DYLAN ||

Turkey in the oven. Check.

Dressing done. Check.

Mashed potatoes. Check.

Gravy perfect. Check.

Casserole done. Check.

Rare steak with caramelized grilled apples. Check.

Going down my checklist of our family thanksgiving meal, I checked off everything that was done and the things that still needed to be done.

Bennett and I were busy in the kitchen while our Leopards and our little ones wreaked havoc throughout the house, while offering absolutely no help.

"Hey, stop running!" I yell as both Bennett and myself were quite literally fucking shoved into the edge of the kitchen sink.

"Sorry Pups!"

"Sorry Benny!"

My crazy triplets and twin nephews all of which were now 7 years old were busy playing their form of tag with their equally crazy Leopard dads, which involved a very rambunctious game of chase and then tackling the one who was supposed to be "it."

"Daddy, babies are doing a no no."

"Ooo baby, no no."

Turning around, I smile at my four and three year old boys in their high chairs, before groaning when I seen they were pointing at their twin baby sisters and baby cousin, who were now getting into the pantry, proceeding to spill flour all over the floor.

Walking over towards the girls, I grab them one by one and place them inside their high chairs as well.

Back in the day, it was alot easier trying to cook a thanksgiving dinner for a family of 5 than it was now trying to cook for a family of 9.

About 4 years ago, I still wanted my girl so bad that I literally had to manipulate Raiden into having sex with me. I held out on the good loving for almost 3 months, depriving him of everything that he wanted.

I wouldn't even take him.

So it was a no brainer that he was so tired of going to sleep with blue balls, that one morning as I paraded around the kitchen in nothing but my briefs, my Leopard took me right then and there, completely forgetting about a condom.

Needless to say, I ended up pregnant, which I was actually happy about this time, until we went for my gender scan and we found out I was carrying another fucking boy, who we named Mekhi and Quiweeme confirmed was a cub.

Only a year later, I wanted to try again for a girl, so I woke my mate up the best way possible, that involved me sitting on a certain set of features that had become my favorite place.

After that, of course we made love and Raiden took me like the feral beast he is because who could resist an ass like mine.

Our sex was unprotected once again because my mate is an idiot when he's horny, so of course two weeks later, I found out I was pregnant again and was pissed again because I gave birth to another fucking boy, who we named Quinn after one of our favorite elves and Quiweeme confirmed he was a pup.

However, despite all the damn cocks around this house, after one very chaotic night, I finally got my wish.

Thinking back to that night, Bennet and I got Raiden and Taj drunk for the first time and they were literal wild fucking animals. It was fucking hilarious!

Bennett and I found Taj up a tree, butt naked and purring to a bird, while Raiden was shirtless and playing tag with the bushes.

Yes, Taj was naked, up a tree and purring to a bird.

And Raiden was shirtless, playing tag with a bush.

Once Bennett and I were able to actually get them back into the house, they both were super fucking horny and they wouldn't stop trying to pounce on us. So Bennett led Taj into their room and I let Raiden have his way with me because I was an idiot this time.

But four months after that drunken night, I was the happiest man alive when I gave birth to our twin girls.

Five boys and seven years later, I finally had my girls. Quiweeme confirmed they were both pups and they were so perfect with their brown hair and blue eyes, my literal minis.

My princesses, Irie and Alora.

And now, we have a very full, loud, chaotic house with our rambunctious litter of 7.

Even though life has become a series of sleepless nights, early mornings where I literally depend of fucking coffee and I haven't gotten any alone time with my mate since the girls were born, I couldn't be happier.

Bennett and Taj also had their third pup, a little girl they named Emma, about a month after my twin girls were born. So that chaotic, drunken night was fun for all of us.

I never once imagined that by the time I was 30 years old, I would be married to the love of my life, who's a man and I would be the one carrying all of our children.

Eventually becoming a fucking father of 7, but Goddess has blessed me beyond measure and I'm grateful, even during the many, many sleepless nights.

"Feline pile!" I heard the big fuckers yell from the livingroom.

"Heeeeyyyy no fair! There's more of you than us!" One of the little fuckers whined, most likely Rhys because he's a crybaby now as well as clingy.

