Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Kas's POV

Bronx looks like a swamp monster as he walks towards me with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I stand up when I see him, putting my hands over my mouth with a little gasp.

We make eye contact. With all the mud, I can't read his expression, but I can feel his pain. Not physical pain, emotional pain.

"IT need you," he growls as he walks past Milo and Lenora. He leans over, wraps his muddy arms around my waist, and picks me up. He doesn't even break his stride. He just keeps walking. There's a squishing sound where his skin contacts my clothes. Welp, I guess this outfit is done for.

After listening to everything Milo and Lenora just told me, I had no idea what reaction to expect when Bronx got back, but it certainly wasn't being thrown over the shoulder of a swamp monster.

"Uh, bye guys. Thanks for the talk," I wave at Milo and Lenora. They wave back with confused looks on their faces.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Bronx?" I ask as he climbs the stairs.

He just grunts as he carries me, wrapping his arms around my legs in a tight bear hug up the stairs to the fifth floor. Instead of going to my suite, he opens the door to his apartment and kicks it closed behind him. He carries me all the way to his bedroom and sits me on the edge of the bed. Instead of sitting up and looking at me, he lays his muddy head next to my hip, his heavy, muddy chest is in my lap, and his arms still tightly around my waist.

I smooth his muddy hair as he silently holds on to me as if his life is depending on it. Ican feel his emotions, he feels tormented. Maybe his life does depend on it? I feel helpless seeing him like this.

sweetheart, please talk to me. Please. Whatever it is, I'll listen," I

through him. My eyes

slide off the bed, into his lap, and lean against him. He puts his head against my shoulder and continues to cry. He shakes his head back and forth as he sobs. His whole chest heaves as he whimpers and tries to catch his breath. We sit like this for some time until he starts to calm down. It's clear this reaction isn't just because of witches. This is built up stress that he's been holding on to for a long time. I feel a twinge

a big baby, he won't look at me. He lifts his face to the ceiling, stopping me from seeing his tears but it's my turn to wipe tears away. Well, tears and mud, but you get the idea. I press on his chin gently, pushing his face down so he is looking at me square in the face. It's the first time I've seen him with no eyepatch. At first glance, it was a bit jarring to see a long vertical scar where an eye should be.

tone as I caress his cheek, "Please don't hide from me. I can take care of you just as much as you d o for

onto you, Kas. You've been through enough. This is my burden and mine alone. I just-I don't

and nail to keep witches and other creatures off of my territory. That bitch didn't just take my

to do what's best for you but I also need to do what's best for the pack, and right now those things are conflicting. I'm not just an Alpha, I'm an Alpha Regent. The word of my decision will get out

until his breathing settles. We're both going to need showers after this. "T bet that smells like nothing but mud," I joke, trying to lighten the mood. I'm also trying to stall until I figure out how I should reply to

The sounds of crying fading from his voice. "Coffee and dark chocolate, it's almost like a mochaccino," I giggle. He

pull him away again so I can look him in the eye, "Bronx, next

I am. We're supposed to be in this together, right? This is not just you and only you. This is you and me as a team. I'm here to support you in all things and if I'm going to be Luna someday, it's also my responsibility to keep the pack safe. We can talk through these sorts of things if you just speak to me instead of walking away. Besides, I would never want you to make a decision that would

to say something in anger that would push you away or make

a lot of healing to do, but I'm working on it. Who knows, maybe I'll never be fully

pull him toward me until our lips touch. Lex is going bonkers in my mind as I pepper his lips with little kisses, each kiss a little longer than the