Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

I feel my blood start to boil but I know I need to keep my cool. All I can do is blink at her until I feel calm enough to speak. I unintentionally growl as I say, "Lady Camille, are you aware of my Luna's past? I have always promised her we will do everything at her pace. I won't mate with her if she isn't ready."

"Stand down, Alpha Regent Bronx Mason," as she says in a stern tone, using my full name and title, I feel a disorienting sensation cloud my mind, reminding me how powerful she is, "I'm aware that Luna Iokaste has had to endure experiences that were out of her control and we have been counseling her on how to handle her thoughts and emotions related to those events."

She stares at me for a long moment, then continues with a softer tone, "I recommend you find a way to give her that control back so you two can...enjoy yourselves. You don't need to have her back here until Sunday morning. The connection between you two and your wolf spirits is important. The emotional and the physical. It is very clear that the emotional portion is strong. Now it's time to focus on the physical. Also, she has been working very hard and deserves a break for the weekend."

She hands me a map, "We have a cottage in the woods. You can go here for privacy. All the food and clothing you two need is there. I don't know if you want your guards to go or not. It won't matter because the cottage will only be visible to you and Luna Iokaste. Once you're inside, they will believe you have sent them to an empty field."

What in the world is she talking about? A secret realm inside her secret realm?

"Alright, can I have this map?" I ask cordially. "Of course. I think we are finished here. Let me get you back so you can also prepare for the ceremony," as she hands it to me she touches my hand and we are back in the hallway with Marco.

"The ceremony starts in two and a half hours, gentlemen," Lady Camille bows and walks away.

"Come on Marco, I need you and James to scout out a location. I will stay here with Kas." Marco and James both come to my suite and I show them the map. I give them orders to scout the location, get pictures, and report back. We go to the gardens, they shift into their gray wolves and take off into the forest. An hour and a half later, they come back to my suite, showing me pictures from their cell phones.

"It's just an empty field, Alpha," James flips through the pictures on his phone. There are five or six pictures with a chalet-style cottage in the middle of a clearing in the woods. I look at him suspiciously.

"Marco, did you take pictures?" I ask, feeling myself growing impatient.

there's nothing there," he shrugs as he flips through his pictures of

There's clearly a cottage in the pictures," I growl at their not

his phone before holding up the picture again, "No disrespect, Alpha, but why would we do that? Empty clearing. Are you

can't see it. They really can't see

trust this, Bronx," Saint

let you spend time with Lex but I need you

he huffs, seeming satisfied to have

this clearing. Saint is going to check it out. If there is a problem, we will come back right away. If not, you are relieved until Sunday when we come back. If we are not back by Sunday morning, come back to this field

request you wear this for the ceremony. It will make it easier than having you undress when it is time to shift. We have arranged a platform in the gardens so everyone can watch

at James and blushes as she presses her lips together, then she turns around and skips down the

as

isn't she like a dream?" he asks with stars in

change into the robe then head to Kas's room. She's sitting in a chair in a white robe that matches mine. Several women are finishing up her makeup and hair. She looks stunning. She has on light,

woman says she will be back in twenty minutes to retrieve us for

out of

and I are so

are too," I kiss her forehead and sit in the chair next to her. We make small talk