Page 22 of My Pucking Family

Do I want to keep trying to pretend that I'm normal and my entire life isn't different than it was months ago when I thought I had my new life all planned out?

Roman waits patiently, allowing me all the time I need to sort through my thoughts until I finally have a line on a tentative plan.

“How about a trial run?” I finally ask, and the look on his face tells me everything I need to know. This won't be a trial run. This will be forever. But he doesn't have to know that yet.

“Of course, what are you thinking?”

“I'm thinking I'm going to run in there and get some essentials and some clothes, and leave a note for Zoey to call me so I can tell her what's going on. Is that okay?”

“It's more than okay,” he says softly and lovingly. He tucks an errant strand of my silver hair behind my ear before he leans forward and kisses me on the forehead.

He drives me over to the dorm building and walks me to my dorm room. He let me know he was going to give me some space to do what I needed, and he'll be waiting for me in the car. I ping around the room in a tizzy, grabbing everything I know I'll need and a few things I might.

After writing Zoey a note, I place my hands on my hips and look around the little space that's brought me so much happiness. I'm not happy that I'll likely be leaving here, but it's time to keep moving forward.

With a couple of bags, I make my way down the hallway. When Roman sees me lugging around my stuff, he dashes out of the car and snatches all the bags from me and carries them to the car.

I can't believe I'm really doing this.

The whole way to his townhouse, he's holding my leg and rubbing it with his thumb, and it's making me feel all kinds of needy things only he's ever made me feel.Is this normal? For my body to try and take over my mind? Why's it so hot in here?His touch feels so good, but this time it's igniting more than our usual tingles. This feels too intense. What if something's wrong again?

18

Istill can't believe she agreed to stay with me, even if it's just as a trial run. I thought it would take much more work. I had speeches planned. It's going to be incredible to get to know her at a new level. Not just on dates, through text messages, or in passing. I finally get to learn who Leera is all the time, and when she thinks no one is looking…because I’ll always be looking.

I'm lost in my happy trail of thoughts when the scent of her arousal begins to drown me. It's heady and intoxicating, but it's not just that. I can sense her anxiety rising again.

“Leera, honey, what's wrong?”

Her cheeks turn pink. She tries to just smile and shake her head like she's fine.

We're almost home now, just another minute. Her scent is sostrong I have to roll the car window down to be able to drive and keep my wolf from ripping through my skin.

How can this be?As I ask myself that question, my wolf begins to howl beneath my skin.How the fuck am I going to handle this?!This is the absolute last thing I would have thought we'd be dealing with today.

“Leera, look at me. Are you okay? Do you feel feverish?” I ask, but I already know the answer. Between her scent strangling me and the frantic look on her face, I already know. Her whole body is blushing a rosy-red color; it really can't be anything else.

She's starting to squirm and whimper in her seat when we turn onto our street.

“Let's get you inside, and I'll help, okay?” I ask, hoping I'm getting through the panic and need.

She barely nods.

Benny, Slate, Andrei, Dolos, and Eris out. Go find something to do until I let you know. I brought Leera home, but I think she's going into her first heat. Matilda, Meredith, and Jeanine, if you could please stay in case she needs you?

I hope I sound strong because I'm trying to keep my shit together here. If she'd been raised a werewolf, she would have been taught about her heat and how to handle it.

Instead, I have to help her navigate through it while also finding a way to help her without crossing the lines that she's laid down. I worry she'll be so lost in her heat that she'll forget her wishes. I won't be the bad guy. I can't let that happen.

We pull into the garage. The men took off in wolf form to go check on the pack, and they won’t be back until I give the all clear. We don't know how long this will last. Some can be as short as twenty-four hours, while others can last a week. The thought of this lasting a week has me groaning while my dickinvoluntarily raises his head to volunteer.Sorry, buddy, you'll probably be sitting this one out.

I rush out of the car, going around to the passenger side to gather Leera in my arms. I'll come back for her things later. The second her body is pressed up against mine, she begins to mewl in a need she doesn't understand.

“Roman, wh-what's wrong with me? I feel so…” she shakes her head like she's trying to clear her mind.

“Let me get you inside, and I'll take care of you, Sweetheart.” I didn't mean for that to sound as husky as it did, but my wolf is riding me hard.

As soon as the elevator reaches the main floor, I fly through the space to my room as quickly as I can. It's probably only been two or three minutes, but with her panting and fidgeting like this, it feels like forever.

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