Page 32

Emmett and Duncan tried to cheer Rebecca up by offering to go shoot turkeys.
Connor watched Gabriel sit next to his mate. He whispered reassurances that the coven had gone hundreds of years without Thanksgiving, what was one more year. Which, of course, sent Ashby into a shame spiral.
Madison looked up at Connor tears in her eyes. He knew she felt terrible for even bringing Thanksgiving up.
Aleks phone began to ring. Aleks reached into his top pocket and answered it with one hand, soothing Rebecca with the other.
“Hey, asshole,” he said.
“Why is my mate hyperventilating? What’s going on?” Liam demanded.
“Rebecca is freaking out because she forgot to plan Thanksgiving,” Aleks said.
“What!” A loud screech came from the phone, causing Aleks to pull it away from his ear. Shaking his head, he put it on speaker and put it on the table.
“Ohmygod! Ohmygod! I completely forgot, too! There’s no way we’ll get enough food in time. Do you know how much these lions can eat?” Sebastian yelled.
“I know! Aleks and his brothers could take out a grocery store. You factor in that this is a holiday, which is all about eating, and we should have been trucking in food months ago.” Rebecca wiped her nose with a napkin.
“I have an entire pack to shop for!” Kate added.
Connor looked at his brother who looked at Kaden, Beau and Gabriel. Things were heading south fast.
“Hey people,” Rex said, walking in with Talon.
“What’s for lunch? We’re starved,” Talon asked.
Sebastian screeched wordlessly and Rebecca groaned.
Rex and Talon froze.
“We’re sorry?” Rex took in Rebecca and Ashby’s expressions.
“Bad time?” he asked, sitting at their usual table along the wall.
Rebecca, Ashby, and Nic nodded.
“We forgot about Thanksgiving,” Nic said.
“Anything we can do to help?” Talon offered.
“You two burned your cereal last week, there is no way I’m letting you cook for Thanksgiving.” Sebastian’s voice yelled over the phone.
Rex winced and looked to his friend. “I told you he was still pissed about that.”
Connor walked around the counter and placed a hand on Rebecca’s shoulder. “Okay everyone, I have an idea…” Connor paused and looked over to Rex. “What the fuck did you do to cereal?” he asked.
“You don’t want to know.” Talon shuddered.
“We’ll tell you later,” Rex said.
Connor shook his head and turned back to the group.
“Rebecca, Kate, Sebastian. Y’all are pregnant and due in the next couple weeks. You’ve had a lot on your plates worrying about your babies, especially after the virus. I doubt anyone here will hold this against you,” Connor said soothingly.
“And if they do send them my way,” Rex said, cracking his knuckles.
“So hot,” Connor heard Kate say from Rebecca’s phone.