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.

I'm too fragile to take on responsibilities. That couldn't be further from the truth. Before the fire, | was hitting my stride, feeling like | finally belonged somewhere and that | was valued here. Then it all went south and | didn’t understand why. Everyone turned on me, shunned me, and made me feel isolated and alone. Even

my composure. | swallow hard before | continue, cause |

me. We could have spoken to Lady Camille. You coerced people who care about me to treat me badly. You treated me badly and you knew you were doing it. You wanted me to feel that way to ailenate me. You wanted to hurt me, Bronx. How does that make you different

Alpha Graham but doesn't try

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

him a questioning

nod of understanding that he deserved my words and was

back from being who she truly is.

palm before placing it on the side of his stubbly face. | feel my resolve soften, but | take another deep

a bakery. | want a way to have my own income. | don't want to have to ask your permission every time | want to buy something for myself or

change. | love you with

and look at

a lot at him, so! give him as

right about all of it. [have 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 me. Physically and mentally. | haven't allowed the pack to see the real you and | will be eternally regretful that |

thinking carefully

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

is one thing to be a successful business owner but if you

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

There is something humorous about the