Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Daughters of the Moon Goddess – Prologue Kas’s POV 

“Are you sure about this?” my wolf Elexis asks when the timer on the oven goes off.

“Absolutely,” I say confidently, “I refuse to be a prisoner in our own home, Lex.”

I pull the cupcakes out of the oven. Carrot cake caramel – I’ve been experimenting to perfect the recipe for my bakery for weeks so we can add it to the fall menu. The little browned mounds of cake finally look perfect and smell like heaven. I set them on the cooling rack and make a few notes in my notebook before I go get a shower.

I choose my outfit carefully, a loose, casual dress I can quickly remove with slip-on shoes. Once I’m changed, I check myself in the mirror. I don’t look out of place. People won’t notice anything strange. Satisfied with what I see, I go back to the kitchen and put a thick layer of cinnamon cream cheese icing on the cupcakes. I add orange and gold sprinkles for effect.

Sunday is usually my lazy day. It’s the day my mate Bronx and I stay in the apartment. We do that so my guards can have the day off and so he and I get to spend time together, but since m y birthday a little over a month ago, Bronx has decided he has more important things to do than spend time with me. 2

What important things, you ask? Who knows? He won’t tell me. He just says he needs time

alone with the guys. Which guys, you ask? Who knows? He won’t tell me that either. For the past five weeks, he leaves on Sunday morning and doesn’t come back until after dinner as if it were no big deal. 1

Sorry, I’m being rude. I should introduce myself before I complain too much about my life. My name is Kas Mason. I have been the Luna Regent of the Blood River werewolf pack in Montana for a little over a year now.

Bronx hasn’t really been treating me like a Luna lately though, more like an afterthought and I am getting pretty sick of it. I tried to talk to him about it. I really did, but he brushed me off. H e just rolled his eyes at me and walked away, muttering something about always nagging at him.

Not only has he been leaving me alone on the one day of the week we get to spend together, he has also put a substitute guard on duty outside the apartment door. And on top of all that, the guard has orders: I’m not allowed to leave the apartment unsupervised. If I leave, the guard needs to tell Bronx where I am headed.

It’s such bullshit. It’s not like I’m a child. I don’t even need a guard anymore. I mean, I used t o, but I’m much stronger now than when the guards were first assigned to protect me.

What does Bronx really think is going to happen while I’m in our apartment inside the packhouse, anyway? It’s not that I don’t like Tyree. He is a great guard and a fearsome warrior,

but it’s just stupid that he needs to be out there when Bronx should be in here with me

I smooth my clothes and open the apartment door.

“Is everything alright, Luna?” Tyree asks with a concerned look on his face.

“Oh yeah, no problem, Tyree,” I smile innocently at him, “I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to try another cupcake? Be my taste tester since the Alpha isn’t here? I think I have perfected the recipe this time.”

“Of course, Luna,” his dark eyes brighten at the offer of food as he smiles back.

“Great! You always give the best critiques of my baking.” I hand him a plate with three cupcakes on it, “Dig in! I just want to grab my notebook so I can write down your feedback.”

“I’m happy I can help. Thank you so much, Luna,” he nods, raising the cupcake toward me like a beer mug

I open the apartment door just as he takes a big bite of the little cake. I let energy build in my hand, making a slight violet aura form around it, and curl my fingers into a fist. Everything around me becomes deathly still. I look back to see Tyree frozen in time, mid-bite.

Perfect. I have half an hour before the effect wears off.

being able to stop time. If it’s just one person, like poor unsuspecting Tyree, for example, it can last for more than half a n hour. If it’s a large group of people, I can only hold it for about five minutes

me. As I race to the wood line, I pull my clothes off so I don’t waste time. I pile them

inky black fur and bolts

find him?” Lex

it. That’s between me and Bronx,” I huff

she replies in a sing-song tone, “Oh! I caught his

line of the Blood River and there he is, hanging out with his buddies. He is laughing, smoking, and drinking beer like he doesn’t have

on with him lately, but sneaking out to drink and smoke, that’s just wrong,” she snarls, “I thought for sure he was hunting rogues and

“Shift, Lex.”

we don’t have any clothes. Those other guys will

care. I want to talk to him, so

tone in her voice before she lets me shift

out of the woods, naked as the day I was born, and make a

my scent and turns to face me with a shocked

no clothes on. He stands up and strides toward me. His surprise turns to anger

for other wolves to see you right before and after you shift, but standing around with no clothes o n is a different story. Wolves have a tendency to get protective when their mates naked, so covering yourself

mouth as he grabs me by the upper arm and pulls

should be the one asking you that, Saint! And don’t grab me like that! You’re hurting me!”I growl dangerously at him, yanking my arm away.

his arms and stares

you doing? Let me talk to

what I’m doing. Why isn’t Tyree watching you?” he snarls, avoiding

and snarl back

eye flicker back to green as Bronx takes control back from his wolf. “Kas, you need t o leave right

control him and treat me like that? I can’t believe this man or his

escort me because you should b e AT HOME, not out here smoking and drinking! You know you shouldn’t be out here, otherwise you would be at the packhouse doing

KAS! GO HOME,” he

just comply, Kas. Let’s get out of here. Please. It’s not worth arguing with him when he’s clearly been

off and

up the shoes, putting them on as I run back up to my apartment. Tyree is still frozen in place, mid cupcake

cinnamon in the frosting really makes it perfect.” Tyree nods

you like it!” I smile brightly. “Well, you can

you again, Luna,” he dutifully responds, “I’ll

so they won’t sense it. They already know how unhappy I’ve been with Bronx lately. They always tell me to come to them if I

hear them respond almost

I just wanted to let you know I figured out a new strategy.

Bronx’s POV

trying to spy on us,” Saint growls in my mind as we watch Lex run

now and then. She needs to stay in her lane and just calm down,” I half-heartedly agree with my wolf. I can feel his emotions influencing me, making me annoyed with our mate. He’s been doing that a lot

talking to you in front of the pack members? Our friends?! She’s gonna pay for that!” Saint’s anger grows,