Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

| run the water in the huge bathtub. Kas comes in with a sachet full of fragrant herbs and spreads them

in the water. As they touch the surface, they sizzle and disappear, turning the water a deep aqua green.

| step in first, then help her in.

Kas sits behind me and gently pours water down my back, being careful not to touch my wounds with

her hands. The initial sting gives way to a cooling feeling. My skin immediately feels relief causing me

to audibly groan.

"Now this is some magic | can get into," | sigh. ;

Kas giggles behind me, "These witches know a thing or two about healing, huh?"

We adjust our positions so she is sitting in front of me. | move her braided hair out of the way and use

the cup to pour the water over her back. The sight of her wounds makes my heart clench.

"Oh, Baby, this is terrible," | don't even realize | say it out loud.

"It was worth it, Bronx. It isn't any worse than what | have experienced before," she turns her head

slightly back toward me and says with a slight hitch in her voice.

"Never again," | don't know if | am saying it to her, to myself, or to her mother the Moon Goddess

herself, but | mean it.

Kas sighs with relief as the water cascades down her back. | watch as the redness recedes into her

skin and the swelling visibly wanes.

She finally turns around to face me, resting her forehead on mine and intertwining our fingers. The

sparks of our mate bond were weaker without Saint and Lex but the welcoming glow of our connection

gently shines from where our hands touch.

She leans back slightly and looks me in the eye. She seems to stumble over her words a little, not sure

where to begin, "You know how | told you that when we're together, our spirits become more and more

connected?” “Yeah, | remember, Baby," | caress my fingers against her cheek as | admire her beautiful

face.

“Well, what | didn't get to tell you is that Lady Camille believes this is something new. We probably

weren't able to connect like this in our past lives. Think of it as...h>mmm... evolution? | guess?" the look

on her face is complicated, like she isn't sure if she's explaining it right.

“Mmm, okay. So every time we have sex, our spirits become a little closer to being one spirit?" | smirk.

She giggles and shakes her head at me.

“So yes, it is like two spirits where the edges are blurred and you can't tell where one ends and the

other begins, but when you stand back, you can see there are actually two," she explains pointing back

and forth between us. A little smirk comes to her face as she continues, "And | told you before,

deepening our connection doesn't always have to be when we're having sex. Just when things are

emotionally charged, good or bad.”

“| mean, my memory isn't photographic or anything. That is the part | remember the most. But in all

seriousness, it's like when we first introduced you to the pack and our hands started to glow or when

you have a premonition," | nod in understanding. | think | finally grasp the concept, hopefully that's

close enough.

“Exactly. Just like that. Meeting the pack was one of the happiest moments of my life. And that moment

helped us get that much closer, "she confirms pinching her finger and thumb almost together in front of

her eye. A smile graces her gorgeous face as she remembers that day.

“When you were kidnapped, your spirit instinctively reached out to me for help because of the

connection. | felt there was something wrong, but since the connection iS$ new; it's not that strong yet.

The sensation it creates is still limited. The only thing |

could think to do was to figure out where you were and see if you were okay. | had to send my spirit out

of my body. I've never sent it that far before to connect with you like that. Not on purpose, anyway," she

shrugs. | think she is referring to the bell incident, but | don't interrupt.

“When my spirit found yours, you were on the cusp of death, Bronx. You were in the place between life

and death that my spirit shouldn't have tried to go. It goes against nature. | got to a point where |

couldn't go anymore, so | had to just call for you and

lead you toward me. When | felt you getting closer, | was able to send healing energy out to you. The

closer | got to you, the more your injuries were passed to me. It completely drained me because my

physical body was injured too. As | got weaker, | was losing my anchor to this world. Then, | saw the

image of the church and came back to my body. | told everyone what | saw. | don't really remember

much after that.” :

Tears are rolling down her face. | wipe them away and give her a gentle kiss. Holding her head in my

hands. | look into her beautiful eyes when a realization hits me.

Shit.

“So | did this to you?" | feel my brow knit as the words form.

"What?"

"You got hurt because | got hurt. | promised you no one would ever hurt you again, Kas but it was me.

You got hurt because of me,” Anger washes over me like acid. | have nowhere to direct it to but myself.

If Saint was here, he would call me a dummy. I'm sure of it.

"No, Bronx. | got hurt because | did something stupid. | extended myself too far without knowing what |

was doing. You're not allowed to blame yourself for my recklessness,” she sounds upset with herself

now. >

"You sacrificed for me. You saved me, Kas. You are the most selfless person | know. Thank you. | don't

know what to say other than | love you. With everything | have, Kas Latmus, | love you,” | look into her

eyes. | meant every syllable of what | just said. | never thought | would say it to anyone. She has

changed my entire world, my entire outlook on life.

“| love you too, Bronx Mason," she smiles sweetly at me. There is no doubt in her eyes. | lean forward

and give her full lips a gentle kiss. One full of promise and love.

Her breath hitches as she continues. She starts to cry silent tears again, "Bronx, w-we need to get Lex

and Saint back. | can't stand this emptiness.”

“Okay, tell me what we need to do. I'll do whatever you tell me to, Kas. | need them back just as badly

as you do.”

“I-I think we have to live without them for a while as we heal and get stronger. Our connection to each

other helps us heal just like our wolves do. The closer we are, the faster our physical bodies heal, and |

think it will help bring them back from wherever they are.”

| nod with determination, "Okay. Let's get home to Blood River, and get to healing. We'll figure out how

to get our wolves back."

"That sounds great," she smiles and leans against my chest with a sigh.

"Hello? Alpha, Luna?” Milo calls out from the bedroom.

"We're in the tub, Milo. Please send Delilah and Lady Camille to check on our wounds. We will be out

in just a minute,” | call out.

"Sure thing, man."

| wait until we hear the door close behind him before | step out of the tub and wrap a towel around my

waist. | help Kas out and grab her robe. She stands so | can slide it over her shoulders. | gently spin

her back around and put it on her backward. °

"| don't want to hurt your back, Baby. This will let Lady Camille take a look."

She giggles her sweet as honey laugh and puts her arms through the sleeves.

| help Kas put on pajama bottoms and lay on her stomach across the bed. | grab the stool from the

makeup vanity and sit next to her. We're whispering words meant only for the other to hear, holding

hands, and giving each other sweet little kisses when Delilah and Lady Camille come in.

“I'm glad to see you're feeling better,” Lady Camille smiles at our display of affection. She and Delilah

check our injuries and

decide to only put a salve on them, no dressings. Delilah hands Kas an oversized shirt. It is loose and

comfortable on her. Milo comes in with James and tosses me one of his shirts.

Kas tells the witches about our wolves and her theory as to how to get them to come back. Lady

Camille agrees but will do more research to see if she can find any more info that will be helpful. She

discusses ways Delilah can keep track of our wolves’ progress and finally gives Kas tips on ways to

conserve and focus her energy.

"Luna lokaste, it has been a pleasure training you. As we have agreed, | will see you every six months,

but you are welcome to come as often as you'd like," Lady Camille addresses Kas warmly.

"Thank you, Lady Camille. | owe everything to you," Kas replies with a beautiful, loving smile.

| stand up and take Lady Camille's hand. | give it a quick kiss, "I'm forever indebted to you, Lady

Camille."

"Keep my daughter safe and your debt is paid, Alpha Bronx Mason," she pinches my cheek and turns

to Delilah with outstretched arms. Delilah gives her a deep hug.