Page 34 of My Pucking Family

When Roman takes his seat, instead of letting me plop into mine, he pulls me onto his lap in front of EVERYONE. I've got to be bright red. “Roman, would you like to clue me in on why I can't sit in my own seat?” I whisper harshly in his ear.

Benny chuckles from beside us, reminding me whispering probably doesn't work well on an airplane full of werewolves.

Shit.

Roman just chuckles to himself before responding, “Sorry, Sweetheart, but we're on an airplane full of unmated werewolves, and you smell like heaven. It's not your fault, and it's not theirs either. So, I'm just going to hang on to you, if you're comfortable, that is?”

Of course he would end it with a question and give me an out if I really wanted it. Turns out, I don't. I’ve still got to get used to all the public displays of affection, but I love them. They catch me off guard because I'm not used to it, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy his possessiveness.

As the men continue to file onto the plane, I settle into Roman's lap with my laptop to finish one of my assignments.

In the last few days, I've also realized I don't hate taking my college classes online. I actually really enjoy it. It's a lot more like homeschooling. I get to work at my own pace and don't have to deal with the disruptions that come with the classroom environment. I've actually worked ahead in my Explorations in Modern Mathematics class and only have five assignments left to complete for the entire semester. I've always loved math; something about it just clicks in my brain, so for that class especially, being able to work ahead at my own pace is really nice.

Benny is sitting on Roman's left, Andrei is sitting on his right, the twins are giving Coach hell, and Slate is tucked away in a corner with his own laptop.

Benny keeps asking me questions about my classes and being his normal sunshiny self while Roman grunts along. He's got everyone else fooled with his tough guy attitude, but I'mlearning it's because if he lets too many people in, then he has more people that he'll care about and worry over.

With Andrei on his right, my back is facing him, and I can’t help but get that feeling I always get every time Andrei is around. I don't know why I haven't told Roman about the bond-like tugging feeling I also get from him. I think we mostly haven't really had a quiet moment for me to really bring it up. I should have when we were talking through everything the other day, but our list was already so long. I can feel the tiny tugging feeling now, and it's going to drive me crazy.

I want to bring it up, talk to him—something—but a crowded plane of nosey werewolves isn't the place, so I just keep working through my remaining math assignments and occasionally answering Benny's questions, until Roman tenses beneath me.

When I look up at him, he's staring straight at Slate, and they're definitely having a silent conversation that the six of them are all in on because they all go from staring at Slate to Roman, or me, I'm not sure.

“What's up?” I whisper to Roman, but he shakes his head and gives me a look that I think says,I'll explain later.

26

I've got it. I've got it all,Slate confirms.

Explain,I demand.

I've got extensive communication trails between India and both of your fathers. I've also finally linked your father to that subdivision that was being built that we found Leera in, and the likely paper trail from him paying those rogues to kidnap her,he elaborates.

My blood is boiling, and I know she can feel the tension coursing through my body. Judging by the look of everyone, I think most of the plane can feel it.

The only thing I can't find or confirm is why,Slate finishes.

I sit and think for a minute before I believe with certainty that,If my father kidnapped and drugged Leera because shewas “in his way,” it's safe to assume…I trail off;it's safe to assume my father is likely the one responsible for Imogen and my child's murder.

Each of my men just nod their heads.

We need to find out why, and why his scent was nowhere to be found either time. Leera said she heard a snobby rich guy bossing the lackey around; we know that had to be him checking on things himself, but he left no trace of a scent,Benny interjects.

It has to be part of why India and I were arranged to wed and become king and queen,I think out loud between my men and myself.

Slate nods again and dives back into his laptop.

I know that Slate will do everything in his power to find any and all the information we need. I thought it would feel different to get confirmation of what a monster my father is. I thought I'd be more hurt. Maybe more angry? I am all of those things, but the level of intensity in those feelings isn't as debilitating as I anticipated they would be.

I can only assume it's the result of the perfect little silver-haired miracle sitting on my lap.

She's typing away on her laptop, working on her schoolwork. I think she's enjoying the online classes more than she expected but doesn’t want to admit it out loud.

Every now and then she grabs her notebook to work out a math problem then hops right back to her laptop; I wish I could be in her mind, watching how it works.

My mate is smart. She's flying through mathematics that I could never understand. I'm not a numbers kind of guy. I’m a history and military strategy kind of guy.

How would I feel right now if I learned all this without Leera in my life? Or even right before I found her?

---