Klepto POV

"Move! Move! Move!" Stacey shouts, waving her arms in the air frantically as the two lycans in the kitchen dart around. The she-wolf watches the scene with wide, excited eyes just like the rest of us. We're all eager to be a part of this.

A cooking contest isn't something we get to enjoy everyday. And so far it's been a blast.

While Hyrum pours something into his giant metal pot full of delicious smelling food, I sit in Ezra's lap contently. My mate absently runs a hand over my shoulder as we watch. His red head is nestled softly into the crook of my neck, his lips brushing the mark that covers my pale skin.

It's a lot of PDA, but I don't mind since I can't really get enough of it.

It's hard to concentrate on the moment when all I can think about is him, and what exactly he's doing to me.

"You have 5 minutes! Make them count." Savannah calls, and even she smiles at the two chefs.

Hyrum has challenged the pack cook, Rebekah, to a cook off. At first I thought it was just all fun and games, a friendly battle of culinary skills, but it's anything but that.

They move the way I'd expect to see someone move on a battlefield.

They're absolutely merciless in the kitchen. Whisks, bowls, ingredients alike are tossed around in a flurry of motion. I can't seem to look away despite the distraction behind me. And what a distraction he is. Ezra can't keep his hands off me to save his freaking life.

Now that we're mated, he wants to be with me all the time, and I with him, but sometimes it doesn't work out like we want.

So, when he gets home from work he practically sprints up the stairs.

"Wow, I feel like I'm watching Hell's Kitchen." Miranda muses next to me, propped up on her elbow as she shakes her head. "It's like we're in an actual episode."

"What's Hell's Kitchen?" It's a question that Tressandra and I spout at the same time. We glance at each other across the table with huge grins, we do that sometimes.

I've found out that we actually have a lot in common. Emotional trauma does that to a person.

"Do you two ever get out?" Stacey demands, her jaw nearly hitting the floor.

"No, they don't. Did you forget that they basically lived in a cult?" Reid explains, his upper lip quirked up in amusement. Ace bursts into laughter standing next to his older brother.

"That place was a cult, wasn't it?" He jokes, and I can't help but agree, but I don't say anything. Best not to ruin a fun moment with thoughts of that wretched place. I'm glad I'm far, far away from there.

Tressandra elbows me gently.

"What's a cult?" She whispers, and I try not to laugh, Stacey doesn't hold back though. Her cackles are so loud that Hyrum turns to glare at her.

Wow, I've never seen him look so mad.

He's serious about his food.

"Aaaannnd time's up! Spoons down, housewives!" Savannah shouts, and the rush of everything comes to a close as everyone crowded in the room starts cheering. The two chefs have wide eyes as they stare down at their finished dishes.

Well, hopefully they're finished. After all, I'm one of the judges. I'm glad they've made the same food and I can judge the best one without knowing who made which.

I'm pretty sure I would be bias if that wasn't the case. Hyrum is my favorite food maker on the planet, I just hope and pray this contest won't ruin everything.

They dish countless bowls full of the pasta and white sauce. The flavors waft around the room and I take a deep breath of it. The scent settles in my lungs and across my tongue in anticipation. I squirm in Ezra's lap, excited to finally eat after a long day.

"Wow, sweetie, you're way too eager for dinner. When's the last time you ate?" Ezra murmurs in my ear. I shrug, because I honestly don't know.

I've been way too caught up in taking care of two rowdy little boys who are way too mischievous for their own good... and my own good.

"You need to take better care of yourself, or else I'm going to have to come home for lunch so I can hand feed you." Ezra threatens, but his words just make me laugh.

Two big bowls of delicious looking pasta are placed in front of me then, and I don't waste any more time before digging in.

I let out a groan at the taste. Each bite is perfection. I take a taste of the other dish too. They're both amazing, but only one is the clear winning. I can only cross my fingers that it belongs to Hyrum.

"This is the best chicken alfredo I've had in my entire life." Miranda says. When I look around I see that everyone in the kitchen is enjoying the food. The two pasta dishes are delicious, but everyone's raving over the one that I also decree to be the best.

Watching the slow smile grow on Hyrum's face, I know exactly who the recipe belongs to.

"Well, I think we all know who won. Better luck next time, Rebekah." Savannah says, a sassy edge to her voice. We all cheer and clap while Hyrum raises both hands in the air in a sign of victory. Reid slaps him on the back, Ezra whistles behind me.

We're all ecstatic or him.

Rebekah and Hyrum shake hands, and she doesn't seem fazed by his win. In fact, she grins when she has a taste of the dish, nodding her head in agreement.

We spend the rest of the night eating and hanging out. We all talk and joke and laugh and I can't really comprehend how different my life is now. I see it mirrored when I look at Tressandra and Ryk, a complete turn around from what it used to be.

Instead of dreading the mornings, I'm excited to wake up and face the day and every little thing it might bring. Instead of being terrified of the unknown, I'm excited to find what's around every corner.

I subconsciously lean back, nuzzling Ezra as my full belly starts to make me a bit tired. His arms are tight around me, strong, comforting.

There's so much I want to say to him in this moment, but there's too much going on around us.

So I tell him with my emotions. I let my love and warmth drift through our bond as I nestle closer to him like I'm laying in a bean bag.

Ezra rumbles, and lets me feel the same thing he does.

His emotions are almost too much for me to handle. His acceptance of me, his devotion. I close my eyes to keep my tears from falling. I'm practically choking from the sensations.

This is the life I've always wanted. A story book ending I've spent so much time yearning and hoping for. The rough times in my life don't even seem bad now since this is where they led me. I've accept them, and I've moved on. That's the great thing about life, it moves right along, and for the first time that thought excites me.

Because the future is brighter than the past.

And I'm ready to start living my amazing life, one day at a time.

The end

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If you're reading this, I love you :)