Page 100 of Monster's Obsession

Ash was clenching his jaw. “I believed her. All that time, I told myself everything she did was for the city, for us.”

“I should have known better, should have fucked her up a long time ago,” Seven grunted. “I did nothing but blame myself.”

Creed’s breaths sped up, fists balled. “This is my fault. I was too fucking blind, believing anything she told me. You weren’t wrong, Tempest. I excused her behavior, I didn’t stop her from torturing you.” His lips pinched tight in pain and regret, the muscles in his neck flexing.

“So what now?” Steele barked, wiping the blood from his mouth, sounding exasperated with Creed. Then he stared at Tempest. “I get that you did what you thought was best for the city…I can’t even fault you on it, but fuck, I’m still struggling with being the fall guy.”

“And I was her punching bag, her fucking explosive…so we both have issues to get over,” Tempest muttered with a stupid lopsided grin, his attempt at humor falling flat.

I laughed, and then cried at the same time. “You can’t let her destroy us this long after her death. Somehow, we have to find a place of forgiveness.” I had no idea if I was overstepping their boundaries, but after everything we’d all endured, I couldn’t be blamed for trying.

Tempest stepped forward, then dropped to his knees in front of us, head bowed.

“I don’t expect any of you to forgive me, just your acknowledgment that I tried so hard to do the right thing for us.” He glanced up at us. “For years, I wanted a family who didn’t beat me or remind me of how worthless I’d been. I was struggling for a long time to find peace while carrying the burden of what I’d done to Steele, and at hiding the city’s secrets. And I admit, it had changed me. I was constantly angry, and I wanted others to hurt as much as I did. I’m sorry for everything.” He lowered his head. “And if you want to punish me for it, I won’t stop you. And I’ll grovel for your forgiveness if that’s what it takes.”

“Fuck yeah, I need you to grovel more, maybe kiss my feet,” Steele retorted.

“Steele.” I rolled my eyes at him.

Silence descended, and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe from the emotions choking up my throat. I took a step toward Tempest, then another to stand in front of him. “I don’t think I could hate you…even after everything you’ve done.”

“I’m sorry, Blake, for trying to kill you, for hurting you. I never wanted those things for you, but my head was so stupid. The things I’ve felt for you, the way you were always kind to me, I kept telling myself you’d hurt me in the end, so I had to do it first.” Tears glistened in his eyes. “But I fucking love you so much that it’s going to destroy me if I lose you.”

Tears raced down my cheeks. Pain was ripping through my soul for what my monsters had endured, and how the Red Queen had ripped them apart.

I wanted to fix this. And that meant starting some where my heart led me.

I got to my knees in front of Tempest, and stared him in the eyes.She’dbeen a fool. This beautiful monster deserved so much more than what the world had given him.

“I forgive you, Tempest,” I whispered. “I might even love you.” His head shot up, a fresh tear tracking down his cheek. “Things feel terrible now, but it’s going to get better. It always does, and I’ll be there to help.”

“Blake,” he rasped and drew me into his arms. “That’s all I ever wanted to hear.”

It didn’t take long for the others to join us, getting on their knees and moving in closer, embracing us, with Tempest and me in the middle.

“It’s going to take time,” Creed said. “But I’m not giving up on you, Tempest. Just no more fucking secrets.”

“I swear on my life,” he stated, all teary and smiling in a way I hadn’t seen since I’d met him. It warmed my soul.

“I forgive you,” Ash and Seven said in unison, before both glanced at each other with a growl and the rest of us burst out laughing.

“And you, Steele?” Creed asked.

Steele was shoulder to shoulder with me, a deep frown creasing the bridge of his nose. “I feel completely outnumbered,” he teased flippantly. “I don’t hate you, Tempest, and over time, I’ll find a way to forgive you. That’s all I can give you right now.”

“That’s all I want,” he croaked.

There was still tension between them—when wasn’t there in this world?—but on the bright side, we were making baby steps towards progress. I leaned over and kissed Steele on the cheek, offering him a knowing smile as I felt his bond flicker in my chest with what suspiciously felt like…happiness.

“I have an idea,” I said, turning to them all. “You’ve already started the demolition in this place,” I pointed to the ruined room around us, “let’s redo it in a way that’s us…and not her.”

Creed laughed at me, drawing me into his arms. “Whatever you want, you can have, Pet.”

“I say we replace the thrones with a big bed,” Ash suggested, and I giggled.

My heart fluttered and I burrowed into the warmth of my surrounding men, feeling safe for the first time ever. The kind of safety that came with knowing I had someone to rely on when the world started to burn, and that I was one of the lucky ones who’d found true happiness.

I was exactly where I wanted to be. In love with five monsters who desperately wanted me.

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