Page 43 of My Pucking Family

“Roman, he saved me,” I almost whimper with the reality of what occurred. “A man tried to take me. He came up to me, pretending to hit on me, but then he tried to drag me away. Khaos stopped him and said he was some kind of rogue.”

The rest of the guys are coming out of the locker room now. Roman scoops me up into his arms, cradling me against his chest, and he clearly mentally tells everyone it’s time to go, with Khaos following along just behind Roman and me.

When we finally make it to the parking lot, Roman, Khaos, and I pile into one car, while the others take the second. They can be updated telepathically, where Khaos and I cannot.

“The guy reeked of lingering dark magic, and he was definitely a hired rogue. I told him to go running back to his boss and tell them we're coming for whoever the fuck they are. I think it's time you filled me in on some obviously missing details.

33

Iknew I should have filled Khaos in completely on what all had transpired. I really meant to, but I didn't think we'd have to worry about another kidnapping attempt already. Even though I was obviously worried enough that I ended up calling Khaos to request his assistance. I start the car for the short drive back to the hotel, and I begin to fill him in.

“We don't know why, but it has something to do with my father.”

Khaos takes the news about as well as I did. I can feel his wolf trying to force a shift. “What the fuck does your father want with Leera?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“To kill me, I'm in the way of something of his...” Leera admits softly. “I heard him telling one of the kidnappers when they thought I was still knocked out from being drugged.”

“What the fuck do you mean in the way of something?”

“We don't have all the details yet, but we believe it has something to do with why I was arranged to marry India. A couple months ago, she and my father came to dinner to tell me that she and I would be taking the thrones if the heir wasn't found.” The thought alone still makes my blood boil. “What we don't know is why. Judging from India's reactions, we thought it was just a power move. But with new information from a local white witch, it seems there may be more going on than we could have ever anticipated.”

“Goddess,” Khaos sighs. “Are the King and Queen involved?”

“Not that we could find. So far the only ones involved are my father, India's father, and India.”

“Isn't India's father the King's advisor? So is he doing the King's dirty work or going behind his back?” he questions.

“I have to assume that he's going behind his back. I've spent a great deal of time with the King, and he's a good man. He cares for his people. I don't think he would do anything other than what he's always done. I don't know. Something just feels off. Like we're missing a really big puzzle piece.”

“W-wait...what if...oh, god!” Leera starts sobbing in the passenger seat just as I park the car, finally back at the hotel.

“Leera, baby, what's wrong? What is it?”

“Wh-what if my p-parents were killed because of me t-too?” she wails.

I want to tell her she's wrong and that her parents were just in an accident, but I don't know if I could even believe myself at this point.

34

Why has my life turned into such a complete and total shit show?

After the game the other night, I was so upset that Roman hired a plane to take us home. Us being Roman, the other starting five Predators, and me.

Khaos went to check on his pack in Maine before the next Vultures game.

As soon as we got home, he rushed upstairs and put together a candlelit bubble bath for me. It was the sweetest thing ever as it was, but being Roman, he took it further and called Zoey and planned a surprise video call, Disney movie, and bestie date for me. He left me alone to get settled in and chit-chat with Zoey.Then he came back with snacks and hot cocoa.

It's getting harder and harder not to tell this man I love him. I'll lose the war with myself soon enough. I just want it to be right. Not a moment shrouded in the constant shadows following us around.

After my bath, I thought I felt better, but the waves of grief kept slamming back into me.

I thought I had made peace with the loss of my parents, but that was when I thought that I lost them to some kind of freak accident.

The thought that they're no longer here with me isbecauseof me feels like a new kind of hell.

When I finally crawl into bed with Roman, he immediately wraps both arms around me and molds my body to his. His face moves directly to the bend in my neck as he says, “I'm so sorry, Leera. I wish there was more that I could do. I wish I could take this pain away and bring them back to you. You don't deserve to feel that kind of pain.”

I can feel the pain of his own experiences with loss radiating off of him. I wriggle in his hold until I've turned over to face him, running my fingers through his hair.

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