Page 179 of Taming the Beasts

This was how it was going to be. Him watching me with his friends while I begged. And then him claiming me right after. I’d finally gotten all five of them at once.

I’d had to give up a lot to be with them. But it didn’t feel that way to me. I was happier now than I ever had been hiding behind a screen. My fingers gripped the edge of the table.So much fucking happier.

And they’d had to give up a lot to be with me too. Part of the reason why they took the cure was to be with me. I’d been worried that now that they weren’t searching for a cure, they’d miss being thieves. I knew they’d enjoyed it. I even enjoyed it that one time I’d broken into their bank.

But Bennett had assured me that they’d already stolen the only thing they’d ever truly wanted. My heart.

Epilogue

Thanksgiving – 1 Year Later

Zoey

This was the first Thanksgiving with all of us together. Titan had gotten back from the hospital before Thanksgiving last year, but he’d exerted himself too much and ended right back in the emergency room.

It wasn’t my fault that he couldn’t keep his hands to himself. He was practically obsessed with me. Which was fine. I was obsessed with him too.

“It smells amazing in here, baby,” Otto said and wrapped his arms around me.

“Thank you. I’m just about to pull the turkey out. How’s the game?” They’d been watching football all afternoon.

“Not as entertaining as you.” His hands slid lower.

I hit him with my spoon. “You’ll have to wait until later.”

“How much later are we talking? Is there dessert too?”

“Of course. What kind of Thanksgiving doesn’t have pumpkin pie?”

He sighed and dropped his chin on top of my head. “Tonight is going to feel like an eternity. I’m used to eatingyouon the dining room table fordessert.”

I laughed and turned around to look up at him, looping my hands behind his neck. “Maybe we can do that later.”

He smiled. “I’m holding you to that.”

“Sorry we’re late,” Emma said as she walked into the kitchen with her hands on her very pregnant stomach. “Everything takes me twice as long these days.” She leaned over, putting her elbows on the kitchen island to rest.

I would have been worried that she’d be the one to go to the ER and miss this Thanksgiving, but she still had another month before the baby was due.

Callum kissed her cheek and put down a huge platter of...seafood?

“Callum, what is that?” I asked. “I thought I told you to bring a Thanksgiving favorite.”

“This is a Thanksgiving favorite,” he said.

“Is that lobster?”

“There’s some lobster, smoked bass, and mussels. All the best Thanksgiving traditions, if you ask me.”

Old people were so weird. “Well...um...thank you for bringing that.”

Emma laughed. “I tried to tell him that people don’t eat seafood for Thanksgiving anymore. But he wouldn’t hear of it. I hope someone else is bringing mashed potatoes.”

Luckily I had prepared all the essentials. “They’re almost done,” I said and pointed to the bowl where I’d just drained the boiled potatoes.

“Oh good. I’ve been looking forward to them all day. Can I help finish them? I’m going to add so much butter.”

I laughed. “Help yourself.”