Page 66 of Knotting Autumn

Sawyer slowed, scowling at me. I hesitated, not used to being the recipient of his ire. Seeing my shocked expression, he softened.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, babe. I’m a mess.”

“What’s the matter?” Crossing the porch, I wrapped my arms around his middle. “Please just tell me.”

Exhaling, Sawyer melted into my embrace. “I can’t. I can’t deal with it.”

Squeezing him tighter, I growled, “I can’t help if you aren’t honest with me. And you’re my mate, so you have to tell me.”

Pulling back, Sawyer glanced between me and the door. “I don’t even know.”

My stomach churned at the tortured tone he used. “Sawyer!” I snapped. “Tell me. I’m assuming the worst at this point.”

Dipping his head, he stared at the ground. “I think I’m fated mates…” His words trailed off.

“What?” Grabbing his face, I forced him to look into my eyes. “What the hell are you talking about?”

His eyes glistened. “I’m fated mates with Cole.”

The world dropped out from under my feet. My hands dropped to Sawyer’s shoulders as I gripped him for balance. “Fated mates withCole?”

Suddenly all of Cole’s little hints made perfect sense. He’d been talking about Sawyer! And Sawyer was alreadymybonded mate.

“I’m not leaving you,” Sawyer insisted. “I don’t want him. Fuck that bond. I committed myself to you more than ten years ago.”

“Hey, hey,” I said, bending backward to catch his attention. “Remember our discussion about how werewolves share? It’s because of this very situation. You can be with him and me.”

Blond curls swaying, Sawyer shook his head. “I’m not going to let some cosmic bond force me into a relationship.”

My mouth curved into a deep frown. “Sawyer, if it’s anything like my bond with Thorne, you won’t be able to deny it.”

“Fuck, Autumn, do you know what this is like? I want to push you against the wall and shove my cock into your cunt until you scream, but I can’t because I’d be thinking of Cole the entire time.”

“Sawyer, it’s really going to be okay. Remember when I came home after meeting Thorne and got off on your lap? It was because of him.”

He laughed bitterly. “This would be so much worse.” Turning away, he descended the stairs and headed to the back of the cabin.

Gritting my teeth, I followed him. He clearly needed some help extracting his head from his ass.

“Stop.”

Letting out a dramatic exhale, Sawyer turned, his hands flopping at his sides.

“First of all, stop being an absolute fucking twat,” I growled, marching up to him. “The pity party is over. If you found some fated mate, that’s good. It’s gotta be good.”

“How?” His hoarse whisper made the hair on my arms stand on end.

“It means Cole is your soulmate. And it means we will all be together.”

It wasn’t until it was coming out of my mouth that I realized the truth of it. Instinctively, I knew with unwavering conviction that the four of us were bonded together on the deepest level.

Sawyer stared at me for a long moment, his pale eyelashes fluttering as he blinked. He was beautiful, and I loved him, and it broke my heart that he was struggling. I wanted to reach for him, but losing himself in me would not help him process his new connection with Cole.

“I think I need some time,” Sawyer finally said.

Nodding, I stepped back, tucking my hands into my pockets. “I’ll see you inside.”