Page 19 of My Pucking Family

I brace myself for all the attention I've been getting today as we join the masses and walk towards her office. I have my arms wrapped around myself, watching my feet hit the floor as I try to avoid the curious glances and whispers, but I don't feel the intensity of attention on my skin like I had the rest of the day.

I sneak a peek around, and I'm just moving through the crowd unnoticed. It's not that I'm not grateful, but I wasn't even able to go to the bathroom earlier without some girls trying to ask me questions. I'm thankful for whatever is happening, but it's also kind of weird. I quickly lower my head to keep watching my shoes and enjoy the brief lapse in everyone's curiosity and scuttle along next to Professor.

My mind cannot even process the fact that we made it all the way to her office without a single incident, but I'm not about to start complaining.

I pile all the stuff beside the seat in front of her large, walnut desk before allowing myself to plop into the chair, resting my elbows on my knees, and hanging my head in defeat.

The sounds of Professor Sinclair moving around the room before taking a seat at her desk help to calm my frayed nerves. She allows me a few more moments of silence, and then shebreaks it, jumping right back into the fire and saying, “Leera, let's start with what do you want?” she asks, emphasizing the word you.

I open my mouth to offer my immediate answer, but close it and allow myself to really consider the question.

After a few moments of thought, I reply, “I want to be a photojournalist like my parents. I want to be with Roman without complications. I just want to be a normal college kid, and I really couldn't be farther from it at this point.” Another small whimper threatens to escape, but I manage to hold it in.

Her chin rests on her steepled fingers while she considers my response. The gold rings she wears on every finger glisten in the harsh lights above us.

She reclines, her back resting against her chair, as she seems to contemplate the best way to move the conversation forward.

“I understand your drive to have the ‘normal college experience,’” she emphasizes with air quotes. “But you could ask fifty kids what they think a normal college experience is, and you could potentially get fifty different answers. Some people can get an entire degree online without ever stepping foot on a campus, while others may never take an online class. For some people, college is about education only, and there is no room for friendships or relationships, while other people make bonds that last a lifetime. There are even people who never wanted to go to college but are forced or feel obligated, so they're just getting through it.”

I nod along as she speaks because she's absolutely right. I hadn't thought about it that way.But where is she going with this?

“I think there might be a little more that you're not telling me, and surprisingly enough, I think I understand what youcan't tell me, and I want you to know—she's cut off by a thunderous knock on her office door.

My initial instinct is to cower, but my body relaxes without any instruction from my brain.That doesn't make any sense; why would Roman be here?

Just as the thought crosses my mind, I'm enveloped in the scent of cherries and leather, and for the first time today, I'm at peace…even if it only lasts a moment.

16

I’m on my way to Professor Sinclair's office to talk to her about Leera's potential online class situation when I pick up Leera's honeysuckle and spun sugar scent going in the same direction. Except…shaking my head, I try to clear the negative thoughts; I'm just rattled from everything going on.

But when I reach the door to her office, the instinct is overwhelming, and I have to calm my wolf snarling just under the surface.

I knock on the door, hard enough to rattle it, and gather a little attention.Shit.I paste on my magazine smile with a small wave, and while I still have their attention, I no longer smell the fear that had started to permeate the air.

The door opens only a crack, revealing that the professor andmy mate are both in there, and I now know that my instincts were not wrong.

“Well, hello, Roman. Leera and I were just discussing—"

Allowing a little bit of my wolf through the surface for her to feel, I interrupt the professor, “I think you should ask me to come in so we can have a very detailed discussion about what's going on here.”

To my surprise, Sinclair smiles sweetly, nods, and opens the door enough to allow my entry into the room. Leera looks confused, but once the initial shock of my arrival wears off, she's scrambling off her chair and into my embrace.

I barely wrap my arms around her when the flood gates open and she allows herself to break. I scoop her into my arms and make my way to her discarded chair to sit and calm her so we can have a much-needed conversation.

Professor Sinclair is waiting patiently in her seat, grading papers until we're ready. Her calm patience raises more questions than I already had when I came down the hallway.

There's no way Leera knows who she is.

When a small hiccup escapes my little mate, I smooth her hair away and hold a kiss to her forehead. When I feel her muscles relax against mine, I rest my forehead against hers. “Leera, I know you've been through so much lately, Sunshine, but we're about to have another big conversation, okay?”

Her icy blue eyes meet my green and blue ones, then widen as she processes what I've said.

“I came here to discuss your learning situation with Professor Sinclair. You've spoken so fondly of her; I knew if anyone could help you understand online classes aren't bad, it would be her...” I take a moment and try to arrange my words to have the least impact.

“It seems as though a new conversation with your favorite teacher is needed,” I say to Leera, but my eyes find Sinclair's, who offers a smile and a nod.

“I completely agree, Roman. Leera has just filled me in on a lot in my classroom, and we came here to have a more private conversation. First, I would like to calm Leera's worry and let her know that I can recognize you as mates, so that fills in a lot of the less understanding portions of her explanation of the situation,” she finishes with a comforting smile towards Leera, whose mouth has fallen completely open.

---