Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“Incoming,” I link my sisters in the apartment.

“We're hidden,” I hear Thea reply. Marco, Ellen, and I make our way into the apartment. Bronx is already standing in front of the sofa, where Estelle and Simone are sitting. Marco directs Ellen to sit as well and stands behind the sofa with his gun still raised behind them. I don’t see any of my other sisters who I know are hiding somewhere inside.

“You. Keep your mouth shut,” Bronx points to Estelle, then points to Ellen, “ How many of you are here?”

“Just the three of us,” Ellen says sullenly.

“Bullshit,” Tessa growls with her nose in the air, “I smell more of you.”

Bronx puts his nose in the air as well.

His eyes turn black as Saint comes to the surface. A deep growl comes from his chest. Saint’s gravelly voice comes out of Bronx’s mouth, “Lie to me again and I will end this lifetime for all of you.”

I watch my sisters shrink back as their Guardian threatens their lives. Ihave a powerful instinct to scold him for their mistreatment, but I can’t let him know I brought the Mavri Magea here, so! stay quiet.

“Stay here, Alpha. I'l] flush them out,” Marco says before he makes his way into the bedroom, gun still drawn.

Bronx stands with his arms crossed over his chest. His large stature makes him look extremely intimidating. I step forward and stand next to him as he stares down at the women on the sofa with a damning glare. The tension in the air is so thick you could practically chew on it.

Lenora and Tessa jump to attention when they hear growling and snarling sound coming from the closet in the bedroom. They sprint to help Marco while Bronx continues to stand as still as a statue in front of my sisters. The four women I sent into the apartment quietly step out from the bedroom with Marco, Lenora, and Tessa behind them. 

Marco has his gun at the ready with his eyes solid black. There are deep claw marks on the side of his face, bleeding freely while Clash works on healing him.

“Sit,” Bronx snaps, pointing to the floor in front of him. All four women sit ina line on the floor in front of the sofa, avoiding eye contact with everyone. I look around at the scene, not ready to panic. Two left. Where are Letica and Desiree? I can only hope they stuck to the plan.

“Bronx, can we-" I say as I see his expression turning darker. He is the Guardian for the Mavri Magea. It’s part of his job to keep them safe, just like he would for me. I need to find a way to remind him of that responsibility. I could use Desiree's manipulation ability, but I don't want to do that to my mate.

“Stay out of this, Kas,” Bronx snaps at me with a snarl.

growls and tries to push

to keep the good parts of me in control, rages into a frenzy. It grows and morphs into a typhoon with no regard to my restraint. I t blows and howls, giving its fury a voice. Its manipulative whisper turns into a screeching

grab his wrist roughly, letting my hand burn him. My outburst forces him to take his attention away from the women in front of him. The power of my

again, my voice is unfamiliar. It’s my goddess voice coming forward, “I will not be dismissed, Alpha Regent Bronx Andreas

and you're burning me!” He tries to yank his wrist

A little lover’s quarrel between Bronxy and Kas?” Leticia’s bitter voice coos mockingly at us. She holds her hands up to her heart and tilts her head as

look toward the bedroom to see her and Desiree standing in the doorway, both looking very smug. Desiree’s athletic build

the two women standing in front of us who weren't supposed to shift to human form. They were supposed to stay hidden in wolf form in

no one else in there...” Lenora stammers with confusion, readying herself

were there. Just a little invisibility spell Kas and I invented combined with a scent blocker,” Leticia smiles with a giggle as she waves at me. I let go of Bronx's wrist and glare furiously at the

“Kas barely knows you and she doesn’t know

and start laughing. High pitched, scratchy and maniacal laughter makes

to pounce onto Tessa’s back with a growl. She clamps her hands down on Tessa's head and releases

her back arches and an unnaturally high-pitched squeal emanates from her. She drops to

feel the edges of my soul crumbling and turning to ash as Tessa’s lifeless body lays face down on the floor. There is nothing but anger and agony inside me. All the good in my soul gets snuffed out by the

look at Tessa and make an x over my heart with my hand and murmur, “

but they stop, realizing they could meet the same fate. Marco points his gun at Thea. He flicks his eyes at me in a silent message, then I hear the slight inner workings of his gun. As he pulls down on the trigger, I curl my fingers into a

incantation to open a portal back to the Mavri Magea apartment. It shines brightly behind Bronx, in front of the silver-haired women on the

in case he tries to get any ideas about going through

my sisters before any Blood River pack members can react. Except for Leticia and Desiree, who are on the other side of the room, they all scramble up and

in my chest getting stronger that she’s not. I resist pulling my hands in to grab my chest and keep them out to the sides to protect the portal until all nine of my sisters are

sisters. Lenora steps forward, growling at Leticia and

surge of energy flow through me and use some of the telekinetic energy I share with Sophie to reach out and pull on Leticia and Desiree, "GET. OUT. NOW. A blank look crosses over Marco's face, and he points his gun at Bronx. He looks down at his hand and tries to pull it in a different direction, but he can’t. Desiree’s voice has manipulated him to do what she

him, shoving him into the wall to stop him from shooting Bronx and rolls off him as the gun fires into the ceiling instead of at her brother. She immediately scrambles back toward Bronx, blocking