"Loser, Loser, chicken bagoozer!" Raiden yells through the many, many screams of fun happening in our livingroom right now.

Shaking my head, I continue to cut the damn vegetables for the stew Bennett and I were making.

Something that our Leopards seemed to love.

Thanksgiving.. a holiday that I've never actually celebrated back in the Wolf's Claw pack. My so called family never took holidays seriously, but now that I'm grown and have my own children, I've realized how much fucking fun holidays are.

This holiday is one to be thankful for all that have and what we've been blessed with and in our Leopards cases, a holiday that meant great food, fantastic food and even more food.

Felines can eat..

The sound of glass breaking in the livingroom, pulled my attention from the cutting board and I glared around the corner.

"That better not have been my fucking vase!"

"Shhhh, shhh, shh. . . Don't alert the warden." I heard Raiden attempting to shush the little animals in the livingroom, just as Rhys came running back into the kitchen.

"It wasn't me dad, it was Pop and uncle Taj."

"Traitor!" The mentioned felines yell from the livingroom as they carefully peek their heads around the corner. I glared at them as soon as I saw their terrified expressions.

"Do you know how long I looked for a rose gold, glass flower vase?!" I snarled as I threw one of the kitchen towels.

"I'm sorry Pups. . . it was the kids fault, they were playing too rough, I told them to stop." Raiden states, as if I would actually believe that lie.

"Storyteller!" The kids yell, I could almost see them all pointing their fingers at my mate.

Raiden groans as he runs his hands down his face before looking behind him. "All of you are traitors! Seriously, every single one of you. . . What happened to we all stuck together if something gets broken?"

I growl under my breath before tossing more veggies in the pot.

"Everybody better sit the fuck down or else! And I mean it. . . I want asses in seats and you are not to move until dinner is done!" I ordered all of the out of control penises in this house.

"Awww man!" The whining and complaining of the little fuckers filled the house as I heard them shuffling to sit down.

"Yeah, you heard the Warden! Sit down!" Raiden agrees with a nod and I glare at him.

"Oh I meant you too! You're the leader of the fuckers, have a seat Raiden and don't break shit else!"

"Awww man!" He complained right after my instruction as he flings his arms and pouts before taking a seat as well and crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"You too Taj, sit down, I know you were apart of the nonsense!" Bennett yells as he checks the turkey in the oven.

"You all should have stuck to the plan. . . We could have blamed the broken vase of Talliox." Taj whispered as I'm sure he was now taking a seat and pouting as well.

There was in insane amount of whispers and huffs and puffs coming from the livingroom now and I was enjoying every minute of the pouting as I looked over my shoulder to see Mekhi, Quinn, Irie, Alora and Emma eating happily in their high chairs.

Thank the Moon Goddess for young little fuckers because the bigger they get, the more they make my ass itch.

"You know if they keep this shit up, somebody is going to get hurt... It happens every year and I refuse to nurse Taj back to health again if he breaks another toe." Bennett complains, tossing his vegetables in the pot.

"I don't know what's gotten into the large idiots, it's like they're the main cause of the many headaches in this house." I complained right after my brother.

"Seriously, what happened to our cool, calm and collected felines? Now they're all over the place and they tell the worst fucking jokes." Bennett shakes his head as he throws more veggies in the pot.

"Dad jokes. . .they're fucking awful." I groan thinking back to the time Raiden made fun of my safe word.

I still don't allow Pickles in this house.

Grabbing the food that was ready, I place it onto the diningroom table before shaking my head at the idiocy happening in my livingroom right now.

I can't believe they actually broke my rose gold glass flower vase! They all owe me $49.95!

And to think they were actually going to blame my broken vase on Talliox, our sweet Griffin was outstanding!

Talliox has never harmed a single vase in this house, despite him being a ridiculously large creature.

Our Griffin came to us about a year ago after Ezra shifted again.

The first time he ever shifted was when he was one year old. It was a happy day, the triplets first birthdays and everyone was so excited to celebrate the boys with us.

