Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 9

Bronx’s POV

Mrs. Miller, our head chef, has her staff bring burgers and fries out to the garden gazebo next to the pool. I didn’t even have to ask, she knows it’s my favorite comfort food combination. She even adds a cup of chocolate pudding on my plate like she did when I was a little kid. It all looks and smells delicious, but I have no appetite.

I just feel numb inside. All I can think about is Kas. Her mesmerizing violet eyes that practically glow and her glittery silver hair that she always fusses over, even though I think it always looks perfect. Her sweet laugh that makes my heart beat faster every time I hear it. And the adorable little growl she lets out when she’s frustrated about a recipe she’s testing doesn’t come out the way she wants. What if I never get to see her beautiful face or get to hold her in my arms again? What if I never get to hear that giggle or her melodic voice call my name again? Will the last memory I have of her be losing my temper?

Goddess, help me.

I’m not sure how long I sit there staring at the uneaten food. It may have been five minutes or five hours. Eventually, Milo moves my plate away and sits down beside me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I rub my hands across my face and sigh with a frustrated growl when I feel his hand on my shoulder. I look at the ground, avoiding his gaze. I can’t bear to look him in the eye right now.

“Bronx, we’re gonna find her. You gotta have faith,” he reassures me, “It feels like you're giving up, man. Asking for help is not defeat. Think of it more like pulling together additional troops.”

“Milo’s right. You didn’t feel your mate bond break, and we didn’t feel our pack bond break with Kas.

She’s alive out there, Bronx. We just have to figure out where. Knowing Kas, she is fighting for her life to get back to you,” Reggie chimes in.

I look up at his icy blue eyes when he mentions Kas by name, and he continues, “Reaching out to the human media outlets is the right thing to do. Think about it. After your honeymoon and how successful the bakery has been, everyone knows who she is, anyway. Ashley says the paparazzi have already started theorizing on their websites why she hasn’t been at work all week.” “Cut it out, Reggie. You know she hates that kind of attention,” I sigh helplessly.

with it. No offense, but Kas sticks out like a sparkly silver thumb in a crowd of pinkies. Someone has to know where

of this as a

say is, we need you to fight for your mate. Your Luna. Our Luna. This is not the warrior Bronx we all know and cower from. You need to get mad. We want the moody, growly, settle for nothing less than perfection, ruthless Alpha leader we

talks as he gets excited, “You need to be the guy people aren’t afraid to be afraid of, because they all know they had better be. Be the powder keg people are worried about standing too close to. Whoever has

from my Beta when I am unsure of myself. In their own eccentric way, he and Reggie always know how to give me the best pep talks. I’m grateful to have them at moments like this. “you guys are right,” I say. Their little sermon has worked because something inside my

“Enough with the pity party. I need to go upstairs and pick out a suit and figure out what I want to say

my boy,” Milo says, clapping me on the back with a huge smile, “Wear one of the eye

did when I came

laughs, “Come on, let's get these dishes

collect the plates to take back to the kitchen. I already know I’m going

gazebo, the energy in the air changes, like it’s supercharged with electricity. The hairs on the back

you feel that?” I ask Milo and Reggie, making sure I'm not going crazy. I feel my fangs and claws extend as Saint

and claws extended. They take defensive stances. Standing guard in front of me in case there is a surprise attack. My heart begins pounding in my chest, causing me to stumble forward. The plates fall to the ground, shattering into a

wrong?!” Milo growls, looking around for

I groan, clutching my chest as

mate,” Saint whimpers as he paces in my