Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

I wake up in the morning in my bed next to Kas, who has herself wrapped around me. Her light snores tell me she is comfortable, soI try not to interrupt her. The last thing I remember is Saint blocking me out after we shifted, so he could spend some alone time with Lex. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and realize I have sap stuck to the side of my face with pine needles embedded in the sap. My hands are filthy and I smell like I may have gotten sprayed by a wild animal. '

I carefully unwrap Kas from around me, so she doesn’t wake up. She has fared no better. Her hair is full of dry, caked mud with little twigs and bits of leaves sticking out. There are streaks of dirt on her face and dried blood on her chin. Looks like Lex must have been hunting rabbits. Kas lets out a content sigh as I get out of bed and pull the covers over her.

I stop short when I realize she has bite marks all over the scarred part of her back. Saint knows Lex can't heal Kas’s scars quickly. Why would he do that to her? I finish covering her up as much as Ican when I realize the bedding has been destroyed.

“Saint, you wanna tell me what the Hell happened last night?” I ask as I look at the dirty, shredded sheets on the bed. Around the room, the chair was knocked over and broken and we scattered everything from the nightstand on the floor. There are deep gouges on the wall behind the bed and a spot where the drywall looks like someone got slammed into it.

“Adult stuff, dummy. Now go away,” he huffs and rolls back over in my mind to finish sleeping. 7

“Well, I don’t care what kind of freaky shit you and Lex are into, but you can't be biting Kas on her scars, Saint. Lex can’t heal them as fast. Don’t hurt our mate,” I scold him.

“Whatever. Our mate is strong, she can handle it. She’s been holding back for your benefit. We’re strong enough for her now,” he says defiantly, yawning and stretching before he curls up to ignore me. I take in his words. It never occurred to me that the silver embedded in my body could make Kas and Lex feel like they needed to go easy on me.

I get a shower and get myself ready for the day before I rouse Kas out of bed. I wipe the blood off her mouth before she sees it. Of all the things she still has trouble with, the sight of blood still makes her squeamish. Once she is out of the shower and has her business suit on, she looks like she’s in a much better mood.

aK

I take my seat in the front row of the makeshift courtroom we have created in the Blood River ballroom for Randall's trial. With the number of pack members who need to give statements against Randall, it didn’t make sense to have the trial in Vienna where the Council headquarters is. Ashley and Carly have arranged for the room to be set up as close to the official courtroom as possible.

Kas sits next to me, listening intently as former members of Silver Moon step up to speak out against Randall. They unveil story after story of neglect and cruelty as the pack members give their testimonies. I can slightly sense her anger as the stories come to light, but I can tell she is doing her best to hold it in. Especially from the ones dealing

with children being pulled from school to work. When Kas was a Silver Moon pack member, the same thing happened to her. It is an inexcusable issue for her.

on pack territory without official reason. I watch as the fourteen Council members take notes and ask questions of each pack

to help find a new Alpha. I was not responsible for them for the

hear about all the horror stories told by the adults. When it’s finally her turn, her mother helps her to the front of the crowd, and has her sit on a booster seat, placed on top of

eyes. Her little face looks so scared. I give her a nod and try to smile reassuringly at her. Kas gives her a big smile and a thumbs up. She mouths ‘be brave’ to the little girl, who smiles with a renewed confidence and faces the Council

of money so her parents could leave the pack. Then she tells them about the

of shoes. Her parents couldn't afford new ones. When she came to Blood River, we gave her two new pairs. One pair of trainers to wear to school and one pair of dress

finally asks the Council if she and her parents are allowed to stay at Blood River forever.

seat and approaches the child. I see her body posture stiffen as he leans down, so he is eye to eye with her. “Mademoiselle Hannah Fisher,” he says in his friendly, thick French accent, “ You are a brave young lady for speaking to us today. You are a perfect example of the type of wolf your Alpha Regent Bronx and Luna Regent, Goddess Kas, want as a member of Blood River. Icommend your courage and thank you for your

to the little girl, who looks at him shyly. She tentatively puts her hand in his and lets him shake it heartily. Her face turns beet red as she giggles at him. The rest

for ranked members of Blood River should also leave the room. We sit patiently

the room. Randall is in silver wrist and ankle shackles in the middle of the group. He looks like he hasn't had a shower since

evidence against you in the matter of abuse of power during the temporary leadership of the Silver Moon,” Elder Henri says, looking down at a piece of paper, “The Council will now vote guilty or not guilty. If we find you guilty, the charges against you will cause your titles of Elder, Regent, and Alpha being stripped. We will impose a sentence

the other Elders, “I-I thought you we-were

you understand, not if WE understand. We understand perfectly,” Henri growls and his eyes grow darker, “You had your chance to give a statement. To prove to this council that your acts were not criminal. To prove there was someway to justify what happened under your direction. Your

their turns while we sit by and watch the fate of the former council member become solidified by a

the last vote, Randall drops to his knees and starts blubbering like a coward. The guards bend down to pick him up by his

stands up, approaching

I take a step forward, but I don’t want to undermine Kas’s authority in front of everyone. I

to Randall and bend down slightly so she is at eye level with him, “Randall?” ° “Goddess Iokaste, please, please ask the Council to show me mercy. Please, I can't go to that prison. Do you have any idea how many werewolves I have sent there? Please help

look directly into her eyes, “Randall, there is no chance in the Goddess’s name I would ever ask anyone to give you

What? I don't know what I thought she was

going to do. I’m going to