Epilogue
Six Months Later
Spring was thawing, and flowers popped up along the path, peeking out from the green shoots between patches of graying pine needles.
Smiling, I wrapped Sawyer’s flannel around my torso tighter and tipped my face back, enjoying the dappled sunlight.
I’d walked the path between our cozy cabin and the main pack house so many times, I could easily do it with my eyes closed. But looking at the ground was nice too—occasionally I found an interesting rock or flower I’d never seen before.
Living up in the woods was an adjustment, but the close-knit pack filled some quiet need for community that my small town hadn’t quite met. It was only a few short weeks until it felt like home.
Sawyer had been my partner in crime, getting to know everyone. Thorne was often busy with alpha duties, and Cole still kept to himself, but luckily Sawyer jumped right into helping out with technology, meaning he got to know everyone who worked for the pack’s security company offices very quickly.
Over the last few months, we’d met mates and pups, as well as elders and odd packmates who held a job separate from pack operations or business. Everyone had been so welcoming.
It had taken a while for me to find something to do for work that suited me.
But managing the pack’s supplies and resources wasn’t that different from Cluckingham Palace.
There were fewer farm animals, but I saw forest animals on a regular basis, plus I had my fluffy wolves to cuddle once a month. It wasn’t a bad trade.
Smiling to myself, I pushed the door open to the security offices. It was a long stretch of hallway with offices branching off on either side, and I paused to peek into each room as I passed, looking for Sawyer. He’d promised that we would have lunch together.
In the fourth office, I spotted his unruly mess of blond curls and bespeckled face. He looked up, grinning when he saw me.
Beside him, James chewed on a pen and leaned back in his seat. He cocked his head, showing off the curling lines of tattoos.
“I swear to fuck, I already tried turning it off and back on!” James grumbled.
“I don’t know what to tell you, man. At least it was easier to fix than the server issue last week,” Sawyer said, propping one hand on his hip as the other went to the back of his neck.
James huffed. “Autumn, please tell your mate that I’m not an idiot.”
“Mia doesn’t think you’re an idiot,” I said, winking at him.
“Oh, shove off, you two!” James groaned, letting his head fall back. The gesture exposed his throat, a sign of trust and respect. I’d learned to read werewolf body language over the last few months.
Sawyer straightened. “I think you’re good now. I’m gonna go grab lunch. Let me know if you have any more problems.”
He circled the desk and grabbed my free hand, bringing it to his mouth for a kiss on my wrist.
On the way out the door, I twisted to see James again. “Hey, are we all good for game night tonight? Is Mia feeling up to it?”
He nodded. “Morning sickness seems to be over. We will be there!”
“Glad to hear it! See you later!”
A sense of amusement and satisfaction flowed between Sawyer and me as he led me down the hall and out of the building. Out in the sunlight, I took a deep breath, letting my shoulders rise and fall.
Sawyer squeezed my hand and released it, lifting his phone to peer at a message. “Thorne wants us to come to his office. Something about needing both of us.”
“Sure, no problem. I mean, we have to head that way for lunch anyway.”
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I stepped through the door that Sawyer held open for me.
The first time I walked through the pack house, people watched and whispered, but they had fled after Thorne replaced Hunter, who was now living across the country in an older relative’s pack.
Everyone left was loyal to Thorne and happy to prove it. Even those on the fence had been won over by his steady and fair leadership. Now they waved and smiled as we passed. No one stopped us as we arrived at the large office at the end of the hall with wide windows looking out over the trees.
The door was cracked, and Sawyer rapt on it twice with his knuckles before easing it open.
Thorne stood, leaning against the front of his desk.
My breath hitched seeing him in a tailored button-down, the sleeves rolled up to show his forearms. A small collection of maple leaves trailed down to his wrist, a tattoo representing my name. He was so damn handsome.
Cole lounged across the leather sofa against the far wall, his legs spread wide and his arm across the back cushion. A mesh shirt showed off his tattoos. He tilted his head, looking us over with interest sparkling in his cool, gray eyes.
The air felt charged, electric with intention.
“So, you guys needed us?” I said softly, having a very good idea of what he’d really meant.
Thorne smirked. “Yes. We have a problem.”
“What?” My voice jumped up, and Sawyer squeezed my hand.
“You, darling Autumn, had a girls’ night last night with Mia, and then tonight you scheduled a game night with our friends.”
Scowling, I crossed my arms. “Yeah, it’s called having a social life, dearest.”
