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.

it, you're the one who doesn't treat me like a Luna. You don't make feel like an equal partner to lead this pack. You treat me like I'm too fragile to

continue, cause | know the next part is going to sting for both of

away from me without really thinking it through. You could have just spoken to 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,

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

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 know all

him a

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

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, as their leader, | expect the pack

my palm before placing it on the side of his stubbly

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 feel like I'm being a drain on the pack. | want to be able

in it for the long haul. You're my guy and | don’t want that to change. | love you with every fiber of my being. | love Saint too. | want to be by your side every day for the rest of our lives, no, for the rest of all of our lives.

and look at him. “So

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

abilities, all of it. You are smart and quick and so

sighs, thinking carefully

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 other people unless that’s what you want."

back 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 a successful business owner but if you want to set an example, you need to set it for everyone. Especially the youth of our pack. That's what leaders do.

with me, | will listen, always, and honor your wishes to the best of my ability. Moving forward, | will treat you as my equal. | will help you be more independent. | will even

something humorous about the thought of