Page 3 of My Pucking Life

Alpha, you don't have to thank me for this, not this, but yes, this time I would feel more comfortable if one of your strapping young men could join us.

Slate, please accompany Jeanine and the others to make sure they're safe. Meet with Brutus and ensure the pack is prepared for the possibility of an attack. I want security on high alert. I don't think we need to relocate them; this seemed to be a targeted attack.

Yes, Boss.

Meredith, I know you just got home, but we could really use you back at the townhouse. Slate is going to make sure that Jeanine and the others get home safely. You can either return with him or head that way.

I'll wait for Slate; better safe than sorry.

I caught Leera up on everything that I had just organized through the mind-link, and she nodded, nestling further into my embrace.

One flight, where I dozed off holding Leera while she slept, and a short car ride later, we're finally home.

We all walk through the doors in collective quiet, and Matilda comes scurrying towards us. I think she's going for Benny or me but skips us entirely and makes a beeline for Leera, wrapping her in a motherly hug that only she can provide. “Oh, my sweet dear, are you all right? Meredith got me caught up on everything,” she coos and attends to Leera's needs before throwing a look at me over her shoulder, “She said Slate would be there any minute and that they would head this way.”

Thank you, Matilda.

Leera sniffles and holds tighter to our little housekeeper. “I'll be okay, Miss Tilly, but you missed quite a bit. There's so much we learned, and there’s still so much more we don't even know.” She shakes her head like she still can't believe all the shit that keeps happening to her. Honestly, I can't either.

Matilda leads Leera, and therefore all of us, slowly towards the kitchen island, where I notice we suddenly have more barstool chairs than before. She catches me noticing and elaborates,Slate gave me a few heads up as well,she finishes, eyes darting briefly towards Khaos and the woman I'm supposed to believe is my sister.

Again, all I can offer is a nod. Words are just too much right now. The competing emotions are so strong that I fear if I open my mouth and begin voicing my concerns and frustrations, I won't be able to stop, and now is not the time for me to unravel. Leera needs me whole.

“Well, then, it sounds like we're in need of some extra sweet coffee and some snacks while you guys tell me all about everything.” She hadn't even finished her sentence when she began bustling around the room, gathering snacks.

I decide to help by making Leera one of those decadent iced coffees she loves. I found a new recipe on the Pinterest that everyone says is comparable to those café coffees. While I busy myself with preparing the espresso shot for her coffee, Leera also regains herself and moves into the kitchen. It's then that I realize that the act of enjoying the snacks and drinks themselves was not the only way to bring comfort. For Leera, she enjoys busying herself in the kitchen with Matilda regularly. It gives her mind something to do other than spiral and wander to places it doesn't need to be. She's working beside her now, swaying her hips unconsciously while she works, and you can see the muscles in her face relaxing and giving in to the unique form of therapy.

When the espresso machine finishes sputtering out my little mate's liquid gold, I combine it with the mixture of syrups and sauces I had delivered to recreate all her favorite coffees. With the coffee concoction thoroughly mixed, I pour it over ice in a tall, reusable Cool Beans Coffee tumbler that Leera had brought with her when she moved her stuff in.

While she's still working on making a massive snack spread with Matilda, I slowly step up behind her, grazing her lower back with my left hand as I lean around her right side to hand her the iced coffee. I watch intently as she tastes it, watching for any signs of disinterest; instead, her eyes light up, and she looks at me with her first real smile in far too long.

“Roman, that's so good! Where did you learn how to make this? I've never even been able to figure it out,” she huffs in mock irritation, her eyes brightening and sparkling up at me.

“A magician never reveals his secrets,” I whisper, kiss her on the temple, and return to my seat at the island with Benny, trying to avert my eyes from the woman who claims to be my sister.

I know I need to talk to her, but where do I even start? What do I even say? Everyone is so somber and quiet; it's weird. Even the twins are looking a little green. Benny looks a little duller than usual, but he'll be okay. Andrei is watching Leera with a worry line stretched across his forehead. Khaos andmy sister…are sitting on the furthest end of the island, not saying much.

“I—" I'm cut off by Leera's sweet voice.

“Okay, boys—oh, uh, and lady…girl…chick…We'll figure that out later—time to eat. Everyone eat all you need; we'll make more if we need to.” She smiles warmly at us all with a worry line, matching Andrei's, also stretched across her forehead. It's the Luna in her, wanting to take care of her people. Her family. Our family.

I extend my hand to her, and when she takes it, I pull her around the island and onto my lap.

“Roman, I can sit on my own,” she gasps.

“I know you can, but I like you right where you are. Now start eating.” I've already started piling food onto her plate. Small sandwiches, a scoop of the mixed fruit they had cut, a small salad, some crackers, and summer sausage. When her plate is towered with more food than she’ll probably be able to eat, I begin filling mine.

While everyone eats, the life and light slowly return to each person in the room. Benny's smile slowly grows. The twins look a little less green. Even Khaos looks a lot like he's found his hope that everything could be okay moving forward. Leera's infectious, peaceful presence settles around me. Andrei sighs, releasing some of the tension and worry tethered around his body. I try not to notice even the woman's face at the end of the table looks a little brighter.

Matilda's eyes catch mine as I survey the only people in all the realms that I care about, nodding with a sweet smile that says everything will be okay, and I allow myself a moment to believe it.

3

Not only did we make it through all of the first round of snacks that Miss Tilly and I made, but we refilled it twice before everyone had had their fill. While it all definitely helped brighten everyone's moods a minuscule amount, it was still a little somber and borderline uncomfortably quiet, but I know everyone is just trying to unpack everything we’ve encountered.

Now, we’re all sitting around, stomachs full and safe, but no one is breaking the growing silence.

“Okay, so…How about we all get some much-needed showers and rest? Then, we can all meet up in the morning to discuss everything”—I twist my head, my eyes meeting Roman’s before moving to our new guest from Khoas’ pack—“and make a plan to move forward.”

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