Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“What in the Goddess’s name are you talking about?” Lenora snarls at Katherine, "Kas, you better get your sister out of here before I do it for you. If she thinks she's taking my baby to be her mate, she's more fucked in the head than I ever imagined."

Ilook at Lenora to see her eyes are solid black as Justice surface. It only takes a flicker of a glance at Delilah for us to intervene. We both step in between Lenora and Katherine, making more space between the women. All the while, Milo is trying to soothe a hysterical, screaming Codi.

"Lenora, please don't make me use my Luna voice. You know hate that," I try to reason with her, but it’s too late. My fearless mama-wolf, Beta, is ready to protect her pup, and she has her sights set on Katherine. She tries to push past me, but I grab her arms and hold her solidly. She may be six inches taller than me, but with Lex helping, I'm still stronger. 

"I said stand down, Lenora," my Luna voice booms from deep inside me. Almost instantly, Lenora stops struggling and her eyes turn green again. She straightens her blouse, never taking her glaring eyes off of Katherine. She looks like the slightest movement from Katherine will set her off again. I open up a mind link “BRONX, MARCO, I need you guys NOW!”

“We're on the way, Kas. What's going on?” I hear Bronx reply. I look to my left and see Marco making his way toward me. From behind me, I can smell Bronx's coffee and dark chocolate scent getting stronger.

“You're sister and my sister...well, I don’t even know...” I keep my hands on Lenora’s arms until Bronx comes up behind her and pulls her back. Marco puts one arm protectively over top of me like we have practiced if there is a threat in the human world and extends his other to keep everyone ata distance. ' “Marco, help Delilah with my sisters,” I order from under his arm, “I'll help Bronx with Milo and Lenora.”

He looks at the surrounding people, then reluctantly at me, “Kas, I-”

“Please, Marco. I will be with Bronx and Milo. I will be fine. We will be at the head table when you have some answers,’ I do my best to reassure him I don’t need a guard when I’m with my mate. Delilah and Marco corral Katherine, who can’t bear to take her teary eyes off of Codi, and Amari, leading them away from us to get an explanation on what is going on. At the same time, Bronx and I lead Lenora and Milo, with Codi having a full-on tantrum, back to the head table to calm the three of them down.

When we get to the table, Bronx pulls out a chair and makes Lenora sit down while Milo stands and tries to calm Codi down.

After about twenty minutes, Marco and Delilah make their way back to us. Marco looks like he’s seen a ghost. Delilah looks like she could burst into tears at any moment. She looks around at the pack members milling around. "Luna Iokaste, maybe this is a good time to slow things down around us, for privacy's sake," she looks at me witha nod.

Ilook at the people around us and gauge how much energy it is going to take to slow time. I am still exhausted from healing Bronx. With a deep breath, I lift my hand and curl my fingers halfway into a fist and stop. Around us, everyone moves to a snail's pace.

“Okay, I'm tired, so we have maybe ten minutes. Delilah, what's wrong? Marco, what happened?”

are reincarnated. Which we already knew,” Delilah tries to explain calmly. She casts her eyes to the

at her sympathetically and continues on for her, “Basically, as soon as their mate is reincarnated, the countdown is set for the goddess to die, so she can be reincarnated, too. That way you don’t have, you know, a baby, mated to a woman who

her back to comfort her. My poor sweet best friend. I know outside the Coven’s realm, she is only twenty-one, but she has been alive over ninety years within the realm. The concept of living hundreds of years is familiar to her. Thinking about death and mortality is something she tries to avoid. Especially knowing that James ages like a regular werewolf and while he will get to spend the rest of his life with her, she won't be able to spend

losing Musu, but

live? Shit, man. That's intense,” Marco shakes

leader of the Maven and my daughter is going to be that goddess's mate? That's how they recognize

can Codia Guardian? She's a female. The Guardians are all men,” Lenora squints her eyes, suspicious of the explanation. 7 “Uh, well, sort of?” Delilah fidgets with

of, Delilah?” Milo

there

longest, most peaceful lives she can remember.” “Okay, but this is the part you guys really ain’t gonna believe,” Marco says, “ Delilah, you wanna tell ‘em about the babies

hand while she tries to calm down, but the tears are streaming down her face. She shakes

Marco,” I nod to

know for sure, it didn't really make sense,” he says, not completely comprehending what he is saying, “Butit could

his hands on his hips

now we in the fucked up territory. Kas, sit down,” he looks

fine," I protest, until he gives mea stern look. I

how Cora’s mate died too, right? That means she’s gonna die soon,”

1t means Tessa’s clock is also ticking,” Milo

wasn't about killing the Guardians? What if it was about killing their mates? Could an old version of me want my sisters

rather living as a wolf than in human form and all that shit, a regular she-wolf can't handle her

to Cora every time she dies?” Lenora

to give birth to Cora. And, uh, Cora’s the only one strong enough to give birth to Kas,” Marco's eyes go wide when he sees