Well that day, Ezra was playing with his brothers and cousins. Aunty Sophie, my mother in law Layla and our favorite witch, Eva were watching the babies and maybe two hours into the party, Aunty Sophie got a paper cut.

Well that was all it took for Ezra to shift and we all seen his beast for the first time. He looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Nothing like a wolf or leopard or even lion for that matter, but something in between all of the beasts that lived within him.

Even so young, he was terrifying and when he barreled towards Aunty Sophie, we all were scared of what he was going to do. Ezra and his beast smelled the blood from Aunty Sophie's paper cut, even being the smallest drop.

I was rooted in the same spot, shocked at what my oldest son had become, so I was absolutely no fucking help.

It took Raiden, Taj and Roman to stop Ezra and his beast from getting to Sophie. Three full grown felines to stop a one year old shifter Hybrid. The memory of that day still haunts my nightmares.

Ever since his first shift, Ezra hasn't been able to fully control himself. That scared me too because I remember when our magical creatures told us that after Ezra's first shift, he would slowly start to lose his humanity.

I'm not entirely sure if that's happening yet, but my first born son had no control over his body these last seven years.

When he gets angry or upset even at the slightest things, his canines elongate, his claws rip through his fingernails and sometimes he forces his aura over anyone in close proximity. I know he doesn't mean it, but he's so fucking strong and so young, that he doesn't know how to control his beast and his urges yet.

This is why the Moon Goddess granted her wolves with the ability to shift after the age of 13.

Seven years old is just too young to understand or attempt to control your instincts.

Which brings me back to our pet Griffin, Talliox.

Last year, Ezra shifted after Rhys and Gage got into an argument at school over Eva and Maxx's son, Naralo.

The little boy is a very skilled little warlock and Gage is very much attached to him. Naralo enjoys his company as well, but when Naralo asked Rhys to join their project in class, Gage lost his shit.

The no touchy fucker has my temper and my attitude, that's for sure.

That day, Ezra was trying to stop his brothers from fighting and he forced his aura over both of them, covering them in his calling and it calmed them enough to allow me and Raiden to get there and help, but it wasn't enough.

Ezra was upset that he couldn't protect Rhys from getting hit by Gage before we got there and he ended up shifting in the classroom. His beast, who we now know as Spyro, forced the shift and took off.

It took the pack 10 days to find Ezra after that.

Maxx casted one of his location spells and it led us to the Forbidden Forest.

The day we found him, he was deep within the Forbidden Forest, among the mist of the trees and surrounded by other Mythical creatures.

When the Mythical creatures that were guarding him, noticed us, they calmly walked away. Then Spyro finally shifted back and handed Ezra back the reigns, allowing us to take him back home.

None of the creatures, except Talliox that surrounded Ezra that day left the Forbidden Forest with us, although they kept their eyes on us the whole time. Talliox literally refused to leave Ezra's side and Quiweeme was quick to explain another piece of history about Hybrids.

They are drawn to power.

They want it more than the blood they seek or the kill they crave. Power to a Hybrid resembles something that creature possess and it intrigues Hybrids to no end.

Quiweeme said he learned another piece of history about Hybrids from Rhogon and his many, many mates, but he wasn't ready to share it just yet because it could change the way everyone feels about Ezra.

Watching Talliox with Ezra, they definitely complimented each other and the Griffin brought a sense of company to my son when he was in his dark and lonely mindset, which seemed to be more and more these days.

I think on some level that Talliox could sense how strong yet how vulnerable Ezra was and even though the Griffin scares me sometimes, I'm grateful for him because he always has an eye on my son and doesn't stray very far from him. I just know that Talliox would protect Ezra at all costs if need be and that made me happy.

Who wouldn't feel safe with a Griffin around?

DING.

The sound of the oven timer going off made me smile and I happily pulled myself from the depressing thoughts of the past to put my oven mittens on and then carefully take the Turkey out of the oven.

"Something smells good in there!" Raiden yells from his spot on the couch, not daring to move after breaking my damn vase.

"Yup and I better not see any fingers in the food until dinner is completely on the table!" I yell back.

"Awwwwww maaaaannnnnn!"

