Page 55 of My Pucking Family

“Leera, baby, are you okay?” Roman asks her, cupping the side of her face.

“How the fuck am I supposed to respond to that? To any of this?” she asks, throwing her hands in the air. “As if I'm not awkward enough on my own, let's add a freaking tiara. You're joking, right? This is some kind of first shift prank, right?”

I shake my head.

She lifts herself off his lap and slowly walks towards me, arm outstretched. When she reaches me, I close my eyes, and her touch on my cheek sends shockwaves through my body, and my wolf howls.

“It's true,” she gasps.

All I can do is nod, another tear slipping through my eyes.

43

Isit on the log, staring out at the clearing in complete and total shock at the giant, steaming pile of shit my life has become in the last year.

I feel like one of those cartoon waitresses trying to get back to the kitchen with the dirty dishes, but people just keep throwing more on the pile. Now, instead of just trying to get to the kitchen, I have to get there without dropping or breaking anything.

I was slightly terrified yet so excited for my first shift.

It felt otherworldly to be united with my wolf.

Until it all came crashing down.

Again.

Because that's what my life does.

I should be enjoying my wolf. Running with Roman and the men.

Nope.

Not me.

I find out I'm some twisted Twilight version of Rapunzel.

I guess in some ways it took an item off of my life-stuff-to-figure-out list, but now that adds more questions as well.

I know who my birth parents are, but I'm no closer to knowing how the parents that raised me came to have me in their possession. We also don't know why they were hiding me or what they knew was coming.

Does it have to do with the prophecy stuff that India overheard? Could it really all be connected?

Andrei obviously accepts me, but what if they don't want me? What if I don't want to be a princess in another world?

“GODDAMMIT!”

That was supposed to be a frustrated scream in my head, but it came out of my mouth instead, and Andrei and Roman both jumped.

The other men took off just a bit ago to give us time to talk and think. Probably to give me time to get my shit together.

“I'm sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” Roman says gently as he pulls me back into his embrace. “Like everything else, we'll figure this out at whatever speed you need,” he finishes with a kiss on my head.

“What's my name?”

They both turn to look at me.

“The princess. What was her...er, my name?” I ask more confidently.

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