Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

The first few days, I let myself wallow in my own misery, moping around the apartment. I don't even shower. I spend a lot of time on the balcony, letting cigarette butts pile up in the ashtray. When I can't stand the silence anymore, I throw myself into work. I get to the office by seven in the morning and leave after eleven at night every day. After three days, I realize Carly is working the same hours to try to keep up and looks exhausted. I let her know she doesn't need to stay the long hours I do, she can work her regular hours. She seems relieved and grateful. Milo and Lenora distract me over the weekend with movies and shopping. I don't need anything for myself but I picked up some kitchen gadgets for Kas as winter solstice gifts. On day eleven, I woke up ready to train. Saint has the itch to spar, which is bad news for my sparring partners. * I get to the training grounds and let the trainers know to queue warriors up so I can burn some energy. They already know what to do when I'm in a mood like this. They pair up experienced warriors and triple up new trainees to spar against me.

 

I burn through all the pairs until I get to Milo and Reggie. They're the only warriors that are an actual challenge for me, the others are just warm-ups.

 

"Ready or not, here we come!" Milo teases. They lunge at me simultaneously. Milo to my upper body, Reggie to my lower body. I lean back and roll, bringing both of them with meas I fall. [hop up from the roll, facing them. They pop up ready to lunge again.

 

Ding.

 

[hear a little bell. No one around me seems to acknowledge the sound. I stand up from my defensive stance, looking around confused, just as Milo throws a vicious right hook.

 

I fall to the ground like a ton of bricks. I can hear gasps around the ring.

 

"Bronx, are you okay, man? You didn't even defend yourself!" Milo runs over, picking me u p off the ground.

 

"I-I got distracted," I say, more to myself than Milo.

 

"Saint, did you hear a bell?"

 

"Yeah, but where did it come from?" he sounds a bit dazed.

 

Ding.

 

The sound chimes again but this time it feels like it vibrates my bones making me feel dizzy. The smell of fresh rain and lilacs fills my nose.

 

"Kas?" A sharp pain rips through my head. I press my palms to my temples and grimace, " Kas is that you, Baby?"

 

“Bronx, Kas isn't here, she's in France," Reggie's face appears in front of me looking worried.

 

Ding.

 

to feel disoriented and nauseous. Oh Goddess, I'm gonna puke. I lean

 

Ding.

 

me so hard that I fall to

 

guys don't hear that

 

Alpha," the trainer is looking into my eye now, "follow my

 

Ding.

 

vision is spinning wildly now. I fall forward onto my hands before my vision fades

 

2 kK

 

head is throbbing. Nothing a little aspirin won't fix. Otherwise, I feel fine. Milo is in a chair on the other side of the room with Lenora

 

"Saint what happened?"

 

bell sound did something to

 

"Are you okay?"

 

been through worse. Time to get

 

is dangerous. That's when you're most vulnerable. That's when body parts disappear. We need to assess the treatment we need and keep moving.

 

swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand up. My legs are a little shaky, but a couple of

 

use Lenora's childhood nickname

 

open slowly, then

 

herself at me for

 

big yawn, " See Sugar, I told you he'd be

 

was out all day! That was a Hell of a punch, Milo. But don't worry, payback's a bitch," I chuckle. Milo stands up and

 

you weren't out for a

 

doctor and a nurse come in, " Alpha Bronx, please sit down so we can

 

chair next to the bed while the

 

your mate's scent?" He looks concerned, "Alpha,

for thirty-six hours." "Thirty-six hours! What the fuck are you talking about?" I jump up from the seat, startling the nurse, "I have to leave to see Kas! You can scan my brain when I get back, doc." "Now

 

is waiting for me with fresh clothes, my suitcase already packed, and all my travel documents. "Be safe, Bronx. You're the only big brother I have and

 

you, Leni. You're the best," I praise her and give