Page 204 of His Forsaken Alpha

That Autumn…

Wynter lifted his gaze to his alpha, reciting the ancient rites surrounded by their entire family. They trailed the white paint across their bare chests, marking one another claimed before a massive tentful of people. An occasional chill breeze raced through, hinting that cooler weather would soon follow the warmth of the late September afternoon. It made the gauzy curtains tied back to the tent’s poles float upwards, dancing on the current.

When the ceremony was over and they’d been presented to the near fifty attendees aslegalfated mates, a delighted roar came from the crowd. They clapped and whistled, everyone there knowing how difficult their journey back to one another had been.

Wynter couldn’t contain his smile the entire day. As the party commenced and the music began, children ran and played inthe nearby field, which had mysteriously sprouted an array of different colored wild mums mixed among the tall grasses. Cav had claimed he didn’t know why, but Wynter had already found more seeds in the shed behind the farmhouse. He chose not to tell his alpha of his find and possibly ruin the magic of the sweet gesture.

They’d had to cut some of the flowers back, sadly, to have room for the tent, paths, and festivities, but only what theyhadto. The inside of the tent was much more elegant than Wynter had imagined, the walls and gauzy sheer drapes at the doorways a shining white silk, not rough canvas or plastic. Above, the thing even had multiple crystal chandeliers hanging and spreading light around the round tables set up.

Each of the six large tables had an assortment of fall flowers, mini pumpkins and leaves, as well as a few seasonally colored roses from Wilder and Avery’s garden mixed in. Other than the catering and erecting the tent, Wynter and his family had set the rest up themselves. Even Vaughn had arrived and sullenly helped a time or two, though he’d kept his distance from Wynter.

Wynter caught Vaughn’s eye as he made his way around the tent and thanked everyone for coming. As soon as he neared, Vaughn disappeared, clearly not ready to talk yet. Three months had passed and Wynter had hoped time might help, but it hadn’t.

At least he came.

Even with that concern, the hours passed with much merriment. The music was perfect, and the dancefloor stayed active. The food was delicious, and most went back through the buffet line for seconds and thirds. Wynter, though, barely had time to eat. He was much too enamored with his mate and barely wanted toleave the man’s side—and only did so to dance with his son, his brothers, Auggie, and his grandsons.

Once the dark had set deep and more candles had been added to all the tables, the little ones were sent off to sleep in the farmhouse with Alberto keeping watch. Wynter clung to his mate as they swayed to another slow song they’d requested themselves, surrounded by other couples filling the dance floor. After another couple of hours, folks came to say their goodbyes and offer another congratulations. The crowd eventually thinned until it was mostly immediate family left besides the caterers clearing away the buffet and tables.

“That was an amazing night,” Avery said, clinging to Wilder’s side as they collected just outside the tent to say goodnight. “This place… the decorations… the family. It was all absolutelybeautiful.”He hiccupped. “Oh, I think I had a little too much champagne.” He leaned in closer to Wilder and looked up at his alpha, batting his eyelashes.

Wilder pressed a kiss to Avery’s forehead.

“I guess we know who’s getting lucky tonight,” Rohan said to Wilder.

“Don’t,”Wynter said, pressing his face into Cav’s chest for a second. “We don’t need to know that.”

“They have a kid. You know they have,” Rohan said.

“There’s knowing… and there’sknowing,”Wynter said. “Passive versus active. Twocompletelydifferent things.”

“As if we don’t know you and…” Wilder said, trailing off as his eyes widened. “No, you’re absolutely right. They are two different things, and I’m sorry I went there.”

Both Cav and Wynter chuckled.

Gray approached them with Auggie at his side, concern on his face. “Has anyone seen Lake? I’ve barely seen him all night, and now I can’t find him.”

“The last time I saw him was when he walked through the buffet line,” Wilder said. “A few hours ago.”

Avery eyed Auggie. “When’s the last time you saw your brother?”

Auggie shrugged, leaning his head against Avery’s shoulder. “I’mtired.”

“We need to make sure Lake’s okay before we can go to bed,” Wilder said.

“Fucking Lake,”Auggie muttered under his breath, but Wynter thought he might be the only one who heard him since the others didn’t make a protest.

“Let’s fan out and find him,” Cavanaugh said.

All seven spread out, searching for Lake. Of course, it was Wynter who stumbled into him in the back of a car, his lips attached to another man’s. Wynter spun away, not interested in being the one to break that up before he realized who the other man was. He spun back, marched to the car, and whipped open the door.

“Vaughn?!”Wynter asked, blinking.

The pair broke apart. Lake’s face grew dark before he jumped out of the car and stalked off. Vaughn scowled at Wynter before climbing out of the backseat and staggering a step or two.

“You’re drunk,”Wynter said to Vaughn.

“I am,” Vaughn slurred. “I had to be to get through this bullshit.”

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