Best Of The Fantastic Four Novels & Stories

Never. “Ugh,” said Maurice. “Honestly, worst superhero team, ever.” “Oh.” Claire’s wagging tail abruptly stopped wagging. “Really? I thought—” “Think about it. Invisible Woman, because she turns invisible, fine. Human Torch, obvious, no problem. The Thing, okay. And then Reed Richards. How much of an egomaniac do you have to be to call yourself Mr Fantastic? And what’s that got to do with stretching your arms? Mr Elastic, sure. But Mr Fantastic? If I was in that team, I’d be like, why don’t you Mr Fuck Off?”

“This is what you made us, Evelynn. What we were meant to be.” I looked at them - really looked - and the breath caught in my throat. The four of them stood like something out of a vision: half men, half beasts, every inch of them radiating power and claim. And beneath it all, the bond pulsed in my veins like a second heartbeat. Their scents surrounded me - pine and smoke and earth and rain - heady and grounding all at once. I reached out, without thinking, fingers brushing against Calder’s chest. His skin was hot, his heart pounding steady beneath my palm. The feel of it made my wolf sigh.

"What do you mean by that? You pretend you don't know us? Oh, or did you have amnesia after the accident?" "Remember this carefully!" another said. "We are masters of dorm two and loyal supporters of B4. Who was it that you swore at? Immediately correct your words, loser!" "Well, he's right. It doesn't matter if you are the brightest student in this school; if you insult Hunter Abraham and the other members of B4, then you will have to face us!" "B4!" Jonea grinned. "True to their name—BEASTS Four, the four of them are monsters!"

I asked, though my voice came out breathless. “Stopping pretending we don’t all want the same thing,” Darius said from behind me, his lips finding the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder. “Which is?” “You,” they said in unison, and the possessiveness in their voices sent heat spiraling through me. “All of you,” I whispered. “All of us,” Marcus confirmed, leaning forward to capture my lips. Each kiss was different, each touch uniquely them, but together they created something that was purely ours. Marcus’s steady devotion, Zane’s intense focus, Kael’s playful passion, Darius’s quiet possession. Four different ways of loving me that somehow fit together perfectly.

Phoenix sighs and looks at me. “Everybody is taken aback by the fact that you don’t have just one but four mates,” Hannah says. “It’s unheard of. But your four mates in particular are the four strongest members of the pack. Soon, Forrest will take over as alpha, Phoenix as beta, but Puma is third, and Desmond is fourth in the pack hierarchy. Some people are going to be mad and feel like you stole the best the pack has to offer. People might even call you a witch.” My mouth falls open.

All the hurt, betrayal, and bitterness of the past had vanished—burned away in the warmth of real love and unwavering protection. (The End)