Cole chuckled.
“Well, it meant that we didn’t have any time together.” His voice dropped. “To be intimate.”
My stomach clenched at his choice of words and the salacious way he said them. “Sorry about that, but you don’t mean to… I mean, it’s lunch time, Thorne.”
“Oh yes, I very much do.”
Crossing my arms, I smirked at him.
“You are ridiculous, summoning me to your office for sex like this is some cringy movie.”
Thorne straightened, stalking across the room toward me.
Excitement sparked, sizzling over my skin.
We’d christened his office months ago, but it was just a quick fuck in his office chair.
This didn’t seem like a quickie to me. This man had intention written in every line of his beautiful face, and my teasing was not going to deter him.
Sawyer grinned, jumping back as Thorne wrapped an arm around the small of my back, dragging me to his chest. His other hand tangled in my hair, tugging my head back so he could kiss me roughly.
Gasping, I clung to his shirt. His tongue swept into my mouth, and I moaned, heat spiraling through my body and pooling between my thighs.
Yup, this was happening.
“Thorne,” I whimpered as he licked along the underside of my jaw and then nipped at my earlobe.
Another warm body pressed against my back, and hands slid under my shirt, splaying out over my stomach. Sawyer’s voice rumbled in my other ear.
“Be a good girl and do what your alpha says.”
Thorne’s grin turned feral as he looked up at my other mate.
“Sawyer, you’re going to lay down on my desk.”
Leaning into him, I trailed kisses over his throat, enjoying the hum of his words under my lips.
“What?” Sawyer’s brows furrowed. “You’ve really got a plan, don’t you?”
“It was my idea,” Cole said, smirking as he raised his hand. “Now get your ass up there. And take your clothes off first.”
For a moment, Sawyer hesitated, glancing between them. I felt his desire rising through our bond. I bit my lip, enjoying the way their emotions fed into mine, stoking my own need.
Cole clicked his tongue, twirling a finger to instruct Sawyer to get moving. The three of us watched hungrily as Sawyer unzipped his pants and slowly undressed, scowling at Cole the entire time. Of course, Cole grinned back, biting his knuckle as Sawyer stripped.
“Am I the only one getting naked here? This is starting to feel like hazing,” Sawyer complained.
“You too, Vixen,” Thorne said, kissing my temple before he finally released me.
Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t feeling as cooperative. Crossing my arms, I took a step back.
“I’ll take off my clothes if you do too,” I said, raising my eyebrows in defiance.
Thorne shook his head at my attitude, still smiling wryly, but he unbuttoned his shirt and shucked it off before shoving his pants down too.
A sense of power and control rushed through me, watching this powerful werewolf obey my request. And as his ready cock was revealed, I licked my lips.
My body was already responding, and I couldn’t wait to see how he would arrange us.
Taking my sweet time, I slid the flannel down my arms and tossed it onto the sofa beside Cole. Next came my shirt, and I took a moment to let my mates admire the pretty pink bralette I’d gotten myself for spring.
“Pants too,” Thorne growled.
“Bossy alpha,” I muttered, fluttering my lashes at him as I slid my leggings over my hips and stepped out of them.
Cole rose, patting the table. “Right here, love.”
Still scowling, Sawyer sat on the desk and scooted back until he was right where Cole wanted him.
“You needed his naked ass rubbed all over your desk, didn’t you?” I whispered to Thorne.
He pressed his hand to his mouth, covering his laugh.
“I’ll have to clean it after, regardless,” he said under his breath.
“And then head back,” Cole said, guiding Sawyer so his head was hanging off the end of the desk. Luckily, its edge was softly rounded, and Cole had tucked my rolled up flannel under Sawyer’s neck.
“Your turn,” Thorne said, gripping my waist and turning me toward his desk.
I squealed as he lifted me and settled me with my knees on either side of Sawyer’s hips. His cock rested against his stomach, already dripping.
“This isn’t such a bad lunch,” Sawyer said, reaching up to cup my breasts.
“So are you two going to just watch us fuck on your desk?” I asked, propping one hand on my hip.
Thorne moved behind me, his hand running over my back. Sweetly, he pressed kisses down my spine. The nervous excitement at this position lit into an inferno, and I fought the urge to beg.
Lips still on my skin, Thorne reached down and gripped Sawyer’s cock, lining him up and then urging me down to spear myself on his length.
Finally, some relief for the aching need.