Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

| doze off at some point because | hear a rustling sound. | jump up with a start to see Bronx trying to get out of bed.

"Oh no, Buster," | scold, "back in bed."

"| gotta pee, Kas,” Bronx whines at me.

"Okay, well hold it for just a second," | push the call button for the nurse.

| hear a little voice come over the intercom on the wall and ask them to send a male nurse to help. Cause Hell if I'm letting a female nurse help him. The nurse comes in quickly and helps Bronx to the bathroom. When he is back in bed and we are alone again, he reaches his hand out to me.

"You look so beautiful right now, Kas. Please come here, Baby, let me breathe you in," his eye looks a little glassy. | am sure the pain medicine is influencing his words, but smile at him anyway.

| crawl up on the bed but | don't let him wrap his arms around me yet, "Before that, let me see if | can heal you more. Lean back."

He obeys and | put my hands on him. It is much less effort to heal him this time, “ There. They should be able to stop giving you pain medication now."

"| already feel it working. Thank you, Kas," he puts his hand on my forearm before I’m able to take my hand off his chest. | feel the familiar sparks where he touches me. | close my eyes and take a deep breath, reminding myself that he and | have a lot to discuss. | look at him in that gorgeous Granny Smith apple green eye of his and do something | never thought | would in my life. | take control of the situation and stand up to my mate, Alpha Regent Bronx Mason.

"Bronx, | spent time thinking about what you said. Not gonna lie, Sweetheart, I'm still pissed but here's what | have to say in return, "| take the note card out of my back pocket. "You brought notes?" he asks with a knit brow. 3

"I've got a lot to say, so just hear me out. | will give you time to speak too. Don't worry," | say, then look down at my little card.

make feel like an equal partner to lead this pack. You treat me like I'm too fragile to take on responsibilities. That couldn't be

pause to keep my composure. | swallow hard before | continue, cause | know the next part is going to sting

treat me badly. You treated me badly and you knew you were doing it. You wanted me to feel that way to ailenate

at the comparison to Alpha Graham but doesn't try to

between us and for the record, | really, really want this to work, then we are equal in all things, Bronx. You don't get to make decisions about me without talking to me. When you have meetings related to the pack or Elder Council business, I'm involved, moving forward. I'll help you make decisions that affect all of us because this is my pack too. I'm by your side every time as the Luna Regent of Blood River...not to mention a goddess. I'm not sure how that fits in the title, but we can figure it out for the business cards. If you think it is something | won't understand, then teach me. Educate me, Bronx. | want to

give him a

me a nod of understanding that he deserved my words and was willing to

to start training me regularly. Not just so | can defend myself but enough so | can start eventually train with the pack. I’m not asking your permission here, I’m telling you. Lex is a warrior. It is not fair to her to hold her back from being who she truly is. | love her so much and what happened the other day shows how much she’s struggling too. She needs an outlet to channel her energy just like any other wolf. Besides, I'm a hypocrite if,

face and kisses my palm before placing it on the side of his stubbly face. | feel my resolve

own income. | don't want to have to ask your permission every time | want to buy something for

it for the long haul. You're my guy and | don’t want that to change. | love you with every fiber of my being.

my little notecard down and look at him. “So what do you

looks me over, thinking how to respond. | just threw a lot at him, so! give

completely underestimated you. You have done every single thing | have ever asked you to do. You have put yourself so far out of your comfort zone. Coming here, trusting strangers when life has given you every reason not to, going to a witches’ coven to train, learning to manage your abilities, all of it. You are smart and quick and so much stronger than anyone gives you credit for, including

thinking carefully about

have done to you, Kas. | don't deserve it. All | can do is give you my word and | mean it this time. It isn’t an empty promise that | have not thought about. As your mate, as your Alpha, | will never, ever put you in a position that makes you feel inadequate or unappreciated again. | will never put you in a situation that makes you feel dependent on

track with your bakery. But in exchange for the bakery, | want you to do one thing for me. | want you t0 finish high school. Get your diploma. | will get you a tutor for your classes. It is one thing to be

Moving forward, | will treat you as my equal. | will help you be more independent. | will even stand out of the

grin at the last part. There is something humorous about the thought of being on the training mat,