into a thin line as his chin wrinkled. “Let’s talk about something else. I’m too sober for this.”
Thorne approached, holding two coffee cups in one of his hands. Cole grabbed one, and I looped my fingers through the other, lifting it to my lips.
“Thanks,” I hummed, looking up at my fated mate through my lashes.
His anger had burned down to embers, and his eyes glinted with intention.
“What are you thinking?” I asked.
“We need to go back to that rental house until we figure this out. It’s further outside of town and won’t be nearly as easy to track. Your apartment is too close to downtown and your scent is all over this part of town.”
My brows furrowed, and Thorne cleared his throat.
“Vixen, the two of us leaving and you staying here is no longer an option. Hunter will take you out of spite, and I don’t know what he’d do to you. I can’t predict him anymore. He’s gotten…” He paused, dragging his bottom lip through his teeth. “Erratic.”
“Fucking insane,” Cole mumbled around the rim of his coffee mug.
We drank our coffee in an uneasy silence.
“Why don’t you go pack a bag, just in case. And if you don’t come with us, you’ll only have to put some clothes back.” Thorne’s expression was pleading. Deep-sea eyes met mine, so full of concern and guilt that it stole my breath.
“Okay.”
Nodding, I set my cup down on the counter and headed into my bedroom. I was in a state of disbelief as I tossed spare clothing into a bag. I was overthinking my jacket selection when the front door opened.
Stomach flipping, I rushed to my door, peeking out to see Sawyer standing there, his eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Who am I smelling?”
Thorne crossed his arms, turning to face him. “My brother.”
“What happened?” he demanded.
Dragging his hand through his hair, Thorne heaved a sigh. “He showed up, and told us to come back to the pack or he would take Cole back by force. And Autumn.”
I appreciated his honesty, not trying to soften the truth, but Sawyer’s face was rapidly turning red. Behind his glasses, his emerald eyes brightened with his wolf, and his fingers curled into his jacket.
“We are dealing with it,” Thorne said, weighing his words with authority, but it didn’t seem to help.
As I walked toward Sawyer with my hands up, I tracked Cole as he backed into Sawyer’s room and away from the looming confrontation. Smart man. I wanted to do the same, but the reality was that this, in fact, was my circus and my monkeys.
Sawyer looked ready to rip into Thorne, as if it was his fault his brother was a psycho.
“So let me get this straight,” Sawyer growled. “Your brother tracked you here.”
“He tracked me, technically,” I said softly.
Sawyer’s eyes flared as he looked at me. “So he knows where we live, and he’s planning to forcibly take Autumn back to his pack.”
“And Cole,” I added. I knew it only irritated Sawyer more, but it felt like an important distinction. Gingerly, I reached out and placed a hand on his forearm.
His jaw ticked, and his muscles flexed under my touch.
“It’s okay,” I started. “We can go to their rental house for now, until we come up with a way to deal with him.”
“So he’s going to take you away,” Sawyer growled, looking less human by the second.
My heart raced, my mouth going dry. I shouldn’t be turned on by his anger, but it felt like I was seeing into the core of him. Protective, possessive, passionate.
“You’re coming too. I hope.”
“You need to go pack a few things. And make whatever work arrangements you need to,” Thorne said in a carefully casual tone, authority underlining every word.
“I think the fuck not,” Sawyer snarled. “This is your fault. You’re the reason she’s in danger, because you’re selfish and you bonded with her even though you knew the risk. You knew the shitty situation you were in.”
Pushing past me, Sawyer stalked across the room, shoving Thorne back with a flat palm.
Thorne’s gaze darkened, but he allowed himself to be shoved back a step. “You need to calm down.”
“Don’t try to alpha me. Someone needs to hold you accountable for being such a selfish asshole. You’re the reason—”
The surge of anger in my chest didn’t belong to me. Gasping, I pressed my hands over my sternum.
“You’re more of a danger to her than I am,” Thorne growled.
“You’re a rogue loner without a pack. Just being with you puts her in danger.
If my pack found you, they might chase you out of town if you’re lucky, or they’d execute you for infringing on their territory.
Even if you weren’t discovered, lone wolves aren’t stable.
They go crazy all the time. You’re a ticking time bomb. ”
Sawyer’s eyes flashed glowing emerald, his hands clenching into fists. Anger morphed his features into something deadly and animalistic. He was seconds from attacking, and from the rage pumping through my fated mate bond, that was exactly what Thorne wanted.
Stumbling forward, I threw myself between them, bracing one hand on each heaving chest.
“Autumn,” Sawyer growled. “Move.”
“Don’t,” I said, my thoughts tumbling together until I couldn’t string words together. Acting on instinct alone, I grabbed a fistful of Sawyer’s shirt and dragged him down to me, crashing his mouth down on mine.