Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

| doze off at some point because | hear a rustling sound. | jump up with a start to see Bronx trying to

get out of bed.

"Oh no, Buster," | scold, "back in bed."

"| gotta pee, Kas,” Bronx whines at me.

"Okay, well hold it for just a second," | push the call button for the nurse.

| hear a little voice come over the intercom on the wall and ask them to send a male nurse to help.

Cause Hell if I'm letting a female nurse help him. The nurse comes in quickly and helps Bronx to the

bathroom. When he is back in bed and we are alone again, he reaches his hand out to me.

"You look so beautiful right now, Kas. Please come here, Baby, let me breathe you in," his eye looks a

little glassy. | am sure the pain medicine is influencing his words, but smile at him anyway.

| crawl up on the bed but | don't let him wrap his arms around me yet, "Before that, let me see if | can

heal you more. Lean back."

He obeys and | put my hands on him. It is much less effort to heal him this time, “ There. They should

be able to stop giving you pain medication now."

"| already feel it working. Thank you, Kas," he puts his hand on my forearm before I’m able to take my

hand off his chest. | feel the familiar sparks where he touches me. | close my eyes and take a deep

breath, reminding myself that he and | have a lot to discuss. | look at him in that gorgeous Granny

Smith apple green eye of his and do something | never thought | would in my life. | take control of the

situation and stand up to my mate, Alpha Regent Bronx Mason.

"Bronx, | spent time thinking about what you said. Not gonna lie, Sweetheart, I'm still pissed but here's

what | have to say in return, "| take the note card out of my back pocket. "You brought notes?" he asks

with a knit brow. 3

"I've got a lot to say, so just hear me out. | will give you time to speak too. Don't worry," | say, then look

down at my little card.

“Bronx, the members of this pack call me Luna and you get upset when you feel like they're

disrespectful of the Luna title but when it comes down to it, you're the one who doesn't treat me like a

Luna. You don't make feel like an equal partner to lead this pack. You treat me like I'm too fragile to

take on responsibilities. That couldn't be further from the truth. Before the fire, | was hitting my stride,

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feeling like | finally belonged somewhere and that | was valued here. Then it all went south and | didn’t

understand why. Everyone turned on me, shunned me, and made me feel isolated and alone. Even

you... especially you.” '

| pause to keep my composure. | swallow hard before | continue, cause | know the next part is going to

sting for both of us.

“| know you thought you were doing the right thing, but you took everything away from me without really

thinking it through. You could have just spoken to me. We could have spoken to Lady Camille. You

coerced people who care about me to treat me badly. You treated me badly and you knew you were

doing it. You wanted me to feel that way to ailenate me. You wanted to hurt me, Bronx. How does that

make you different from the last guy who was my Alpha?" °

He winces at the comparison to Alpha Graham but doesn't try to interrupt.

"If this is going to work between us and for the record, | really, really want this to work, then we are

equal in all things, Bronx. You don't get to make decisions about me without talking to me. When you

have meetings related to the pack or Elder Council business, I'm involved, moving forward. I'll help you

make decisions that affect all of us because this is my pack too. I'm by your side every time as the

Luna Regent of Blood River...not to mention a goddess. I'm not sure how that fits in the title, but we can

figure it out for the business cards. If you think it is something | won't understand, then teach me.

Educate me, Bronx. | want to know all of it. The good and the bad." ’

| give him a questioning look.

"Please continue, Kas," he says, giving me a nod of understanding that he deserved my words and

was willing to listen.

“I've already talked to James and Marco. They're going to start training me regularly. Not just so | can

defend myself but enough so | can start eventually train with the pack. I’m not asking your permission

here, I’m telling you. Lex is a warrior. It is not fair to her to hold her back from being who she truly is. |

love her so much and what happened the other day shows how much she’s struggling too. She needs

an outlet to channel her energy just like any other wolf. Besides, I'm a hypocrite if, as their leader, |

expect the pack to train but | don't.” ”

| finally let him take my hand. He pulls it to his face and kisses my palm before placing it on the side of

his stubbly face. | feel my resolve soften, but | take another deep breath and continue.

“And don't think | forgot about your offer to help me start a bakery. | want a way to have my own

income. | don't want to have to ask your permission every time | want to buy something for myself or

feel like I'm being a drain on the pack. | want to be able to set an example for other pack members.

