Page 17 of My Pucking Family

I've been without Imogen for five hundred years, but it makes me wonder how many lifetimes we've had together.

Our bodies, and the bodies of our wolves, can change from life cycle to life cycle, but our souls will always recognize each other.

How many lives have we lived together?

How old are our souls?

How long between lifetimes do we have to wait to find one another again?

I allow my thoughts to carry me away while keeping my eyes trained on the door.

Checking the time, I see it's nearing ten o'clock. Being right here all evening, I allowed Leera some space and didn't text or call her. I would have responded if she initiated, but I wanted to make sure she had all the time she needed to decompress with her best friend. If hers is anything like mine, they're also good for the soul.

I pick up my phone, shooting her a quick text just so she doesn't think I've forgotten about her.

Benny, how are you doing over there?I ask, checking in.

Living the dream!I can hear the sarcastic smile in his voice before he continues.But really, Boss, everything is fine.

Nodding to myself, I settle in for a long night when Benny pipes back up,Hey, Boss?

Mhmm?

What's the plan for tomorrow?

You and the others will go to the rink to practice like normal, and I'll be with Leera.

What are you going to do if she catches you following her?

Beg for forgiveness. It's all I can do. I won't be sorry for making sure she's okay.

His only response this time is a snort.

I wasn't lying when I said that Leera made it hard to care about anything anymore. I still don't know what I'll do about away games if she doesn't agree to come with me. It's just all toomuch to try and figure out right now. So, I'll just take everything one day at a time until we get it all figured out.

15

Iwake with a start when I hear a crashing sound. My heart is hammering in my chest, and my body is on high alert when Zoey pokes her head out of our bathroom with a guilty smile. “Sorry about that; I dropped my curling iron.”

Taking a deep breath and nodding, I reply, “It's okay, just a little jumpy. I guess that's to be expected.”

She takes a step into our living space with a sad smile on her face. “Are you sure you're up for this? You know you can always take a week off or switch to online classes for a semester.”

My eyebrows draw together, and I become immediately defensive, “I am not switching to online classes. I'm fine, and you know how badly I just want a normal college experience.Can’t we just pretend none of it ever happened?”

“Do you think you can do that?” she asks me, slightly tilting her head to the side.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I offer only a strong nod and eye contact, hoping I relay how determined I am to really do this. She seems to accept it and shrugs her way back into the bathroom to finish getting ready for classes.

I growl a little and drag myself out of bed when there's a knock at the door. My body decides to lock up, and I just stare at the door.

You're supposed to choose fight or flight, not freeze,I scold myself.

“Zoey, can you get that?”

She comes bouncing out of the bathroom, and when she takes in the state of me and offers another sad smile. She checks the peep hole, shrugs, and opens the door.

She leans out the doorway, holding the door open with her leg, and returns with a coffee in each hand. There’s also a bouquet of flowers tucked between her body and her elbow. The flowers are powder pink and look like they're climbing up the stem. I immediately melt because I know exactly who left these.

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