Despite the annoying whines coming from my Leopard, his bestfriend and our older fuckers, I was determined to have a Thanksgiving without issue.

This year will not be like last year!

Thank Goddess, I actually took cooking classes because last year was a fucking disaster.

I didn't realize you had to thaw the turkey before cooking it and apparently they cook for like 5 hours, not 10.

Whoops. . .

"Aloha!" My dad, Emilio, sang through the packhouse, who we all started calling 'Spa' because it was easier to tell our dads apart that way and also, the man loved the spa, so it was an easy choice.

It didn't take long for Spa and Dad to walk into the kitchen, holding their signature peach cobblers.

"Hi Dad! Hi Spa!" I run towards them and hug them so tight. This would be the first Thanksgiving they have spent with all of us in two years because they loved vacationing on Holidays.

"Hey sons!" Both of my dads smile at me and Bennett then set their peach cobblers on the table with the rest of the food.

"Where are my grandkids?!" Spa and Dad yelled happily and I swear the house started to shake with the stampede of little fucking feet.

"Grand-Spa! Grandpa!"

All of my little fuckers, including my nephew fuckers ran into their grandpas, knocking them both to the ground as Bennett and I ran for cover to avoid being knocked over as well.

The only little fuckers that have some sense in this house are my princesses and my beautiful niece!

"That's probably because they are babies, just wait until they're old enough to run like the rest of the fuckers." Maddox laughed and I laughed back at him.

"Shut up Maddox."

"Hello! Hello!" Preston yells through the packhouse as I heard the front door open again.

"The party is here!" Zahara sings out before I seen her cubs, Delilah, Freya and Kingston running in the kitchen, completely bypassing us and rushing towards the livingroom after giving their weak ass hellos.

Damn fuckers.

At least Zahara has accepted her bond with Preston and gave the persistent Jaguar a chance. A little part of me always wondered if she gave in after that fight a few months after the boys turned one. Preston and Zahara were fighting about something outside the packhouse and she ended up slapping Preston, but he didn't let that slide and pinned her to the wall, growled at her and commanded her to go inside.

Next thing we knew, Zahara was pregnant and stupid happy two months later.

"Ring-a-ding-ding!"

I smiled as I heard Avery's gentle voice singing through the packhouse as he and Gabe walked into the diningroom holding their girls hands.

Hazel and Willow are just the cutest girls alive, well right after my princesses and Emma.

"How is everyone doing?" Avery asks with a smile after pulling away from our hug and his girls run into the livingroom with the other fuckers, just as Raiden, Taj and Preston show their faces once again.

"We're all doing good. Dinner is almost ready too." I tell him with my own smile.

"Perfect because we're starving!" I look up to see Adonis and Layla walking in with their pride behind them.

"We sure are!" Roman and Hunter walk in next, with their own pride behind them as well.

"Wait, what's for dinner this year? Please don't tell me Dylan cooked a Turkey again." Miles whined as I notice him coming in from the side door with Allio, Aaron, his daughter Scarlett and a very pregnant Garrett behind him.

"Yes I did cook a Turkey!" I tell him with all the attitude I could muster. "I took Avery's cooking classes and I've improved drastically thank you very much."

"Oh man, we're going to need more room in here. You know I'm a wide fucking load. I need an entire couch to myself and there's too many people in here." Garrett complained as he attempted to sit on the couch around his huge belly.

"Got it!"

I damn near shit myself when Eva, Maxx and their son Naralo showed up out of thin air.

"Goddess almighty! You need a bell or something!" I growl angrily as I clutch my chest and attempt to take deep breaths.

There was absolutely no surprise in seeing Allio and Aaron stumble backwards and almost fall over the things behind them as they were scared by our witches and warlocks appearances.

Seven years later and they're still the jumpiest wolves I've ever met. I'm glad that Scarlett inherited Garrett's demeanor. I can only pray for their unborn son.

"No way, you just need to get used to it." Eva laughed as she waved me off and did something with her magic to where the room literally began to expand.

"Lowe!"

"How is everyone?" Maxx asks as Gage runs out of the livingroom and tackles Naralo to the ground.