Show them anyone can do it and everyone should try.

“If these are all things that you can get behind and agree with, then I’m here. I’m in it for the long haul.

You're my guy and | don’t want that to change. | love you with every fiber of my being. | love Saint too. |

want to be by your side every day for the rest of our lives, no, for the rest of all of our lives. Not just this

one."

| put my little notecard down and look at him. “So what do you say?”

He looks me over, thinking how to respond. | just threw a lot at him, so! give him as much time as he

needs.

“I-I think you're right. You're right about all of it. [have completely underestimated you. You have done

every single thing | have ever asked you to do. You have put yourself so far out of your comfort zone.

Coming here, trusting strangers when life has given you every reason not to, going to a witches’ coven

to train, learning to manage your abilities, all of it. You are smart and quick and so much stronger than

anyone gives you credit for, including me. Physically and mentally. | haven't allowed the pack to see the

real you and | will be eternally regretful that | have put everyone in that position. This pack deserves a

Luna like you, Kas. You are kind and selfless. You bring joy to everyone.”

He stops and sighs, thinking carefully about his next words.

“| don’t know how you could possibly forgive me for what | have done to you, Kas. | don't deserve it. All

| can do is give you my word and | mean it this time. It isn’t an empty promise that | have not thought

about. As your mate, as your Alpha, | will never, ever put you in a position that makes you feel

inadequate or unappreciated again. | will never put you in a situation that makes you feel dependent on

other people unless that’s what you want." °

“We will get things back on track with your bakery. But in exchange for the bakery, | want you to do one

thing for me. | want you t0 finish high school. Get your diploma. | will get you a tutor for your classes. It

is one thing to be a successful business owner but if you want to set an example, you need to set it for

everyone. Especially the youth of our pack. That's what leaders do. Lead by example. | am the first to

admit that | need to do better at that. :

“If you communicate with me, | will listen, always, and honor your wishes to the best of my ability.

Moving forward, | will treat you as my equal. | will help you be more independent. | will even stand out

of the way so you can effectively train...but don’t think | won't want to spar with my mate on the training

mat when you're ready and I’m not going to take it easy on you.”

| grin at the last part. There is something humorous about the thought of being on the training mat,

grappling with him.

“| love you Kas Latmus. | never want to lose you. | never want to have to live without you. | wish | could

say | was as selfless as you, but I’m not. I'm selfish. | just want you to be all mine. But if | have to share

you with the members of our pack, then | will do it. Begrudgingly but | will do it.

“Please stay with me forever. Help me become a better man. Help Saint be a better wolf. | think the

only thing for me to ask you one more time...Kas Latmus, will you marry me?”

His face turns into a small pout and he hoids up his pinky to show my engagement ring just below his

first knuckle.

“Oh Bronx! Yes, yes | will!” | clap my hands to my cheeks in surprise.

He takes my left hand off the side of my face and slides the ring back onto my finger. | feel the tears

pricking my eyes but they are happy tears now. Bronx pulls me toward him and wraps his arms around

me. | close my eyes, but | can feel the warm glow of our connection surrounding us.

We spend the rest of the afternoon snuggling and enjoying the comfort of each other’s company.

Several guests come in, Milo and Lenora, Reggie and Ashley, even Delilah is allowed in the room with

James. | pull her to the side and apologize for how | behaved. She gives me a huge hug and promises

she will never let anyone come between our friendship again.

Much to Bronx's dismay, the doctor makes him stay in the hospital wing for another two days. He did

die, after all. Even if he has already been healed by a goddess, they have protocols. Bronx grumbles

and complains, but does as he is told.

He is finally released and we make our way to our apartment, hand in hand. He opens the door to

people cheering and howling loudly “ SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME!!”

He clutches his heart momentarily at the start but then smiles as he looks around the room and sees

the people he loves the most, his parents and sister, Milo, Reggie, and Ashley. | also invited Marco,

James, and Delilah. They were as much a part of our family as anyone else.

Ashley comes rushing forward when she sees the surprise on Bronx’s face, “Bronx, is this okay? | tried

to keep it as low key as possible.”

We look around and realize Ashley had gone completely over the top with decorations. Streamers,

balloons, and a giant banner that says “Welcome Back, Bronx!” plastered on the wall.

Bronx just chuckles, “It’s fine Ashley. It’s subtle, real subtle, just like | like my surprises.”