Page 10 of My Pucking Life

“I’m sorry, what’s a tonic?” my sweet little mate asks with a sniffle.

I answer gently, “It’s what humans call birth control. It prevents pregnancy.”

Leera nods and climbs back into my lap, holding onto me tightly.

“When you were, I think it was twelve years old, she got pregnant with me. As soon as she was aware, she finally confided in the queen what had been happening. The queen was her best friend, but they kept their friendship as private as they could because of him. The queen was appalled and ordered that her most trusted healer attend to her. They made up a story that she had fainted and taken a fall and needed round-the-clock care and ordered that only this healer was allowed to care for her. Avram was furious but settled when he began to test the healer, and she had gained his trust under the direction of the queen. When he was confident that he would get his way, he approached the healer with the same proposition as the old one…I’m gonna grab another coffee if that’s okay?” She pauses as she rises to her feet.

“I think we could all use a break,” I suggest as I rise myself. I don’t want coffee, though; I’m headed to my office for my Zabellan whiskey that I keep on hand for when I need it. I don’t have to go that far, though. Our sweet Matilda has already gotten it out for me and laid glasses and ice on the counter.

She smiles sweetly at me and opens her arms wide. I’m a few steps from her and actually in need of one of her hugs when Benny dashes in front of me and into her arms, stealing my hug. I growl, and the bastard gloats about it, but Matilda is too sweet to turn anyone away, so she finishes hugging him and calls me over.

“Come here, dear,” she coos in that only-her voice, “I know it’s a lot, but you’re doing great. Keep listening. She needs to get this poisonous secret off her heart as much as you need to hear it.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She pours me only 2 fingers of whiskey over a large cylindrical ice cube.

Come get some whiskey if you want it before I have her put it away. Someone tell Khaos,I tell my men. They each take a small glass and head back to the living room.

“I wasn’t sure if you drank but you’re welcome to have a glass of whiskey if you want also,” I offer to Runa.

She shakes her head and responds, “Ha, no thanks, alcohol makes me more emotional.” But she says it with a small smile, so I smile back.

When we’re all settled back into our relative seats, Runa remains standing and begins pacing, “It helps me get my nervous energy out if I can move while I talk, please, just bear with me…where was I…oh, yeah, okay, so, he offered the healer the same proposition. A large sum of money in return for getting rid of the baby. She accepted the money and set it aside. When I was born, I was the first daughter that Mother had ever named because she couldn’t bring herself to name the ones that would be sent back to the Goddess. She named me and spent ten minutes with me. The healer lied and told him there were complications from delivery that required additional care before she could take care of me. She then sedated me and got me out of the house and didn’t stop running with me until she’d left Zabella. Once she got to the human realms, she paid for a lone werewolf family to care for me until I matured and could find my own way. They were kind and took amazing care of me, but there was no love. When the healer came back when I was of age and ready to head out on my own, she told me everything. Including that Mother didn’t kill herself or die of sickness…he fucking killed her because she refused to bear anymore children for him—”

The growl that’s ripped from my body is all my wolf. He’s threatening to rip through my skin without warning. All I can see is red. All I can feel is blind rage.

Not only did this worthless creature kill my first mate and unborn child, but he murdered my mother because she refused to watch any more of her children die, and then he kidnapped Leera and would have killed her if we didn’t find her.

“It’s okay, Roman, let it out. We can take a break and go for a run?” Leera suggests calmly with tears in her eyes, but all I can do is nod before my wolf surges through my skin, shredding my clothes, and toppling over our large couch, thankful everyone was able to hop off in time.

“I’m here.” Leera places her hand on my head and just holds it there while I focus on my breathing. “Okay, Big Guy, let’s go run.”

She dashes into the kitchen, crouching behind the cabinets, and I realize she’s taking her clothes off so they’re not shredded like mine. A moment later her beautiful silver wolf emerges and rushes back towards me. She nuzzles beneath my chin, rubbing her body against mine, then away from me, looking back over her shoulder and ticking her head for me to follow her.

7

Seeing my massive, strong-as-fuck, hockey-playing werewolf boyfriend hurt is crippling. Having to be the strong one while he gets through this isn’t hard at all, though. Knowing how it feels to learn things about your own life, I’m just glad I can be there for him and make sure he learns to lean on the people that care about him.

Walking out of their massive townhouse in my wolf’s body felt weird, but now I understand them living more secluded against a wooded area. We take off towards the forest, thinning with the change in seasons. I notice I’m seeing Khaos’ black wolf for the first time. His black wolf is different than Slate’s. Where Slate is a true deep black, a little shorter and wider, thick with muscle, Khaos’ wolf’s fur is so black it looks blue in the sunlight, and he’s built taller and leaner. If I had to guess, his wolf could be underestimated, but I have no doubt he’s just as strong, if not stronger than most.

The final wolf I’m unfamiliar with must be Runa. She’s smaller than the guys but bigger than me. She’s timid, staying close to Khaos, so I take the moment to break away from Roman for a moment, after a nuzzle, of course. Her wolf has a stunning, unique coat. At first glance, you’d only see dark charcoal-colored fur, but a closer look shows the much lighter, almost white undercoat. I wag my tail and try my best to look like I’m smiling as I approach. I want her to feel welcome, and maybe we can even be friends. I run around her and Khaos and back to Roman, knocking his hips with mine when I catch back up. When I look back at her, the rest of the men are catching up with us, leaving the twins bringing up the rear.

We run through the wooded area and cornfields for a couple of hours until our wolves are panting and my soul feels lighter. Roman looks better too. I think he spent some of the time talking to his men through their mind-link that I’m still obnoxiously jealous of. I want to be able to communicate with him and my brothers. I need to remember to ask Roman how that can work with Khaos.

When we enter the garage, you can hear all of our nails click-clacking against the cement, and we’re stopped by Miss Tilly. “You can all just stop right there. You’re not all tracking dirty paws through the whole house.” She chuckles and points to the piles of clothes laid out across the beds of the trucks and one of the cars. “Leera, dear, you can come over here,” and she points to my clothes and a standing partition that I hope she didn’t drag down here just for me.

I focus on returning to my human body and am still amazed as I watch my fur recede and my smooth, freckled skin return. I’ve barely gotten my clothes on when Roman sneaks up behind me and scoops me into his arms, eliciting a small squeal from my lungs. “Thank you,” he mumbles into my neck.

“Always,” I reassure him. “Now let’s go finish this heavy discussion.”

We all make our way back to the main floor and are greeted by a small lunch buffet spread across the kitchen island.

“Miss Tilly, you do too much!” I mock-scold her. I appreciate everything she does for us, but I don’t want her to wear herself out. “Nonsense, I’ve been taking care of my boys for years. I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she simultaneously beams while putting me in my place.

Benny throws what looks like five turkey pinwheels in his mouth at once and squashes her in a giant hug with a muffled, “We’d be woft wifout you Miff Tiwy,” causing us all to laugh. Of course, the men more huff than actually laugh, but you get the picture.

We stand around the kitchen, snacking and chatting with one another in one of the most relaxed conversations we’ve had in days, and it feels so good. We definitely need to be going for more runs if this is how it feels.

---