Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Saint wrapping himself around me feels like a soft, heat-generating cloud. His scent is familiar and comforting. The only thing that would be better would be Bronx and my limbs entangled.

The morning light intrudes in the room and crawls across my face. | stretch sleepily and find that | have a stiff neck and a chill around me. Saint must have adjusted positions at some point in the night because his fur cocoon is not forming a barrier of warmth around me. | tug on my blanket to cover myself better but it doesn't budge.

“Saint, you have a fur coat, stop hogging the blanket," | groan. ’

A pair of strong arms creates a cage around me, as if by instinct, and pulls me close to a hard chest. The familiar light snoring of Bronx against my ear sets my heart alight. "Bronx?" | whisper disbelief. | roll over in his arms so I'm facing him. His breath hitches a little but he continues the slow rhythmic breathing of sleep. | don't know when he shifted, but he is naked under the blanket. Could he have shifted in his sleep and not realize it or did he shift and crawl back onto the cot with me?

Something about him seems different. | gently caress the scruff on his chin and give his jaw a gentle kiss. | look closer at his features. Even in a relaxed state of sleep, he seems like a weight has been lifted off of him. The furrow of his brow is slightly lessened, making him look a bit younger. “See something you like?" he smirks with his eye still closed.

“Bronx, oh my Goddess," | burst into tears. | can't help it. The stress of the events from yesterday and last night are released all at once now that I'm in his arms.

“Baby, no, please don't cry," he opens his eye and sits up, pulling me into his lap to comfort me.

“You left, | needed you," | sob as he wipes my tears and rocks me in his arms.

“Shhh. I'm sorry, Kas. | was an asshole in so many ways yesterday. I'm so, so sorry. | should have been there. | shouldn't have walked away. | was wrong. | hope you can forgive me," he says as he pushes my hair out of my face. He puts his hand on one side of my face and kisses my temple on the other side.

to let you go right now. Give me a minute," he says as he pulls me tightly against his body and deeply breathes into my hair. |

checking Bronx's vitals and says he can be

doesn't over exert himself for the next few days. | still don't know what triggered his condition yesterday,” he says with concern in his

abilities?" he asks. His face is full of curiosity and

| did,”

convenient, | would love to observe when you

opportunity will arise

smiles

he is awake and moving around, the air of appearing to have an invisible

sit on the sofa, Baby. |

having to hold any information back

me about how scared he was when | wouldn't snap out of my vision and how hot my hands got. He told me how worried he was about the people standing in the hall and the guilt he felt for slapping me. Then he described his experience

opens up to anyone like this and he sounds so excited. Not just 0n the surface but deeper. A look of concern comes over his face when he describes his sudden shift, and how he wasn't able to communicate with Saint. He doesn't remember shifting back when he was in the hospital wing, so it

he doesn't remember how to communicate with me. Like our connection is three quarters complete," Bronx explains. When I'm sure he's done, | reply to him, "Well, | know someone who is getting pretty good at healing werewolves. If you're interested, | could get you

"I already discussed this with the doctor. I'm going to try to see if the wolf therapist can help him first. If he doesn't have any luck, then you can root around in my brain. Now it's your turn. Spill.

refuses to use my words but | remember them very well, ‘Saint killed me.’ | sigh deeply and avert my eyes, “I, um, Delilah asked me not to discuss it with you until she is able to speak with Lady Camille t0 try to find a way to stop

Kas, th-the way you