8. Autumn

CHAPTER 8

Autumn

" H ey!" I shout after it's gone on long enough to stop being sexy, pulling off the pumpkin head and throwing it to the ground.

They all stop instantly, turning to me. Each of them are worse for the wear. The zombie's been ripped apart and shoved back together so many times, his limbs are on backwards. The werewolf is covered in bite punctures. All three of them are scratched to high hell. And at the moment I interrupt, the zombie holds the vampire's heart in his hand.

If I knew it was this easy… No, I still would have let it kept going a little too long. There's something exhilarating about three somewhat immortal, supernatural beings fighting for your hand… or vagina, or whatever they're fighting for. We hadn't fully established that.

Andy's going to lose his shit when I come home with three monster boyfriends. In a good way, I hope. I know it's not what he was expecting, for sure. And that's if they learn to share.

"Consider this," I say, lifting my skirts.

All three of them stare at me with such lust in their eyes, I can't help but squirm.

"You all learn to take turns or take a hole, but all this fighting seems kind of pointless. As far as I can tell, none of you can die—nor do I really want that. So what do you say you hang up your claws and we settle this with a good ol' fashioned gang bang."

Fenrir is the first to step forward with those blue puppy dog eyes. "But you are my mate ."

"But I was the first to claim you as consort," Vincent pouts, his full lips on display.

I look to the zombie next, ready for his rebuttal. He steps forward bypassing me to stand next to a tombstone. My eyes fill with tears as I see it.

Here lies Theodore Mallory .

"Teddy?" I croak out.

He nods, holding a disgusting bit of cloth from him pocket out for me to use as a tissue. I laugh.

"Ahh-tum," he grunts out. "Lovvve."

"Who invited the fucking zombie?" Fenrir growls under his breath. "Don't tell me you're picking him over one of us. Teddy Mallory? The guy who slipped on pumpkin guts and died like Humpty Dumpty?"

"He's right here!" I bite out, pulling Teddy closer.

"Yeah?" Fenrir huffs, "Well I've known you longer, and everything I've done, I've done for you!"

Then it hits me. Not Chandleton . But Chandler. Chandler Fenton, my high school bully.

"What does that even mean, Chandler Fenton?" I try not to scream out.

He winces. "Well, not everything. But I promise I wasn't tormenting you for no reason. I meant it when I said you were my mate. But when I was younger I was afraid I'd rut you if I was left alone with you, so I made sure it never happened."

"You could have just kept your distance," I grumbled.

"No, I couldn't. Not back then, and even now…"

"You didn't come to my masquerade to see her," Vincent argued.

The werewolf's ears turn down like a disciplined dog. "No. Fifteen years ago a witch killed my entire pack, as you well know , ó Flannagháin. When you found me wounded and weeping on your doorstep."

I'd grab some popcorn if I wasn't actively part of the drama. Still, it was a lot to process that the guy who made my high school a living hell was now throwing claws trying to be with me.

Vincent shrugs. "I took care of you then and turned you out when you were healthy."

Chandler makes a choking sound. " Took care of me . We'll put a pin in that, but for now, the woman needs answers."

He turns to me.

"Even with all that, I couldn't leave. I've always felt kind of a lone wolf after the slaughter, but no matter what I tried, I just ended up in your backdoor—backyard!"

If wolves could blush.

"My life is darkness and violence. You didn't need to be a part of that," he says morosely. "That's why I made sure you wanted nothing to do with me. Because I couldn't stay away, and if I made you hate me, at least I wouldn't drag you down with me."

I let out a sigh, unfortunately touched by his explanation. Not wanting to let him off the hook so easily, I turn to Vincent.

"So what's your story, then? Are you like my childhood best friend long forgotten about? Did I fall under a memory spell to forget you or something?" I ask.

He snorts. "No… I was honest with you from the beginning. My angsty and horny vampire lore . I don't know why after three centuries of grief, you're the first one to awaken something in me. But you are."

"Oh," I say, also surprisingly touched by that. There's something about being that kind of special.

He shrugs. "Maybe it was our shared grief, although… now that you have the love of your life back, I won't be offended if you discard the two of us. You barely know us."

"She barely knows you , bloodsucker. Speak for yourself," the wolf sneers.

"I thought you were done being a dick, Chandler," I scoff.

He winces. "I meant it when I said my name is Fenrir. When we come of age in my pack, we're awarded a new name. It's the last gift my pack gave me before they died. I would be honored if you would use it."

"I understand, Fenrir," I tell him. "These necklaces are some of the few things left over from my parents."

"You always wore the smaller one every day. The red one is new," he says with a low growl.

"Ah, yeah, Andy gave it to me today. Said he found it in storage and that it would give me luck at the ball tonight. I guess he wasn't kidding, it brought me all of you."

They all look back at me with adoration. Something on the way to love. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

"Ahh-tum," Teddy says, stepping close. "Kiss."

I meet him halfway, our arms wrapping around each other. His hands stroke my ass, his thumbs the wrong way down since his arms are still on backwards. It tickles, causing me to push closer to him. He grunts with pleasure, pressing his lips to mine. I try not to shake, the emotion overwhelming me as I realize it's the first time I've kissed him knowing who he is. Knowing that he's mine again—even if he is undead.

"I love you, Teddy," I tell him. "I never stopped. Even if I was mad at you for being a big dummy and losing your life over something so stupid."

He rubs a papery finger across my cheek to wipe the tears. Fenrir slides his claws around my waist, pulling me back toward him as he runs his snout along my chest and neck.

"You've got a lot to make up for, bub," I tell him.

He pulls at the skirt, catching his claws in the tulle and ripping it on accident. "Let me worship you, my mate, I'll make up for everything I've ever done to you."

"Starting with ripping my dress?" I tease.

"Take off the skirt and no tulle will get hurt," he grows, pulling his hands away.

I gasp as Vincent appears from mist at my feet. "Allow me, moo vorneen dee-lish ."

"You calling me delicious? I guess you would know," I giggle, remembering how eagerly he ate me out earlier.

" Mo mhurn í n dílis , it means… well, I'll tell you what it means one day, lass," he says with a cocky grin. "If everyone else gets to worship you, I won't be left behind."

He rips the tulle down in one swift move, like a magician pulling a tablecloth.

"As long as I get to mark you," Fenrir begs, a low whine trailing after his words as he nuzzles my neck. "Please, my mate, my teeth ache for it."

"Only if I get to as well," Vincent pouts, kissing up my thighs, licking the soft skin there.

Teddy watches on with a worried look in his eyes. He steps forward, places a hand on each of my other new lovers, staying them.

"Hurt," he says. "Why?"